Make Cakes in a Mug in Mere Minutes!
Mug cakes are cakes that can be whipped up in minutes, right in a microwavesafe mug. Typically these recipes are scaled to serve 1 or 2 people and they certainly are handy when you get a sweet tooth attack at 10pm. Leslie Bilderback explores how many ways you can create these individual treats in her book Mug Cakes. Make sure to check out her Hazelnut-Nutella Mug Cake, too.
From Mug Cakes: 100 Speedy Microwave Treats to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Red Velvet Mug Cake Recipe
This uber-trendy cake is actually a vintage recipe from the Deep South. It is as red as Scarlet O’ Hara’s dress thanks to the combination of cocoa powder and cheap liquid red food coloring. Be sure to use the cheap stuff! Fancy food coloring pastes and gels don’t work nearly as well. The vinegar was traditionally added to the baking soda as a leavener. With self-rising flour, it’s not necessary, but it’s added here for its classic zippy flavor.
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon liquid red food coloring
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup self-rising flour
- Pinch of kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cider, white, white wine, or rice vinegar
- In a large mug, whisk together the egg and oil with a fork. Stir in the food coloring, buttermilk, vanilla, and sugar. Add the cocoa, flour, salt, and vinegar. Beat the batter until smooth. Divide the batter between two mugs. Microwave separately for 1 to 2 minutes each until risen and firm.
Topping Ideas: Cream cheese frosting, Marshmallow Fluff, whipped cream, fresh berries, red sugar sprinkles, candied pecans, or chocolate shavings.
Variations
Blue Velvet: You never know when you may need to make a blue cake. It’s easily done by replacing cheap red liquid food coloring with cheap blue liquid food coloring. For any other cake color, you’ll want to omit the cocoa powder, as it will give all other food colors a tinge of brown. If you make another color, replace the cocoa powder with an equal amount of flour.
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