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For the perfect food gift for loved ones, try out this easy and sweet, fudgy chocolate mug cake. With a dusting of powdered sugar over a warm cake, it will feel and look a lot like Christmas.

All you need to do is put the ingredients into two bags and put them in a mug. Christmas is all about giving from the heart. What can be more giving than a homemade gift in a cute package?

Chocolate cake ingredients in a red mug with Christmas decorations on brown, wooden background.

Depending on how you like your cake, mug cakes can come out too dry or too moist, to the point that it sticks to the roof of your mouth. To combat this, you can have it with a glass of milk. Or if you want something warmer, have a hot chocolate. Nothing pairs better with chocolate than more chocolate. Am I right fellow chocolate lovers??

Chocolate cake ingredients packaged in a mug with Christmas decorations.

The recipe calls for powdered sugar on top of the mug cake, but powdered sugar is difficult to sprinkle and sticks to your fingers. I recommend using a small sieve when you top the cake. The powdered sugar will cover the cake evenly, it looks great, there are no clumps, and it looks like fallen snow, matching the holidays and the weather perfectly.

Chocolate cake ingredients in a red mug with Christmas decorations.

You can add suggestions to the gift note, such as to top the mug cake with other toppings like chocolate chips, a drizzle of caramel or hot fudge, any nut butter, or the classic whipped cream. You can also add a dollop of one of the toppings in the middle of the cake batter, pour in the rest of the batter, and your cake will have a nice surprise in the middle.

If you want to take it a step further, you can add some Christmas baking sprinkles to another small bag and add it to the mug.

Chocolate mug cake in a red mug with a white spoon and Christmas decorations in the background.

Adding an egg to the wet mix will make the cake taller in the mug and more spongy. I’ve tried it both ways, and I prefer the mug cake without an egg (even though the cake looks cooler all puffed up). It tastes much more moist and fudgy without the egg.

Because the ingredients are dry, you can store them in a cool, dry place; it should stay fresh until you or your loved ones want to make it. Check the dry ingredient expiry dates to be sure.

Do you love getting food gifts from friends and family? Let us know in the comments!

Chocolate cake ingredients in a red mug with Christmas decorations on brown, wooden background.

Food Gift Recipe: Fudgy Chocolate Mug Cake

Joss Dyckson
For the perfect food gift for loved ones, try out this easy and sweet, fudgy chocolate mug cake.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 1
Calories 785 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Bag 1:

  • ¼ cup flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Bag 2:

  • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Instructions
 

Bag 1:

  • Mix all ‘Bag 1’ dry ingredients in a bowl.
    ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup sugar, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • Place the mix in a clear bag and close with a bow.

Bag 2:

  • Place the powdered sugar in a small clear bag and close with a bow.
    1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Mug Preparation:

  • Place both bags in a mug and add a note with the following steps to make the cake:
    "Pour BAG 1 (cake mix) into the mug.
    Add 3 tbsp. vegetable oil and 3 tbsp. milk. Mix really well with a fork, making sure no dry ingredients are left on the sides of the mug.
    Heat in the microwave for about 1 ½ minutes at full power (cook time will depend on your microwave).
    Let cool a few minutes, sprinkle with some powdered sugar (BAG 2) and enjoy!"

Equipment

Mug
Small clear bag
Medium clear bag
Gift label

Nutrition

Calories: 785kcalCarbohydrates: 94gProtein: 10gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 39gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 28mgPotassium: 633mgFiber: 11gSugar: 53gVitamin A: 72IUCalcium: 141mgIron: 6mg

Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

Keyword food gift
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Recipe Rating




  1. Are the amounts correct for the oil and milk in this recipe? Tested it today and could pour oil off the finished product, was very 'wet', unappetizing appearance, could tell the basic chocolate flavor was good.

    1. Hi Donna, the amounts are definitely correct. I’ve made it many times. It’s possible you didn’t mix it thoroughly into a batter and/or cook it all the way.

  2. Love this idea for a homemade gift this year! I just might pick up a few mugs and the cake ingredients to make a few for friends and family!

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