real life test kitchen: cooking in a mug
I’ll try anything once, and when it comes to cake, you don’t have to ask me twice. So when my culinary curiosity lead me to a recipe for a five-minute cake that is cooked in a mug, I was instantly dedicated to road-testing any version available that would lead me through the dark woods of my cynicism to believing that something tasty could in fact be made in a mug in five minutes. Apparently WebMD’s Elaine Magee RD, MPH was on a similarly holy mission, but she took it a step further by making the cake recipe healthier. And wouldn’t you know it? Her 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake Makeover was the tastiest of the few I tried! I also experimented with meatloaf and omelets in a mug — details after the jump! –Sarah C. Click the link for the mug cake recipe and more mug love!
5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake Makeover
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup egg substitute (with yolk) or 1 egg
3 tablespoons lowfat milk or fat free half & half
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 tablespoons fat free sour cream
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons semi sweet chocolate chips
light vanilla bean ice cream (optional)
sliced strawberries or other fresh fruit
Preparation:
1. In a microwave-safe coffee mug, combine whole-wheat flour, sugar and cocoa.
2. Pour egg-substitute or egg, lowfat milk, canola oil, sour cream and vanilla into the mug with dry ingredients and mix well with a fork.
3. Stir chocolate chips into the cake batter in mug, if desired. Place mug in center of microwave, (preferably one that has a turn table) and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes. The cake will rise about an inch or so above the top of the mug (don’t worry, it won’t drip down the sides of the mug).
4. Let cake cool in mug for a few minutes then turn mug upside down over a serving bowl (the cake should slide out fairly easily).
5. Cut cake in half for a smaller sized serving and top with a small scoop of light vanilla bean ice cream and sliced strawberries (or other fresh fruit).
Enjoy!
More mug love:
If this helps develop your palate for gourmet mug meals, try these recipes for mug meatloaf or an omelet in a mug. While the meatloaf is a tad hard on the eyes, it’s easy on the taste buds and even easier on the dishwasher!
October 28th, 2009 at 7:09 am
I was very disappointed by one cake-in-a-mug recipe that I got off the Internet last year. but I might give the healthy makeover version a try.
October 28th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
My friend just emailed this to me today. Can’t wait to try it !
October 28th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Hello, brilliant! This is perfect for those nights when you need a little something-something but, of course, don’t feel like cooking a whole cake. I can’t wait to give it a try!