Brownie in a Mug

This easy mug brownie recipe makes a single serving and takes less than 10 minutes from start to first bite.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated April 23, 2024
Elise Bauer

Oh my. We're doomed. My young friends Reilly and Alden just showed me how they make single serving brownies, in a mug, in a microwave. Takes 5 minutes.

How to Make the Best Brownie in a Mug

We did experiment a bit. Turns out that you really should not use a strongly-flavored extra virgin olive oil for this recipe, but a more mild-flavored olive oil works well. Melted butter or a neutral oil is also good.

A pinch of salt helps make the chocolate more chocolate-y. I've added some vanilla and a tiny bit of cinnamon; you could also add a speck of instant coffee to take it up a notch.

Overhead view of a brownie in a white mug topped with ice cream.
Annika Panikker

The brownie lacks for structure (no egg) but that's okay because it's contained by the mug. When it's done, it's HOT. Perfect for topping with a little vanilla ice cream or whipping cream.

The trick is getting the cooking time right for your microwave. Every microwave oven model is different.

How to Make a Brownie in the Microwave

One 1000 watt microwave we tested cooked these brownies in a mug perfectly at 1 minute 40 seconds. Our 1650 watt microwave cooked them in 1 minute 10 seconds. So you may need to adjust the time to get the brownie to cook properly with your microwave.

Enjoy!

Side view of a brownie in a white mug and topped with ice cream.
Annika Panikker

A True "Brownie in a Mug"

Classic brownies don't have baking soda or baking powder, so you don't need it here to get a dense, brownie-like dessert. If you like something lighter, we'd recommend another mug cake recipe.

The brownie is fine on its own, but a little ice cream on top (or whipped cream, or a drizzle of heavy cream) pushes it to another level.

Pick the Right Mug

  • Use a heavy ceramic mug with no metal accents.
  • Generic mugs, like the kind you buy in a souvenir shop that says “#1 Grandpa” or “World’s Best Boss”, work best.
  • Choose a mug that holds at least 1 cup of liquid. It makes mixing the brownie in the mug much less messy. 

Let It Cool (Slightly!)

Resting the brownie briefly after it comes out of the microwave makes a big difference in its flavor and texture. Straight from the microwave, it’s too hot to enjoy, and may even burn your tongue.

How Our Readers Make This Recipe Their Own

  • Eduardo: "Didn't use butter, I used olive oil and espresso as the liquid. So good."
  • Nici: "I made it with milk but added a teaspoon of espresso powder to the dry ingredients which really worked. I also added a few dark chocolate chips once it came out the microwave."
  • Dee: " I added pecans and a hint of ginger. I used part heavy whipping cream diluted with water along with some coffee. Topped with whipped cream for an added treat!"
  • Jeanette: "I used an extra tablespoon of cocoa, almond milk instead of water, a pinch of crushed instant coffee, and I crushed hazelnuts and added to the mix."
  • Liz: "I subbed coconut oil for butter and drizzled oat milk instead of ice cream for a dairy-free option."

More Delicious Brownie Recipes to Make!

 

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Brownie in a Mug

Prep Time 3 mins
Cook Time 2 mins
Resting 4 mins
Total Time 9 mins
Serving 1 serving

Some mugs don't microwave well because there is metal in their ceramic glaze. They'll work but they may get very hot. Best to use a plain old everyday un-fancy mug. A regular 12 to 16 ounce mug will do fine.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter, mild extra virgin olive oil, or neutral oil

  • 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour

  • 3 tablespoons (35g) sugar

  • 2 tablespoons (13g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder 

  • Pinch kosher salt

  • Tiny pinch cinnamon, optional

  • 3 tablespoons (44ml) milk, water, or coffee

  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Ice cream, whipped cream, or heavy cream, for serving

Method

  1. Melt the butter, if using:

    Put the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl or ramekin, and microwave at 50% power (power level 5 on most microwaves) for 30 seconds. If it’s not melted after that, continue to microwave in 10-seconds bursts until it is.

    This step is unnecessary if you're using extra virgin olive oil or a neutral oil.

    A small bowl of melted butter to make a Brownie in a Mug.
    Annika Panikker
  2. Combine the dry ingredients in a mug:

    Place the flour, sugar, cocoa, salt (if using unsalted butter), and optional cinnamon in a microwave-safe ceramic mug. Stir with a fork until it resembles brown sand and there are no clumps.

    Cocoa in the bottom of a mug with a fork next to it.
    Annika Panikker
  3. Add the wet ingredients and stir:

    Stir in the butter (or oil) with a fork until a paste forms.

    A fork stirring ingredients to make a Brownie in a Mug.
    Annika Panikker

    Then add the milk (or water or coffee) and vanilla. Stir with the same fork until smooth. The batter may look a little thin, but don’t worry—that’s how it’s supposed to be.

    Spooning chocolate into a white cup to make a Brownie in a Mug recipe.
    Annika Panikker
  4. Cook in the microwave:

    Microwave, uncovered, on high power for 1 minute.

    You may need to adjust the time for less or more powerful microwaves. If you don't know the power level on your microwave, start with 1 minute and continue cooking in 10-second increments until the brownie is done. Lower wattage microwaves will take more time, while higher wattage microwaves will take less time (as little as 1 minute).

    After cooking, the brownie should still look a tad moist, not dry. Some wet-looking spots are okay; those will set up as the brownie rests.

  5. Rest 4 minutes:

    Let the brownie rest for 4 minutes. The inside of the brownie is very hot and still cooking, even though it’s not in the microwave. It may be hard, but the wait is worth it! It gives the brownie a better flavor and texture.

    Brownie in a Mug on a white background.
    Annika Panikker
  6. Top with ice cream:

    Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a small dab of cream (whipped or unwhipped).

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

Piper and Alden eating mug brownies
Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
528 Calories
25g Fat
70g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 528
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 15g 76%
Cholesterol 65mg 22%
Sodium 337mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 70g 25%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 40g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 67mg 5%
Iron 5mg 28%
Potassium 106mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.