5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

So how many of you have gotten this email chain letter?  I have received it more times then I can count, and have always been a little skeptical to actually give it a try.  But what fun is having a cooking blog if you don't try out weird recipes every now and then?!  So here you have it, the No Foolin' 5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake!  

No Foolin’ 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake
Adapted from an email recipe
1 large serving or 2 small ones

1 large mug
4 Tbsp. flour
4 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 large egg
3 Tbsp. milk
3 Tbsp. oil
1/4 cup chocolate chips (plus some extra for sprinkling on top when it comes out of the microwave)
a small splash of vanilla extract

1. Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well.
2. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
3. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
4. Add the 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and vanilla extract, and mix again.
5. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed! Remove from microwave and sprinkle top of cake with chocolate chips.
6. Allow to cool a little, and then dig in!

***OK, so after reading a few of these recipes and adaptations I have a few suggestions.  First, be sure to not over cook.  It will turn rubbery and inedible.  Quite a few people suggest cooking for 2:30 minutes instead of the full 3, because the thickness of the mug can effect cooking time.  Another person suggested layering chocolate chips, batter, chocolate chips, batter, etc. which produced a very creamy, very moist cake.  I LOVE chocolate chips so I opted to try out this suggestion.  

The Verdict:
We loved it!  Jackson and I made this together and he had a blast measuring, stirring and the fact that he got to enjoy it so quickly after mixing was very exciting.  Since we only cooked it for 2:30 minutes, the texture was very creamy and moist.  Almost if you were combine those wonderful gooey brownies everyone tries to achieve, and a nice rich pudding.  I am sure if you were to go the full 3 minutes it would be much more cakey.  I only had one egg in the house I didn't want to take a chance at a rubbery ball of inedible chocolate- Jackson would have been way too disappointed if it tasted yucky.  I figured I could always put it back in if need be.  But we liked it just as it was so I didn't bother going any longer.  This is a super fun snack to make with the kids, and a nice way to make sure you don't over indulged with having an entire sheet cake sitting around the house for a week.  I found it very rich, and even though I am a chocolate lover, I don't think I could eat the whole thing in one sitting.  I definitely think this is more of a sharing dessert.  It would go wonderfully with a scoop of ice-cream!

You can upturn your mug and lightly tap so the cake will slide right out.