Easy Single Serving Chocolate Cake! (with GF/DF option)

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Sometimes I want a sweet treat, but I only need enough for one sitting. You know, you want happy warm chocolate cake, but you don’t want a full 8 slices? Or to use that much of your ingredients, spend that much money, or have extra to freeze. 

And this is what I make for those moments. With the cost of food in 2023 this is a £1 chocolate cake made with organic ingredients or much less without. Plus for me when it’s nap time and I need happy food I want something I can make while my coffee brews in one bowl, with what I have on hand. This recipe is nicely flexible for using what you have.

“SINGLE SERVING”

Disclaimer: I have no idea what a single serving is for you! This is an old blog recipe and the original recipe made 2 single serving cakes but I wanted to adjust it to fit in one average mug. As a guide, when I make this for my kids, I split it in two, or three and add yogurt. But when we want a date treat we each eat a whole one! 

MUG CAKE VS SINGLE SERVING CHOCOLATE CAKE

This can also be a mug cake but if you’re going to use a mug, you need to microwave it. Note: not all mugs can be baked! Actually most mugs can’t go in the oven so I’d assume yours can’t.  If you’re going to oven bake a single serving chocolate cake, you just need a small oven proof dish the same volume roughly as a mug and you’re good to go. Something like these ramekins (US option) or these 10 oz glass pyrex dishes or these ramekins (UK option)

SUBSITUTIONS

It’s honestly a fairly flexible recipe so try it with what you have!

Honey: Can be exchanged for maple syrup, rice syrup, or date syrup – a liquid sweetener works best but you could also use coconut or another sugar.

Butter: You can switch this out for coconut oil for a dairy free option. Just make sure it’s soft (room temp if your room is warm) or melted.

Flour: Oat flour can be used in place of wheat, or spelt works too but NOT coconut flour!

For a grain free/paleo option: You can use 3 tablespoons of almond flour and one tablespoon of arrowroot in place of the wholewheat flour for a grain free or paleo option.

Eggs: I’m pretty sure a flax egg would work but I haven’t tried it in this recipe.

Print Recipe

Single Serving Chocolate Cake

A simple and delicious chocolate cake to cook in one minute in a mug in the microwave or also in the oven.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time1 min
Course: cake, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 5 minute recipe, chocolate cake, mug cake, single serving
Servings: 1
Cost: £1-2 / $1-2 (made with organic ingredients)

Equipment

  • 1 mug
  • 1 Fork

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp very soft butter (14g) (you can sub coconut oil)
  • 2 tbsp honey (42g)
  • 1 room temp egg
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp wholewheat flour or oat flour (21g)
  • 1 tbsp cocoa (7g)
  • ¼ tsp baking powder

Instructions

  • Whisk together the butter (or you can use coconut oil) and the honey till smooth. You can whisk right in the mug or oven safe dish, or do it in a bowl and transfer it to bake.
  • *NOTE: If you're baking in an oven rather than a microwave don't use a mug! You need an oven safe dish and most mugs are not oven safe.
  • Whisk in the egg and vanilla
  • Add cocoa, flour, salt and cocoa
  • Stir it in until it's a smooth batter
  • Pour into an oven safe dish or ramekin for the oven, or mug if you're using the microwave.
  • Cook for 50 seconds in the microwave or 12-20 minutes in the oven at 175C/350F
  • BAKING NOTE: Bake for 12-20 minutes – small cakes vary a LOT depending on the oven. If it’s fan assisted (convection) it will take less time, if you’re cooking a few in a toaster oven that isn’t preheated it will take longer. Take it out and 12 and test for a firm top but a springy feel to touch. If it’s not done, put it back for another 5 mins.  
  • Serve right away with nut butter, ice cream, cream, chocolate sauce or as it is!

OPTIONAL ADDITIONS + TOPPINGS:

Chocolate Sauce: Whisk together 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey, 2 tablesoons of melted coconut oil and 2 tablespoons of cocoa and drizzle a little over the top.

Nut Butter: Tip if your nut butter doesn’t drizzle: stir in a little melted coconut oil. Add and mix until it’s thin enough to drizzle over the chocolate cake. 

Nut Milk: I love pouring over some creamy nut milk and a few berries!

Yogurt: Dollop some greek yogurt (or plant based) on top for some extra protein. For my kids I spoon a bit of the cake out onto yogurt to split one between all of them.

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