Nutella Cake-in-a-Mug

The two things I love most in the world are 1) instant gratification and 2) Nutella. I hope most of you can agree with me on this. I love to bake, but sometimes the idea of collecting all those ingredients, dirtying all those pans and then having to clean up all that mess is just too much to undertake. Thankfully, there’s a magical land called Pinterest that makes our lives a million times easier. I get almost all of my recipes on Pinterest, because it’s that good.


While browsing one night, I found a recipe for a 5-minute Nutella cake that I knew I had to try. To my surprise, the recipe didn’t call for pots, pans or an oven, but rather a coffee mug and a microwave. You can bake a cake in a microwave? Oh yes you can, and it is just as delicious. I couldn’t have been more excited. So gather up those ingredients and get ready for some true instant gratification. Ok, maybe it’s more like 90-second gratification, but that’s close enough.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1/4 cup self-rising flour  (or use regular flour, but add baking powder!)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, or more to taste
2 tablespoons chocolate-hazelnut spread (I highly recommend Nutella), or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

What I like most about this recipe was how easy and foolproof it is. You don’t need a fancy stand mixer, sifter or any other professional grade tools. Basically, just throw everything in the mug, mix and you’re ready to go. Really, that’s it. I’ve tried this recipe a thousand times and never messed it up. Also, the ingredients are pretty flexible, too. Don’t have oil? That’s fine! Just double up the milk and it’ll taste the same, or vice versa. Throw the mug into the microwave for about 90 seconds, give or take depending on the strength (basically, keep a close eye on it!).

I added an extra dollop of Nutella on top, along with a strawberry garnish. I like the way it looks like I’m a pro and trying really hard when I’m actually not. However, this recipe is extremely customizable and the possibilities are really endless! I’ve tried adding whipped cream on top (delicious!), throwing chocolate chips in and also adding a peanut butter swirl. This is the place to let your creativity shine--or to just clean out your pantry.

Happy baking!