Name: Brownie in a Mug
Total time: 7 min
Yield: 1 brownie in a mug
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: cooking spray; 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar lightly packed; 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour; 3 Tablespoons milk; 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil; ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 pinch salt; ½ Tablespoon chocolate chips optional as garnish; 1 scoop vanilla ice cream optional for serving

This quick and easy brownie in a mug recipe only takes 7 minutes to make and uses pantry staple ingredients. It’s the perfect individual serving of a fudgy brownie to satisfy those chocolate cravings!

Why this recipe works

Making a brownie in a mug is really simple. A little brown sugar, flour, milk, cocoa powder, vegetable oil, and vanilla come together in an 8-ounce mug that’s cooked in the microwave for 2 minutes. And of course, this kind of brownie is just begging for a scoop of ice cream and chocolate chips to top!

We love “in a mug” recipes. You can easily throw together the ingredients, pop them in a mug, and microwave it. In the past we’ve made chocolate mug cake and even muggies, which are scrambled eggs in a mug that make a super quick breakfast! These sort of recipes are perfect for saving time when you’re on the go, or want a little sweet treat late at night and don’t feel like dirtying up a bunch of dishes.

Two servings of Brownie in a Mug on a wooden platter

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

OIL – You can use vegetable oil or any neutral-flavored oil you like. Or you can use unsalted butter, just melt it before mixing together the brownie batter.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS – For extra gooey bits of chocolate, double the amount of chocolate chips and stir half into the batter.

ADDITIONS – For a richer, more deep chocolatey flavor, add 1/8 teaspoon espresso powder. You can’t taste the espresso, it just amplifies the flavor of the chocolate.

How to Make Brownie in a Mug

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Lightly spray the inside of the mug with cooking spray.
Add all ingredients except the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe 8-ounce mug, and stir to combine.
Microwave (uncovered) on high power for 60 seconds. Check it to see if it looks super gooey; if so, microwave in 10 second intervals for up to 20 seconds more. (The top should still look a touch wet in spots when it’s done; it will set as it cools.)
Let it sit for 2 minutes, then sprinkle on the chocolate chips.
Serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream if desired.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

What size mug should I use?

This recipe is perfect for an 8-ounce mug, though a 6-ounce mug will also do the trick.

How do I know when the brownie is done cooking in the microwave?

As each microwave is different, the cook time may vary slightly. If your brownie still looks too gooey when the timer is up, continue to cook in 10 second intervals for up to 20 seconds more. The top should still look a touch wet in spots when it’s done. It will continue to set as the brownie cools.

Two servings of Brownie in a Mug with ice cream on top

Serving Suggestions

Serve your brownie in a mug with an optional scoop of vanilla ice cream, chocolate drizzle, and chocolate chips. Play around with the toppings by adding some chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups, whipped cream, or fresh fruit. It’s up to you!

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