I don’t believe in eating dessert everyday but my father and grandfather do. I grew up with my grandpa telling me, “Eat dessert first. There is always room for pie. A piece of cake would be okay right now.”

I do believe in eating something sweet almost everyday. That might be fruit, a piece of chocolate, Jell-O, or frozen grapes. I believe if you deny yourself too much you will binge and eat too many treats and deserts at once. My girls wanted a really quick and easy treat the other night but I was too tired to make something “real” so I showed them how to make their own mug cakes.

Chocolate Mug Brownie-Cake

As we all know I don’t like messes but I figure if I never show the kids how to cook then they are going to be mad at me when they become adults and don’t know the difference between a whisk and a sifter. I let them each make their own mug cake. I call it a Mug Brownie-Cake because it is moist like a brownie but has the consistency of a cake. It is easy enough for them to make themselves, and fast enough that it can be made, cleaned up, and eaten in 10 -15 minutes. This is basically a small version of a large cake that I make.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1.5 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (one of my girls wanted even less because she said this was too much chocolate (as if that exists) so I gave her 1 tbsp.)
• ¼ tsp. baking powder
• 1.5 tbsp. granulated sugar (or sugar substitute)
• ⅛ tsp. salt
• ¼ cup + 1 tbsp. milk (we used vanilla almond milk)
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp. hazelnut chocolate spread (optional, but not optional for me)
• Sliced strawberries
• Whipped cream

Directions:

• In a bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients

• Whisk in the milk & vegetable oil until all ingredients are combined and batter is smooth with no clumps
• Pour the batter into a microwave-safe mug. You want to use a large enough mug so that there is space for the cake to rise without overflowing
• Add 1 tbsp. of Nutella into the middle of the cup. Just spoon it in the middle of the batter, it will sink into the batter

• Place your cup onto a paper plate in the microwave to keep the microwave clean
• Microwave for 80 to 90 seconds
• Let stand for 3-5 minutes as it will be VERY hot
• Top with whip cream and strawberries (optional)

As you can see from my photo the Nutella does not cook so there will be a creamy center. These were so easy for my girls to make. Now they can make them even if I am working or too busy to make a “real” cake.