Since I live alone, I wanted to make a single-serve dessert, the kind you can make and bake in a mug. I decided to try a brownie one day. That you actually bake in the microwave. The recipe I tried was good, not great. Good enough to repeat a few times though. The brownie wasn’t very sweet and not as silky a texture as brownies done normally. Definitely a cake-like brownie rather than a fudgy one. Maybe I just need to try a different recipe… It certainly satisfies a chocolate craving however. The serving size is actually more than I want! Taking under five minutes, it is so quick to make!
Such a recipe can be easily up whipped with ingredients you have on hand. This statement was not something I could have written before I began this cooking commitment. Little by little, I have accumulated items. Now my kitchen cabinets plus a shoebox in my table linen/serveware/entertaining closet (Marie Kondo would be proud) are filled with basics. For example, I have several little jars of spices including red pepper flakes and cinnamon. With several ingredients, I have two or three varieties of one thing. Not only do I have all-purpose flour, but also the bread and cake varieties! Plus, two kinds of sugar, granulated and powdered. Then, I own light and dark brown sugar. Plus, two kinds of salt, regular and kosher. Unsalted and salted butter are kept in the fridge. And those are just ingredients! I have also increased my kitchen inventory with equipment, pans, for example. I just bought a 9 x 5 loaf pan so I can try a new recipe before making it again for an October birthday. I usually have a new ingredient or utensil/pan/other piece of equipment on my shopping list. With my pantry now well-stocked, I feel like I’m finally starting to have a grown up’s kitchen! Furthermore, I can now depend upon my pantry for last minute dishes such as this brownie in a mug.
I used this recipe from Simply Recipes that I found on Pinterest. I skipped the “tiny pinch of cinnamon” though. Click the link to see a picture of each step.
Brownie in a Mug
One serving
Ingredients
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
pinch of salt
1/4 c. water
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1-2 drops vanilla extract
1 small scoop vanilla ice cream, if desired
Instructions
1. Pour flour, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a microwave-safe ceramic mug. I use the Essential Mug from Crate & Barrel.
2. Stir with a fork to mix well and break up any clumps.
3. Add oil, water and vanilla and stir until smooth.
4. Microwave on high until pretty solid yet moist, at least 1 minute 30 seconds. Check. Microwave at 10 second intervals until done. I find that 1 minute 50 seconds is good for my microwave.
5. Cool for a minute.
6. A small scoop of vanilla ice cream on top is optional.
Buon appetito!
Your brownie reminds me a muffin or is it the same? I also saw this recipe but I am not sure that meals which are prepared in a microwave taste good. Of course, I may be mistaken.