For the last two weeks, the kitchen in my dorm has been closed. For most everyday meals, this is not a problem for me as I’m much more likely to just eat something at the dining hall or, if I’m feeling adventurous, go to Reckers or Five Guys. I hardly ever choose to cook for myself.
Still, sometimes I desperately want to bake. When that happens, I’m usually lucky enough to live in a dorm with a nice kitchen with tons of good supplies for that sort of thing. Unfortunately, this last weekend, when the baking bug hit, the kitchen was closed. And all I really wanted to eat was a chocolate chip cookie.
Before I gave up on the plan entirely, my roommate proposed we make cookies in a mug. I’d never heard of such a thing before. It seemed like such a simple solution to my problem. We could buy what we needed at the Huddle and then do all of our baking down the hall at the microwave. No kitchen required.
Since then, I’ve become a bit obsessed with the concept. I love baking and I love being able to share the food I make with my neighbors and others in my dorm. But, sometimes, I just want the one cookie and I don’t want to have a whole batch sitting around tempting me to eat more than the one. A cookie-in-a-mug is the perfect solution to this conundrum. It’s a single serving, perhaps larger than the average cookie but still delicious.
The other beautiful thing about cookies in a mug is that they are all cooked in the microwave and usually are done in under five minutes. Prep work is easy and takes place using just the mug and the spoon. It’s baking made simple—exactly what I need when I’m feeling unmotivated but want a warm, baked study snack.
I’ve listed three possible baking recipes using mugs rather than traditional baking pans but there are tons out there on the Internet. Some of them go for a healthier spin on the traditional chocolate chip cookie (this one and this one are two examples I’m looking forward to trying) while others mix-up the ingredients to create indulgent, less caloric treats (this list is especially fun).
1. 1-Minute Chocolate Chip Cookie In a Mug
This is the first attempt I made at making a cookie in a mug. Admittedly, it turned out a bit more like a chocolate chip pancake than an actual cookie but it was still delicious. The chocolate chips had a tendency to sink to the bottom of the mug, so I might recommend cooking it for 40 seconds, inserting some chocolate chips at the top of the mug and then cooking for the last ten seconds. (From the Comfort of Cooking)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp brown sugar, firmly packed
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1-2 tbsp chocolate chips
Melt the butter in the mug (30 seconds to 1 minute). Mix the sugars, vanilla and salt into the butter until combined. Add in the egg yolk and mix. Mix in flour. Fold in chocolate chips. Microwave on high for 40-50 seconds. Enjoy!
2. Nutella Cookie in a Cup
If there’s anything I love more on this earth than chocolate, Nutella might just be it. Nutella cookies are particularly good (last year, for Thanksgiving, I made these Nutella cookies with my cousins and they were amazing—they take a bit longer than these recipes but are definitely worth the time). As such, having an easier way to incorporate Nutella into my baking habits as a college student seems awesome and this recipe lets me do just that. (From Melissa at No. 2 Pencil)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp Nutella
- 2 tbsp dark brown sugar, firmly packed
- ½ tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1 egg yolk
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
Melt the butter and Nutella in the microwave, about 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar, cocoa powder salt, and vanilla. Stir. Add the yolk and mix again. Add the flour and stir. Cook in the microwave for about one minute. Enjoy!
3. Cake in a Mug
Since my cookie in a mug turned out more like a pancake in the mug, I find the idea of going for an actual cake to be interesting. I also occasionally miss chocolate cake that is not from the dining hall (it’s okay but honestly, we all know anything homemade is better). I never have the energy to cook myself an entire cake from scratch but something in a mug seems to be the perfect size for a cake while I’m at school. This recipe is for a chocolate cake, one that once again incorporates Nutella. (From Table for Two)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- ¼ cup + 1 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp hazelnut chocolate spread (aka Nutella)
Whisk together dry ingredients (this will likely require an extra mixing bowl). Whisk in the milk and vegetable oil until everything is combined without clumping. Pour batter into the mug (be careful to leave enough space for the cake to rise!). Add the hazelnut spread to the middle of the batter. Place a paper towel into the microwave and microwave the cake for 70 seconds on high. Enjoy!
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