Craving a warm, gooey chocolate treat but short on time and ingredients? This egg-free Nutella mug cake is your answer. With just 5 simple ingredients and a microwave, you can whip up a moist, tender, and delightfully Nutella-flavored cake in a jiffy.
Mug cakes are the ultimate quick and easy sweet treats. These single-serving wonders are perfect for satisfying your cravings without the hassle of extensive baking preparation or cleanup.
Not only mug cakes are delicious, they require minimal ingredients, minimal effort, and are ready in a few minutes with countless flavor options from Biscoff, Chocolate Chip, Oreo to Honey.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Make this super-easy dessert in no time with 5 ingredients and a simple method.
- This single-serving dessert is fudgy and moist, and done within 2 minutes.
- Enjoy a moist chocolate cake in no time which is as flavorful as my Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake, Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake or Coca Cola Cake.
- This mug cake is customizable and you can put a personal touch to it with several personalized options.
How was Nutella Created?
Nutella is a popular chocolate hazelnut spread, which was created out of necessity during World War II when the world was dealing with ingredients scarcity and shortage.
Cocoa was one of such ingredients which was expensive and scarce during the war. It was then when an Italian baker Pietro Ferrero experimented with chocolate spreads by adding hazelnuts to it, which was readily available in his region.
This experiment turned into an amazing creation of Nutella spread, initially called "Gianduja," and later became popular as Nutella around the world.
Ingredients
- Nutella is the hero of this recipe.
- All purpose flour provides structure to this mug cake.
- Milk will give a soft crumb. Whole milk works best for this chocolate cake.
- Vegetable Oil adds moistness.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Feel free to replace Nutella with any other hazelnut chocolate spread of your choice in this recipe.
- Substitute all-purpose flour with self-raising flour, remembering to skip the addition of baking powder since self-raising flour already contains a leavening agent.
- While I haven't personally tested this recipe with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, it should work well as a substitute for the all-purpose flour. If you try this variation, please share your experience in the comments below.
- Out of vegetable oil? Use canola oil as an alternate.
- To enjoy rich, melty chocolate chunks a tablespoon of chocolate chips to the batter
- Add a touch of vanilla extract (¼ teaspoon) for aroma.
- Fold in 1 tablespoon of your favorite chopped nuts, like walnuts or pecans, for an added texture and crunch.
This recipe hasn't been tested with alternative substitutions or variations. If you choose to replace or include different ingredients, we'd love to hear about your experience. Please share your feedback in the comments section below!
Baking Pro Tips
1. Unless a recipe says otherwise, always use room-temperature ingredients. This helps them mix together smoothly and evenly, for perfect results every time.
2. Ditch the measuring cups and grab your digital scale. Weighing dry ingredients in grams ensures perfect accuracy and consistent results.
How to Make Nutella Mug Cake
Detailed Instructions Below! See the key steps here, then head to the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Gather the ingredients in the mug.
2. Mix the ingredients using a whisk.
3. Place the mug in the microwave for 60 - 90 seconds until done. Insert a cake tester or tooth pick in the center and if it comes out clean the cake is ready.
Serving Suggestions
- Whipped Cream/Ice-cream go hand in hand with this chocolate dessert. Top your cake with a generous dollop of fluffy whipped cream or a generous scoop of an ice-cream flavor. I love vanilla with this cake.
- Fresh berries are perfect to pair with this nutella cake. My personal favorites are raspberries or strawberries.
- Drizzle chocolate syrup or a dollop of nutella on the top of this delicious mug cake.
Expert Tips
- Avoid overmixing and monitor the cake as it cooks in the microwave, as cooking time may vary based on your microwave's wattage. Start with the recommended time and check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.
- Microwave wattages vary, so start with the recommended cooking time and check the cake in 30-second intervals thereafter. For perfect doneness, insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center. If it comes out clean, your delicious mug cake is ready.
- For a clean rise take a moment to wipe down the sides of the mug with a clean paper towel before microwaving. This removes any stray batter that could hinder an even rise and create a smoother cake.
- Select a large, microwave-safe and spacious mug with straight sides to accommodate the rising cake batter. A standard coffee mug typically works well. This prevents overflow and ensures even cooking.
Recipe FAQs
Greasing is not required. You won't need to use cooking spray in this recipe. The batter itself contains enough fat to prevent sticking and ensures a smooth cake rise.
This recipe is designed for quick and easy enjoyment, but if you do need to prepare the batter in advance, you can do so easily.
For short-term storage up to 6 hours, tightly wrap the mug containing the batter with plastic wrap and refrigerate. When ready to bake, remove the mug from the fridge and stir the batter well to recombine any separated ingredients, and place it in the microwave.
Yes. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the mug cake in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
How to Store
Refrigerator
Wrap the remaining cake directly in the mug with plastic wrap. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The texture may change a bit though during refrigeration.
Freezing Instructions
This cake will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 1 month. Simply wrap the cake with plastic cling and store in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnights before serving.
Reheating Instructions
When ready to enjoy, simply remove the plastic wrap and heat the cake in the microwave for a few seconds (30 - 60 seconds), until warmed thoroughly.
Did you make this recipe? Give it a 🌟 rating with a comment.
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Related Mug Cake Recipes
Recipe
Nutella Mug Cake
Equipment
- 1 Microwave safe mug.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon all purpose flour (32 g)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder (2.5 g)
- 3 tablespoon milk (full fat) (45 ml)
- 3 tablespoon nutella (57 g)
Instructions
- Take a microwave safe mug and combine all the ingredients together.
- Using a whisk mix the ingredients until just combined.
- Once the batter is smooth place it in the microwave for 60 - 90 seconds.
- If a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean the cake is ready.
Notes
- Avoid overmixing and monitor the cake as it cooks in the microwave, as cooking time may vary based on your microwave's wattage. Start with the recommended time and check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.
- Microwave wattages vary, so start with the recommended cooking time and check the cake in 30-second intervals thereafter. For perfect doneness, insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center. If it comes out clean, your delicious mug cake is ready.
- For a clean rise take a moment to wipe down the sides of the mug with a clean paper towel before microwaving. This removes any stray batter that could hinder an even rise and create a smoother cake.
- Select a large, microwave-safe and spacious mug to accommodate the rising cake batter. A standard coffee mug typically works well. This prevents overflow and ensures even cooking.
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