Among many important life lessons, my parents instilled in me one fundamental truth: dessert follows dinner. No sooner do I finish my last bite of dinner than I crave something sweet to wash it down. Tonight I'll be making my second batch of these chocolate mochi mug cakes. This sweet tooth is programmed into my genes.
Mind you, my mom tried hard to feed me a balanced meal, but the odds were stacked against her. While my dad loved steak and potatoes, I hated steak. So much that I'd covertly drop chewed up pieces of meat under my chair for the dog, trying to hurry my way to the ice cream portion of the meal. I'm a role model for picky children everywhere. But guys, can you really blame me? Dessert is awesome.
Just last week while visiting my parents, I glanced over to find my dad sitting in his recliner with a big smile on his face, spooning ice cream out of oversized jar of Nutella. No shame. He announced that he'd read about it online - "when the Nutella jar is almost empty, you fill it with ice cream to create a sundae so nothing goes to waste." I suspect he's been using Pinterest on his iPad.
(Don't tell anyone that I was secretly envious he'd thought of it first.)
A few weeks ago, my blogger friend Jennifer of Kirbie's Cravings sent me a copy of her new cookbook, 5-Minute Mug Cakes and now I'll never have an excuse for skipping dessert again (Thanks Jennifer!). I'm a huge fan of desserts that satisfy your sweet tooth cravings in just minutes (and don't require filling an old Nutella jar up with ice cream).
It's no surprise that this chocolate mochi mug cake is the first one from her gluten-free section to catch my eye. To give you a clear picture of how deep my love of mochi runs, the three things we currently stockpile in our house are toilet paper, paper towels, and bags of sweet rice flour (for making mochi).
Last year, I baked a 3-layer mochi cake with chocolate mochi, matcha mochi, and vanilla mochi. It took forever, but tasted like heaven. This chocolate mochi mug cake version takes 3 minutes start to finish and tastes just as decadent. You don't find lots of chocolate in Japanese desserts, but this marriage produces a moist rich chocolate cake that's similar in density to a brownie, but incredibly stretchy and chewy.
I've been down for the count with a persistent cough for the past week. On the up side, it comes with a gravelly voice that makes everything I say come across super sexy. "Do you want to eat this mug cake, honey?" suddenly sounds so seductive. I bet you want to eat it now too, right?
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Chocolate Mochi Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sweet rice flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ tablespoon unsweetened dutch-processed cocoa powder (I use Rodelle cocoa powder)
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons non-fat milk (or soy milk)
- Optional: powdered sugar for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Whisk together all of the dry ingredients in a medium microwave safe mug (I used a 4-ounce tea cup in the photos above and it just reaches the very top, so I'd recommend using 4-ounces or larger).
- Add the wet ingredients and use a fork or a small whisk to mix until the batter is smooth.
- Cook in the microwave for 1 minute. If the cake is not done, heat an additional 15 seconds. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve immediately.
Notes
Shared with permission from 5-Minute Mug Cakes from Kirbie's Cravings
Alanna -
This looks so good! And I can't believe how simple it is to make. DANGEROUSLY simple...
I too am a fan of the sexy sick voice. :)
My favorite quick dessert is dates with almond butter. It's what I resort to on the (very) rare occasions that I'm out of all things dessert-like and am absolutely desperate.
Sarah Menanix -
Oh man, I bet you've been eating a lot of that because you're probably running low on dessert all the time right now;) (Also - I may have made way too many "test" batches of this...even though the first one turned out just fine)
Penny -
Another simple one that's similar: open up a medjool date, take out the pit, replace the pit with one or two whole pecans. Bingo! Raw, sweet and gooey dessert with lots of sugar to soothe the sweet-toothed tiger in us, but lots of fiber to slow down the release of sugar into our blood streams. I swear, it tastes almost exactly like pecan pie.
Not kidding. ; D
Kirbie -
I don't know where to start...
- I'm totally going to try the ice cream-in-the-Nutella-jar sundae.
- I love the tea cups!
- 3 layer mochi cake?! it sounds devine!
Thank you for such a beautiful post!
Sarah Menanix -
You're so quick! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful book! I'm totally inspired to start making more mug cakes - this was my first dive into mug cakes:) Thanks for the inspiration! <3 Can't wait to see you IRL in a month!
June Burns -
I do like mug cakes, though I don't make them nearly as much as I should. Looks like a fantastic cookbook :)
Kimberly | Chic & Sugar -
I love these mug cakes! They look decadent and the photos are great, too!
Joanna -
I love mug cakes! It's either this or chocolate and cheese toast!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine -
I make mug cakes ALL the time! Love doing a chocolate buckwheat flour one with protein frosting!
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert -
I love the nutella jar story, Sarah. I need to start doing that myself! This mug cake sounds incredible! And it's so quick. I must make it soon!
Alison H. -
These mug cakes look so delicious! Definitely going to have to try! My favorite quick dessert is cream cheese/strawberry muffins!
Meg @ BeardandBonnet -
Totally swooning over these gluten free mug cakes!!! I have to make these ASAP.
Tina @ Just Putzing Around the Kitchen -
Yummmmmmmm! Would have never thought to make a mochi mug cake. Good work, Kirbie and Sarah :D
Dane H. -
Love it! This looks so tasty.
Erin R. -
I usually go for a fudgecicle but I'll have to give mug cakes a bash one of these days.
Joy | The Joyful Foodie -
Can you believe I have yet to make a mug cake? I feel like I've let Pinterest down. As for my favorite quick dessert, the usual around here is ice cream (that Nutella jar thing is genius and is SO happening around here next time the Nutella jar is low), but lately I've been on a avocado chocolate pudding kick.
Sarah Menanix -
I hadn't yet either before these mochi mug cakes! I actually had to go out and buy a special mug so I had one worthy of such a delicious cake. Avocado chocolate pudding sounds amazzzzzzzing.
Sheri -
My go to quick dessert is usually a cookie, since cookies are my favorite thing in the world! This warm cake in a cup looks delicious!
Suzanne -
Oooooh that book could be very good or very very bad for me. Regardless, I want it!
Lisa / Good on Paper -
Love mug cakes! Only tried it a couple of times, but it totally satisfied my craving for chocolate cake. this recipe is so creative! Love how you use mochi all the time!
Sarah Menanix -
I am so addicted to mochi! I could eat it every day for dessert and never tire of it! Also - thanks, Lisa:)
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely -
I can't believe I've never made a mug cake! It sounds so easy. And smart, because it is the perfect portion size. Who needs a huge cake sitting around, just tempting you to eat the whole thing. I'm loving this mochi version : )
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl -
I'm cracking up at your dad! Quite the creative way to have a sundae. ;) And this mochi mug cake looks so good!
Rachel -
I am sooo hooked on this! They look and sound delicious and yet they are so quick to make! I also adore how you have the dark chocolate in those adorable crisp white mugs. Perfection!
Rachel
http://rachelinflight.com
[email protected] -
Love this mug cake, I'm all about simple and this couldn't get any easier.
Amanda Paa -
i have never seen a mug cake look so perfect! i've tried a few before without a lot of success but i think it's possible after seeing these! i can just picture your dad eating the ice cream out of the nutella jar. a resourceful lad. love it!
Sarah Menanix -
Aww - this is my first one and it was so tasty that I think I'm going to have to make more. (Also - I love that I could accuse my dad instantly of spending too much time on Pinterest;)
Leah M @ love me, feed me -
I've been making mug cakes every night lately! They're just so easy and delicious. Always topped with copious amounts of nut butter and always something crunchy.
I'm so in love with mochi and am SO intrigued by this mugcake!! I definitely need to give it a try.
Nancy A. -
Would love this book~ My favorite quick dessert is all these mug cakes. I would like to make some and this book would certainly help with that. I make cakes once in a while, but I usually have an apple or orange if I want something else to eat.
Kelly - A Side of Sweet -
5 minute desserts of any kind are genius! And in cute mugs! Love this so much. I'm just learning about mochi thanks to our friendship and I would love for us to continue my education by making me these cakes! Now please.
Sarah Menanix -
So easyyyy! Perfect starter-mochi;)
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West -
A whole book devoted to mug cakes? Awesome! My favorite fast dessert is digging into a slice of cheesecake. Hey, it's fast. :)
Miriam -
Does stuffing chocolate chips and hazelnuts into my mouth count as a dessert? Because that would be it.
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - TOTALLY COUNTS (because I keep a bag in the freezer to do just that!)
Annette -
My favorite quick dessert is ricotta cheese with almond/vanilla flavor and sugar/stevia. It doesn't get much easier than that and is so yummy.
Danielle L. -
This looks amazing!!
Pam -
Cookie dough or cake batter has always been my personal quickie dessert.
Pang @circahappy -
Your dad is genius; I wish I thought of it earlier, so I would not have wasted even one pinch of Nutella. Anyway, this dessert is WAY too easy & dangerous that I am afraid I can’t resist but making it everyday :) Love love it, Sarah
Sarah Menanix -
Make sure you buy the extra large containers of Nutella so you can fit half a pint in your serving size;)
Holly E -
I love caramel brownies.
Rebecca -
Oh my gosh, I love mochi too! And Kirbie's Cravings! And I want your complicated mochi cake recipe. My favorite quick dessert to make is probably a really good chocolate chip cookie. But you can also never go wrong with ice cream.
Sarah Menanix -
Sometime this year, I hope to put the complicated mochi cake recipe on the blog. Maybe to celebrate when I'm finally done with school!
streusel -
I love baking pie crust scraps sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Reminds me of grandma!
Lynn | The Road to Honey -
The story with your dad was hilarious - I had a strong visual in my head while reading. That mug cake looks divine and I can't blame you for insisting on desert after dinner. This looks like it would take care of that craving lickety split.
Veronica -
Roy will love this dessert! He still raves about the strawberry mochi with red bean dessert you made for us!
Sarah Menanix -
Yes - this one is even easier! Do you have a place where you can find sweet rice flour over there?
kristie {birch and wild} -
Is it bad that I want to eat this everyday? Oh, wow. It looks so incredible.
Tessa | Salted Plains -
Oh my, so decadently awesome! This looks fantastic, Sarah. And kudos to your dad with the Nutella jar idea - brilliant! :)
Nancy -
You cracked me up with the chewed up steak comment! HAH.
Emily Smith -
My favorite quick dessert is French vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate powder sprinkled on top.
Sarah@Whole and Heavenly Oven -
Oh, man. I think your dad is onto something with the whole ice-cream-outta-nutella-jars thing. DUH! Completely genius.
You know what else is mad genius? These mug cakes. Seriously SO flipping gorgeous! I still have yet to try making mug cakes, and I don't really know why either. I think you just convinced me. :)
Sarah Menanix -
Do it! I'm a mug cake convert - they're so easy and satisfy my sweet tooth so fast!
Shikha @ Shikha la mode -
I'm the SAME way - dessert has to follow dinner or it throws me off completely! I also LOVE mochi like crazy, so if I can make it in 5 minutes then I think hell yes!
mariana -
ive been making some terrible microwavable chocolate cake but i think this recipe will be good!
Ally -
Do chocolate chips right out of the bag count as a quick dessert? ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Yes. Especially if they're frozen (my favorite way to snack on them at midnight;)
Ally -
They live in the freezer here, so they're always frozen!
Monica -
fav quick dessert: haagen dazs ;)
Kat -
Thank you for this quick mug cake recipe-it sounds delicious and is gluten free! My favorite dessert is apple anything.
Traci | Vanilla And Bean -
Even better with Rodelle Cocoa!! My fav. quick chocolaty dessert... has to be Pots de Creme!
I've not tried mochi, but I am intrigued. I saw your fabulous chocolate mochi mug cake on IG and was immediately inspired! And what better timing, with V-day coming soon! Thank you, Sarah!
I hope your feeling better soon. I've had a nasty cough/cold too... and it is lingering too long!
Sarah Menanix -
Still! This darn cough is STILL hanging on for me. I agree - the Rodelle cocoa makes it so much darker and richer than other cocoa powder, I think!
Latina -
Since my children are both in college, that would be perfect for our empty nest. I love anything warm and chocolate-y!
sarah -
my favorite quick desert would be smores. I love them! The mug cake looks awesome, I will have to try that.
Brittany Koelmel -
Strawberries and sugar!!
Christy -
It's pretty hot in Australia at the moment, so my dessert of choice has to be ice cream or frozen yoghurt. Anything to cool off!!!!
Ellie @ Homemade Hearts -
Wow - this looks divine! I am the same way as you are - as soon as I finish my meal, I must have something sweet, even if it is just a little something! This looks like the perfect desert to make on a weeknight, simple ingredients, quick to prepare and no dirty dishes other than the mug! Love it and will make that for my husband and I this week :)
Sarah Menanix -
If you made it - I hope you loved it as much as I do. I'm running out of cupcakes, so I'm sure I'll be making this again next week! Thank you so much, Ellie!
Julia | Orchard Street Kitchen -
What a wonderful idea for a quick and delicious dessert! Mochi + chocolate sounds like a wonderful combination. I also love your dad's Nutella-ice cream idea :)
Aaron -
Brownies are my favorite!!! I also love quick Italian ice.
ellie | fit for the soul -
Oh man do I love mochi!!! I think it's one of the main reasons I love frozen yogurt, hehe. this looks soooo scrumptious and light! perfect for transitioning back into a more balanced diet for me after being "force fed" amazing pies and cakes in kansas, lol. And let's not talk about picky eating....I do not know my own child right now. She used to eat anything and everything including broccoli, fish, what have you. Nowadays she's so picky with her food that I'm trying to not freak out (thinking she'll only like sweets in the future) 0_0
Sarah Menanix -
Ha! I love the frozen yogurt mochi too! I recently just discovered that the colors mean nothing and that they're all the same flavor - I had no idea! I've been making my own mochi bites to throw on ice cream too lately. (Also - your daughter and I are kindred spirits:)
Melissa L. -
My favorite quick dessert is fruit and whip cream.Yum! Thanks for the giveaway!
Kayley @ The Kitchen McCabe -
We are on the same wavelength, my friend! Love that story about your dad. He sounds like a resourceful guy =)
Chan -
What would the texture be like if I used all purpose flour?
Sarah Menanix -
While many of my recipes can be substituted with all-purpose flour, this unfortunately isn't one of them. This cake relies on the sticky texture of sweet rice flour to turn into mochi. Without it, I'm afraid it wouldn't bake up properly. Check out Kirbie's Cravings for some more mug cakes if you're looking for one to use with all-purpose flour!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter -
I still need to try making a mug cake...I know I know - I'm so far behind haha. This mug cake looks incredible and just what I need to get me on the mug cake train. I love mochi and chocolate mochi sounds even more fantabulous! Your dad is a genius! I love his nutella sundae idea. I've only done that with peanut butter by making overnight oats in it and sticking the jar in the fridge - that way it absorbs all the flavors and no waste. I'm totally trying that with ice cream next time :)
Sarah Menanix -
What?! You should totally do your overnight oats idea...with nutella. Then throw strawberries in it. And send it to me because I'm hungry now!
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking -
Okay, I am SO trying that Nutella ice cream jar trick as soon as I finish mine. Seriously brilliant, whoever came up with it on Pinterest! And these mug cakes... Swoon. I want them to appear on Valentine's Day -- partially because they're chocolaty and I wouldn't have to share! ;) Pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
I think you should make a chocolate-fest for Valentine's day! Then you DEFINITELY wouldn't have to share with your chocolate-hating guy;)
Hillary -
I love to heat up some frozen blueberries till they're nice and juicy, then add a dollop of peanut butter and if I'm feeling fancy, a sprinkling of granola. So good!
Jen -
Just tried the blueberries & PB...wow, it's easy, delicious, and healthy! :) Who would've thought? Thanks, Hillary! (And I would love to try the chocolate mochi mug cake recipe, too!!!)
Chris @ Shared Appetite -
1) your dad is a genius
2) now I need to eat a bunch of Nutella just so I can get to the point in the jar that I can do that.
3) I still haven't tried a mug cake yet
4) I need to try a mug cake immediately.
Sarah Menanix -
1. He's the best trivia teammate too.
2. I mean, you can't let all that Nutella go to waste. And you MUST try this trick asap, you know. For testing sake.
3. Dooo ittttt.
4. See above.
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat -
I love mug cakes! They are so simple but SO delicious.
CuddlyCactus -
I was looking for recipes for leftover glutinous rice flour and found your fantastic contribution -- thanks so much! However PMS led me to a new discovery: DOUBLE MOCHI MOLTEN LAVA CAKE. After about 25 seconds in my less-than-powerful microwave on 50%, I gave everything a thorough mix and plopped in one chocolate ice cream mochi. You can find it in some (Asian and other) groceries, and it's basically a ping-pong sized, moon-colored mochi skin enveloping a ball of chocolate ice cream (although I don't approve of their lifestyle choices, the peanut one might be acceptable to peanut butter lovers...). Good and hard straight from the freezer, it melted perfectly in the second half of my "bake" to produce a gooey, slightly chewy ("QQ") white mochi layer and a molten chocolate center. My inner child nearly fainted with glee. Anyway, great recipes -- thanks again!
Mikayla -
Very easy recipe to make. Although it was really dry when it baked in the microwave. Apart from that tastes amazing :)
Sarah Menanix -
So sorry it came out that way for you - Mochi should definitely not be dry (it's actually very hard to make mochi dry because of the sweet rice flour). I've noticed one thing with more people baking these days (that I've just updated to specify across my site) is that some people are accidentally using "white rice flour" or "brown rice flour" instead of "sweet rice flour." That would definitely cause the cake to come out dry since sweet rice flour (or mochiko) is sticky and traps in the moisture. Let me know if that is perhaps the culprit! If that's not the culprit, I suspect your microwave is more powerful than the cookbook author's and mine, so reducing the time in the microwave should solve the issue!
Anne -
This is amazing! I used monk fruit sugar and replaced the oil with apple sauce and it still tastes amazing. I did sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips on top. (If you’re doing noom, it’s mostly green this way, just cocoa powder is yellow and mini chips are red.)
R -
Only after scrolling through multiple times to finally read the sentence about the teacup size in your photos, did I begin to understand my confusion! I used the same ingredients and proportions but in a regular large coffee mug. The result is hilarious! And super tasty.
Mariangelica -
As a Filipina and a Sweet Tooth, I also keep an endless supply of sweet glutinous rice in my pantry. Lots of South East Asians do! Anyway, I loved this recipe, so I doubled it, minus the sugar. I just threw a handful of premium chocolate chips on top. Yum! And Thanks for sharing. :-)