How to Make Chocolate Cake in Your Microwave in 5 Minutes

What's better than warm, decadent chocolate cake? Warm, decadent chocolate cake that takes only five minutes to make, and doesn't even require an oven. This chocolate cake is so good, and so easy, that it's dangerous. You can make it with items you probably have in your kitchen, which means the chocolate cake can be ready on a whim.

Things You'll Need

• 4 tbsp. flour
• 4 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tbsp. cocoa
• One egg
• 3 tbsp. milk (use skim; you can pretend that it cancels out all the other calories)
• 3 tbsp. oil
• A small splash of vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp. chocolate chips (optional, but delicious)
• Whipped cream (optional topping)
• Large coffee mug (microwave safe)

Instructions

Short and sweet

1. Add the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa) to the mug. Mix well.

2. Add the egg. Beat thoroughly.

3. Pour in the milk and oil. Mix well.

4. Add the chocolate chips, if you're using them, and the vanilla extract. Mix again.

5. Put your mug in the microwave, uncovered, and cook for three minutes at 1,000 watts.

6. The cake will probably expand a bit past the top of the mug. Allow it to cool for a minute (or not, if you're impatient), and tip the cake over onto a plate. Put whipped cream on top if you want something cool to complement the warm cake.

Variations

1. A dash of coffee can enhance the flavor of this dessert.

2. Similarly, a dash of Kahlua or chocolate liqueur adds a bit more depth to the chocolate taste.

3. Use apple sauce instead of oil for a slightly healthier cake.

4. Use cream cheese, yogurt or sour cream instead of milk to experiment with different textures and nuances of taste.

5. Besides whipped cream, other good toppings include raspberry jam, fresh berries of any type, Nutella (hazelnut and chocolate spread), peanut butter, confectioner's sugar, caramel syrup, or anything else that you enjoy with chocolate.

Tips & Warnings

• This recipe makes enough cake for two people, but can certainly be polished off by a single hungry person. Cut the recipe in half for a slightly less over-the-top experience. The cake is best warm; it might get a bit too chewy if you let it sit. Kids can make this entire recipe on their own, since it doesn't require the stove. Whether that's a good thing or not, that's up to you. Use this recipe to help kids learn to use measuring spoons and how to identify common baking ingredients. This recipe could make a good birthday party activity for budding bakers.