Making a cake in a mug wasn’t something I had ever considered trying, until I spotted a kit during my weekly supermarket shop.
Have you ever made one? This was a first for me, and counted as one of my 52 new things in a year.
The packaging looked promising with a picture of a mug full of gooey chocolate cake. So I added it to the basket. Would this be a game changer in sweet treats?
Making A Cake In A Mug
I’m not a brilliant baker, but I do like whipping up a cake when there’s an occasion. The results are generally ok. It may not look asthetically pleasing or even, but it usually tastes good, and that’s what matters, right?
There’s something quite satisfying about the process, especially when you take your home made cake out of the oven and it has not only filled the kitchen with deliciously enticing smells, but has risen well and looks something like it is meant to.
Would using pre-mixed dried ingredients really be a piece of cake? (You didn’t think I’d be able to avoid the pun did you?!).
The Kit
I’d picked up a Betty Crocker mug treat, which contained almost everything I needed for making 2 cakes in mugs.
Pouring the packets in to a mug didn’t create that same sense of occasion as weighing out the ingredients.
Adding a splash of milk, I mixed it all up and was good to go. It was that easy. On the plus side, I wasn’t creating as much washing up as I usually would when baking.
The Process For Making A Cake In A Mug
I followed the instructions and popped the mug in the microwave.
80 seconds later and it was done.
It had risen a little bit but wasn’t fluffing out over the top of the mug like the packaging had lead me to believe it would– maybe because it wasn’t the same shape of mug that they used on the packet?
It looked lost in the big vessel, and it looked very dry.
Thankfully chocolate sauce was also provided in the pack which I squeezed on and left for a moment to melt.
The All Important Taste Test
Not feeling particularly blown away with the appearance of my cake in a mug, maybe the taste would be sensational.
I liked the warmth of my first spoonful, but it was overwhelmingly sweet.
Approximately four mouthfuls later and I’d polished it off. I had had my cake, and I had most definitely eaten it.
Would I Try Making A Cake In A Mug Again?
Personally I can’t imagine I would ever find myself in a situation where I needed a couple of mouthfuls of cake in less than two minutes.
If I needed a sugar fix quickly, I think I’d just reach for a biscuit and save myself the hassle.
Want To Try It Yourself?
Most supermarkets have a variety of cake in a mug options, and you can pick them up on-line too.
- You can always follow a recipe from scratch rather than buying a packet. BBC Good Food have an easy to follow microwave mug cake recipe.
Cost Of Experience
I picked up a Betty Crocker packet for £2. It contained two sachets so I was able to make this treat for The Other Half too.
The only other ingredient required was milk, which I already had in the fridge.
The cost will depend where you shop as to how much you pay.
Recommendations
- I’d recommend lowering your expectations if you give this a go. That way, you might be more pleasantly surprised by the results than I was.
- Let me know – if you’ve ever made a cake in a mug and enjoyed it. Was I doing something wrong? Is there another kit that I should try?