Vegan Chocolate Microwave Cake

Name: Vegan Chocolate Microwave Cake
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 7 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 3 tbsp all-purpose flour; 3 tbsp granulated sugar; 2 tbsp 100 percent cocoa powder; 1/4 tsp baking powder; pinch of salt; 3 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk; 3 tbsp applesauce; 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

March 27, 2020 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 0 Comment

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I’ll admit, “vegan chocolate microwave cake” sounds like four words that aren’t necessarily meant to go together. This is very much the case where the name does not tell the whole story.

This recipe is perfect for those trapped at home looking for an easy, quick, comforting chocolate dessert. And I’ve made it with things you’re almost certain to already have stocked in your kitchen or pantry right now. No trip to the store needed! It’s also a fun treat to prepare with the kids in your household… something they can easily get very involved with making or handle almost entirely on their own!

Oh and as a bonus? It clocks in at just 270 calories so it can work with any weight loss program too! So I know its name might sound like a strange word salad, but grab a mug, and give this recipe a try!

Ingredients (Makes 1 Cake)

3 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp 100 percent cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
3 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
3 tbsp applesauce
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Pick A Mug

Normally I wouldn’t make an issue out of what kind of a vessel someone was cooking in, but since this cake is being “baked” in the microwave, it goes without saying (well… not technically, since this is me, SAYING it) that you need to make certain that you choose a mug that is microwave safe.

Other than that? The only part mug selection will play is in determining the shape of your cake. If you chose a really large mug, your cake will be bigger and shorter… but a smaller mug will yield a taller, skinnier cake.

Mostly though? Please just make sure your mug is safe for cooking in the microwave and you’re good to go.

Combine the Dry

The first step is to combine all of the dry ingredients in the mug: the flour, the sugar, the cocoa powder, the baking powder and the salt. Mix them up really well with a fork. You’re not sifting the flour as you might do with regular baking, and a fork with blend things together better than just stirring them around with a spoon would.

Add the Wet

Next, add the wet ingredients. Here, you’re looking for three tablespoons of milk, and (since we’re going vegan and lower-calorie) three tablespoons of apple sauce.

I mentioned in the ingredients above to use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but you could obviously use whatever you’d like here. I’ve used unsweetened chocolate almond milk too and it works just fine. The only difference is 2-3 calories, so it doesn’t matter much either way. But if you are using different milk, just be sure to adjust the calories accordingly if you want to keep an exact measure of things.

As for the applesauce? When I was trying this all we had were small single serving cups of cinnamon applesauce… so I’ve used those. Cinnamon and chocolate go nicely together and those containers are just over three tablespoons so they work perfectly. Like I said, use what you have!

As for the vanilla extract? It definitely adds to the flavor so if you have it on hand, please add it. If you don’t, the cake will taste great without it. If you’re looking for a substitute? Add 1/4 tsp of strong black coffee. That will just ramp up the chocolate flavor… you won’t taste the coffee at all.

Mix and Bake

Once the wet ingredients are added, mix again with the fork until it is smooth and well blended. Pay particular attention to the scraping the bottom and sides of the mug.

Once you’re happy with the mix, put it in the microwave (uncovered) on high for 100 seconds (1 min, 40 seconds for the mathematically challenged). Microwaves can vary of course, and you might need to add or subtract 10-15 seconds on this in some cases. But I think for the majority of people 100 seconds will yield a nice, moist cake.

When you remove it from the microwave you can eat it right from the mug just as it is, or topping it with anything you’d like! Or if you run a knife around the edges of the mug and invert it, the cake should fall out nicely onto a plate.

If you give this a try, let me know in the comments below how it went and especially any substitutions and/or additions you made. They might be helpful to others who are cooped up and ooking to try something new too!