Hot Cocoa Mug Cake from Scratch (Cocoa Powder, No Mix)

This hot cocoa mug cake turns a chocolate craving into dessert in about five minutes flat, with one mug, one spoon and no oven. It bakes up warm, soft and properly chocolatey from cocoa powder, ready for whipped cream, a few chocolate chips or melting marshmallows on top.

Why you'll love this

• Ready in around five minutes start to finish, straight from the microwave
• Mixed and cooked in a single mug, so there is barely any washing up
• No egg, which is exactly why it stays soft instead of turning rubbery
• Rich, moist and deeply chocolatey, easy to crown with your favourite toppings

Key ingredients & swaps

• Unsweetened cocoa powder — delivers the chocolate flavour and colour; whisk it with the dry ingredients first to break up any lumps so the batter is smooth, not speckled.
• All-purpose flour — gives the cake its structure; measure it accurately and stop stirring once it is incorporated, as too much mixing makes the cake tough.
• Granulated sugar — sweetens and keeps the crumb tender and moist; it balances the natural bitterness of the cocoa.
• Vegetable oil — coats the flour to keep the cake moist and soft even after it cools; oil stays liquid at room temperature, so it gives a more tender result than butter here.
• Baking powder — the lift; it gives this eggless batter its rise, so use it fresh and don't skip it or you get a dense puck.
• Milk — hydrates the batter and brings it together into a pourable, lump-free mix; whole milk makes it a touch richer.

How to make it (step by step)

1. 

   1

   Whisk the dry mix

   In a roomy microwave-safe mug, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and a pinch of salt until evenly combined and no cocoa lumps remain.

2. 

   2

   Add the wet

   Pour in the milk, oil and vanilla and stir until the batter is smooth. Stop as soon as it comes together; overmixing develops gluten and turns the cake rubbery.

3. 

   3

   Microwave to just set

   Microwave on high for about 1 to 1.5 minutes. Start checking at 1 minute; it is done when the cake has risen and the top looks just set rather than wet, even if it is a touch shiny.

4. 

   4

   Cool a moment

   Let the mug rest for a minute. It carries on cooking from residual heat and firms up slightly, and the mug will be hot, so give it a beat before digging in.

5. 

   5

   Top and serve

   Finish with whipped cream, a scatter of chocolate chips, or marshmallows while it is warm so they soften into the cake, and eat straight from the mug.