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My 3 ingredient mug cake is the ultimate quick and easy chocolate fix. No flour needed, it’s super moist and fluffy.
Love mug cake recipes? Try my almond flour mug cake, muffin in a mug, brownie in a mug, and protein mug cake next.
My family and I are notorious post-dinner dessert lovers. Regardless of how much we’ve eaten for dinner, we always have room for something sweet. Enter- my 3 ingredient chocolate mug cake.
While we have a few single-serving desserts on regular rotation, no one can resist this chocolate version because it satisfies the cravings and everyone’s cocoa-infused sweet tooth! Oh, and it tastes incredible.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Only 3 ingredients. Chocolate, egg, and butter are all you’ll need. And yes, that means no flour or granulated sugar!
- Ready in two minutes. There is a reason why this dessert is made almost daily in my household with such little prep time needed.
- Multiple cooking methods. While I prefer using the microwave for speed, I also tested this cake in the oven and air fryer.
- Diet-friendly. This cake is naturally gluten-free and can easily be made sugar-free, too.
Ingredients needed
- Egg. The egg provides the fluffy texture of the cake and gives it structure. Use a room-temperature egg.
- Chocolate. While any chocolate works, I prefer dark or semi-sweet chocolate for the extra richness. Also, try to use a chopped chocolate bar versus chocolate chips because bars melt so much better.
- Butter. Unsalted.
How to make a 3-ingredient mug cake
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1 – Prep. Use a hand mixer or a whisk to beat the egg until it’s frothy. Melt the chocolate and butter together until smooth.
Step 2- Assemble. Gently fold the melted chocolate into the foamy eggs. Transfer the cake mixture to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on medium for 30 seconds to one minute.
Step 3- Cool for 30 seconds before enjoying.
Alternative cooking methods
While I prefer the microwave, I understand not everyone chooses to own or use one. So, I’ve tested this cake in the oven and on the air fryer, too.
Oven method: Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Once the mug cake batter has been made, transfer it into an oven-safe ramekin and bake for 8-9 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out ‘just clean.’
Air fryer method: Almost identical to how I make my air fryer brownies! Transfer the batter to an oven-safe bowl or ramekin and air fry for 5-6 minutes.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Beat the eggs until foamy. Many mug cake recipes tell you to whisk the eggs with the melted chocolate. However, beating the eggs until foamy is always a better idea as it results in an airy and fluffy cake. I find this differentiates between a super moist mug cake and a dry one.
- Eat immediately. This is the kind of dessert that you make right there and then. The longer it sits, the less moist it will remain.
- Consider the mug size. The cooking time of mug cakes may vary depending on the type of mug you are using. The cake cooks faster and more evenly in shallow and wide mugs.
Variations
- Make this dairy-free, by using dairy-free butter and vegan chocolate chips.
- Make this sugar-free, by using sugar free chocolate chips.
- Use milk chocolate. If you prefer a super sweet mug cake (like my sister does!), use milk chocolate as the base. Be warned, though, that it is sticky and sweet!
- Add flavor boosters and mix-ins like vanilla extract, maple syrup, or chopped nuts.
- Serve with a pinch of salt. Adding a pinch of flaky salt to the chocolate cake will enhance its flavor and take it to the next level.
- Top with sprinkles, ice cream, or whipped cream for the ultimate dessert fix.
Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to make this mug cake sweeter. You can use a sweeter chocolate variety, add some powdered sugar to the eggs while beating them, or top the mug cake with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.
Yes! I’ve tried this with a pre-formulated egg substitute (just egg) and flax eggs, and it has come out very well.
I don’t recommend keeping the cake to enjoy later or making it in advance. It just loses it’s moist and rich texture.
More minimal ingredient treats
- 3 ingredient cookies
- 2 ingredient peanut butter cookies
- 3 ingredient fudge
- 2 ingredient fudge
- Or any of my desserts with few ingredients
3 Ingredient Mug Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup chocolate chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate and butter and melt in 15-second increments until melted.
- Add the egg to a bowl and whisk until frothy. Fold in the melted chocolate mixture.
- Microwave the cake batter for 60 seconds. Let it sit for one minute before enjoying.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published August 2015, updated and republished October 2024
On behalf of all the volume eaters (me me me!) out there, who can’t stop at just one piece of delicious cake, I thank you! I’ve been wanting to develop a recipe for a chocolate mug cake and honestly didn’t even know where to start. Thankfully you did all the work for me, so I can enjoy this thing while binge watching Grace and Frankie on the ‘Flix. Bravo, Arman! I say bravo!
This comment deserves a post in itself. Thanks Julia. Let’s toast to the ‘flix now. (My room mate is watching Gilmore Girls….vom)
You know my thoughts. I only have positive things to say about you and your amazing recipes – even if I cannot eat more than 1/2, I still think they’re genius!
🙂 Thanks Gigi 🙂
I love zucchini, and I love chocolate, so this dessert is for me!
😀 Let’s call it the Joanne 😀
Ah the blender…. I am trying to decide what kitchen gadgets I need to buy here (we have one week left before moving from a hotel apartment to our rental house) and I think a blender will have to be one of them. I am hoping a blender will double up as a food processor…maybe! Others on my shopping list include a filter coffee machine and a slow cooker!
Loving the simplicity of your recipe! 🙂
YES! Trust me, if you get a good one, it can pass as a food processor too! 😀
Yum cocoa eggs! It’s probably a delicacy in some country. My favorite way to use zucchini is pan fried and dipped in some sort of creamy sauce. The most under appreciated kitchen appliance is the broiler. It’s amazing for melting cheese on top of things.
That sounds delicious!
My mom was just bragging about all the mug cakes she’s been making lately and now I’m seeing them everywhere online. You’d think something this easy is something I would’ve done by now, but I’ve still never made a mug cake!
Kitchen gadget? Ummm, how ’bout a corkscrew? Can you think of another kitchen item that can make people so happy?
You need to try it! In fact, I’ve got a whole week planned…just for you.
Of course you’d think a corkscrew :p
YUMM!!! Zucchini is the best in baked goods. It gives the best texture. And makes me feel good I am getting veggies. So then I can eat more cake 🙂
Definitely! Thanks Shannon 🙂
Another amazing microwavable treat from the Big Man!! This looks so tasty and I can’t wait to get home from school and make it 🙂 xoxo
Thanks so much, Whitney! 🙂
I was hoping for eggy pieces of cocoa, so I guess I’ll mash by hand while I whip my hair back and fourth. I loled at this post as I do with all of them. You’re a gem.
Sometimes a blender or food processor really makes the recipe! I’m currently drooling over everything I see in this post. I’ll take the fritters, frittata, and finish it off with your chocolate cake 🙂
Thanks so much, Michele! 🙂
Dear Arman, I cannot believe how soft and moist this cake looks. Admittedly, I do not own a microwave, but love the single size portions and how easy this recipe is, so I will be making the oven version. Have a wonderful day my friend, Catherine
Thanks Catherine! 🙂
Oh oh oh–I love zucchini noodles, hands down! But I’ve been getting bored with them, so I’ll have to try these recipes!
An underrated kitchen gadget is a pair of chopsticks! You can scramble eggs with them, eat anything with them, and stir with them!
That’s so true! Love chopsticks! My sister is so uncoordinated with them!
Yessss finally a recipe that I think I could use my Nutribullet for and not a food processor. I’m always looking for easy single-serving desserts considering I’m incapable of going to bed without dessert.
😀 you and me both. I’ve polished off many a Ben and Jerry’s 😀