Gluten free chocolate mug cake is made in 1 minute in the microwave. Learn the secrets to making it moist and tender every time!
I think you’ll agree that most recipes for a chocolate mug cake are rubbery and just plain unappetizing. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
Remember when we made a Flourless Chocolate Cake for 1 with just 3 simple ingredients? So, so good. Many of you asked if that chocolate cake could be made in the microwave, but since it has eggs, it would turn to rubber.
Bottom line:
A moist and tender gluten free chocolate mug cake can be done! It’s meant to be microwaved for just about 1 minute at 1000 watts (you can easily adjust any microwave down with power levels), and I can guarantee delicate, non-rubbery results.
There are, of course, a few secrets to success.
So here’s the deal:
First secret to success: what’s not in there. A basic gum free gluten free flour blend. And no eggs. Hey, you can even make this vegan by using vegan chips, nondairy milk and vegetable shortening in place of butter.
Second secret to success: adding a bit of chocolate in the middle of the batter. The chocolate melts pretty gently in the microwave, and helps to keep the cake moist as it cooks—and as it cools.
And that’s not all…
My third and final secret to success: Adjusting the power of your microwave to approximate 1000 watts by microwaving at a reduced power level if necessary.
Here’s the deal:
My microwave is a basic, countertop LG model. I had absolutely no idea what its wattage was. So I looked it up! It’s 1200 watts. I either microwave the cake for up to 1 minute 20 seconds at 80% power, or closer to 1 minute at 90% power. Don’t be afraid to stop the microwave, check the cake with a toothpick, and restart it. And err on the side of undercooking, rather than overcooking.
But wait… What if you don’t have a microwave? Make my flourless chocolate cake for 1 in the oven. This cake should only made in the microwave.
This is the perfect recipe for when you need a quick chocolate fix (after the kids are in bed!). Or when it’s too hot to turn on the oven. Or when your kitchen is under construction.
Links:
How to find out your microwave’s wattage
Diner coffee mug (aff link)
Chocolate Mug Cake
Ingredients
4 tablespoons (35 g) basic gum free gluten free flour blend (23 grams superfine white rice flour + 8 grams potato starch + 4 grams tapioca starch/flour)
2 tablespoons (10 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons (24 g) sugar (can reduce to 1 1/2 tablespoons (18 g) for a less sweet version)
2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons milk (any kind), at room temperature
1/2 ounce chocolate (any kind)
Instructions
Grease microwave-safe mug or mason jar with at least an 8-ounce capacity and set it aside. In a small bowl, place the flour blend, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt and sugar, and whisk to combine well. Add the butter and milk, and whisk until well-combined and smooth, working out any clumps of cocoa powder that may have formed. The batter will be smooth and thickly pourable. Pour half of the batter in the prepared mug or jar, add the 3 chocolate wafers or chips, and cover with the remaining cake batter in an even layer.
Place the mug in your microwave oven and cook at about 1000 watts for 1 minute.* Test with a toothpick to see if it comes out clean. If not, cook for up to another 20 seconds at about 1000 watts. Allow to cool briefly before serving.
*Note: It is important to be able to approximate 1000 watts of power in your microwave oven. My microwave is 1200 watts, so I either microwave the cake for up to 1 minute 20 seconds at 80% power, or closer to 1 minute at 90% power.
Recipe originally published on the blog in 2013. Method updated slightly, all photos new.
Kris Bell Slager says
Does it have to be at 1000 watts? My microwave is 700 watts. Couldn’t I just go a little longer with it?
Nicole Hunn says
Yes, Kris. That’s why the recipe has this note:
“*Note: It is important to be able to approximate 1000 watts of power in your microwave oven. My microwave is 1200 watts, so I either microwave the cake for up to 1 minute 20 seconds at 80% power, or closer to 1 minute at 90% power.”
Bytesize Media says
I stumbled across this website looking for simple GF mug cakes. Not only did I get hooked on this cake, but I entered into a wormhole of all sorts of other great gluten free recipes. Thanks for all the work you’ve put into this site, Nicole.
Jessica says
I LOVE this cake. It’s perfect for when I need a quick sweet treat. I bet I’ve made it a dozen times in the last few weeks adding peanut butter or Nutella sometimes instead of chocolate chips. Yesterday, I wanted something sweet and just wasn’t feeling chocolate. So, I made a few variations and came up with a vanilla version that I absolutely love. Leave out the cocoa, add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and switch the milk to buttermilk. It won’t disappoint. :)
Alaina says
This is literally the best day of my life! I’ve mastered this cake and now use it for a quick treat! All of my friends love it and can hardly tell the difference!
Jennie says
I’ll have to try this. ALL of my previous microwave cakes have just about bounced on the plate when I took them out to cut in two. Sooo unappetizing. I just love your site, Nicole. So many things that are beyond awesome!!
Julia (TheRoastedRoot.net) says
This is perfection! I love mug cakes and have never tried making a chocolate version. I’m so on board! – Thanks for the great tips for a delicious cake!
Deb says
Oh my goodness I feel like a kid again, with my easy bake oven which is actually my microwave! I altered this slightly to use soy milk (since I cannot have dairy), and, I reduced the fat to 1/2 tbsp and instead added apple sauce. SO AMAZING so delish. Next attempt I plan to try with a little raspberry preserves in the middle too…..not sure if it will work but its a good thing to try out.
Thank you SO MUCH Nicole for all your fabulous ideas! I have both your books and recommend them to everyone!
Deb
gfshoestring says
Hi, Deb, So true that these microwave cakes are like Easy Bake Oven cakes! And I’m so glad you’re customizing. That’s the fun of it, since you know you won’t be wasting a lot of ingredients if something goes wrong. The preserves in the middle should work great! Thank you so much for your support, Deb. It truly means the world to me.
xoxo Nicole
Trish Ackermann says
Ok, readers, where can one find a (g) measurement? Before I go looking, thought you might all have a simple answer:) I am so blessed to have found this web sight! Thank you, Nicole et al!
Scales are fun says
with a kitchen scale. They make gluten free cooking a lot easier, and they’re petty cheap. I got mine for about $15. different flours have different densities, so a cup of teff won’t be the same as a cup of corn flour so it’s really hard to make substitutions if you don’t have the right flours, unless the recipe is written in grams: the cake needs 35 grams of flour and it doesn’t matter if you use the flour specified or if you use your own combination of flours.
The (g) means grams. 28 of them make an ounce.
Swarna says
Nicole
Where i can buy these mugs and the ones you used for nila cookie layered dessert?
gfshoestring says
They are small canning jars, Swarna, made by Weck. You can find them online and in some brick-and-mortar stores.
Nicole
Amanda says
You mention that this is made ith eggs. When do you add the eggs and how much?
gfshoestring says
Amanda, I actually say there are no eggs in this recipe. There are eggs in another recipe that I have for chocolate cake for 1, as I say in the post.
Nicole
Ariana says
In the old, glutinous days, I used to microwave a single serving of no more pudge brownies. With FF cool whip, it was delightful. This is an ideal replacement, thank you!
gfshoestring says
Ariana, are you new around here, because I find myself wondering where you’ve been all my life! Thank you so much for answering someone’s question about what flour to use in the White Sandwich Bread from book 1 on that other post. I love it when readers answer each others’ questions!! Stick around, okay?
xoxo Nicole
Jennifer Small says
I was just scouring the internet the other day for a quick, single microwave cake. I gave up because I don’t trust everyone’s sites like I do yours. So excited to try this!! Thanks!
gfshoestring says
That’s great, Jennifer! I’m flattered. :)
xoxo Nicole
P.S. Most microwave cakes are awful!
Chris says
perfect perfect perfect perfect…. but I need even LOWER fat for the celiac pancreatitis girl heading off to college. I’m wondering if one of those ‘light’ margarine things would work. We’ll have to give it a try. Do you have an equivalent weight for chocolate chips vs the chocolate wafers?
thanks
Jennifer Sasse says
Chris – I hear you completely as I am one of those overweight people with gluten issues and also prefer low fat/carb items. I just love Nicole’s recipes because they make my mind wander and think up low fat versions using her recipes as a base. It always helps for me to start with something and Nicole does that for me. I have found that unless she specfically says something has to be a certain way, I can find a pretty good low fat sub for it. Even for the milk that she says, “low fat is fine, no fat is not” – I use low fat coconut milk that actually has more fat than skim milk but less carbs and calories so it’s even BETTER than skim milk. Of course I do this all at my own risk as I don’t expect Nicole to test every single variation in her NY kitchen. I’m just so grateful that she is here leading the way! THANKS NICOLE!
Donia Robinson says
Well said, Jennifer. :) I totally agree.