Food Gift Recipe: Fudgy Chocolate Mug Cake

For the perfect food gift for loved ones, try out this easy and sweet, fudgy chocolate mug cake. A dusting of powdered sugar over a warm cake in a festive mug evokes the cozy charm and magic of Christmas.

This craft can take 10 minutes or less to make. 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?

This chocolate mug cake recipe works for other holidays too or simply prepare a quick treat for yourself as it takes under 2 minutes to bake in the microwave.

I also make another food-gift recipe that is just as easy and perfect for Christmas: chocolate chip cookie mix in a jar. And these Cuban lunch candy bars are a popular food gift during the holiday season. You can check out more of my holiday recipes for Christmas here.

Ingredients

These are the dry ingredients needed to prepare the chocolate mug cake food gift:

• flour - I use all-purpose flour.
• sugar - You can choose regular white sugar or organic.
• baking powder - Helps the cake rise, making it light and fluffy.
• cocoa powder - The cocoa powder makes this cake fudgy, moist and delicious.
• powdered sugar - This will be included in a separate bag as a topping.

Chef's Note: If you are preparing the mug cake for yourself, you will also need canola oil and milk.

*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.

Materials

Pick these materials up online, or at a craft store, dollar store or department store.

• a mug - You can go with a holiday themed mug or stick to a basic one.
• small clear bag - To hold the icing sugar.
• medium size clear bag - To hold the cake mix.
• gift label - You can make your own or pick up some themed labels.
• ribbons and other gift decorations - Optional.

How to Make a Chocolate Mug Cake Food Gift

Add Ingredients to Bags

1. Mix all ‘Bag 1’ dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Place the mix in a clear bag and close with a bow.
3. Place the powdered sugar in a small clear bag and close with a bow.

Prepare the Mug

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 tablespoons canola oil and 3 tablespoons 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!"

Joss' Tips

Tips for Giving the Mug Cake Mix as a Food Gift

• You can add more suggestions to the gift note, such as to top the cake with other toppings like chocolate chips, a drizzle of caramel, hot fudge, homemade chocolate gravy or any nut butter, or the classic whipped cream.
• 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.
• This mug cake food gift also works for teacher gifts, birthdays and more. Just change the mug and decorations to match the theme of the occasion.

Tips for Preparing the Mug Cake

• 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??
• 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.
• 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.

Egg or No Egg

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.

Chocolate Mug Cake Food Gift Storage

Because the ingredients are dry, you can store them in a cool, dry place. The food gift should stay fresh until you or your loved ones want to prepare the mug cake. Check the dry ingredient expiry dates to be sure.

🍫More Mouthwatering Chocolate Recipes