When you’re in the mood for a sweet treat but you don’t want to spend a lot of time baking or want to make a full batch, guess what? You can still have a from-scratch treat with just a few easy ingredients and a quick zap in the microwave!
This month has thrown us all for a loop, friends. First off, right around New Year’s, we all came down with COVID. Or let me say, my husband and son tested positive and otherwise didn’t notice, and I tested positive and felt like an elephant sat on me. Aches and pains in the joints, headache, nausea. Yuck.
Fortunately, the big symptoms only lasted about 48 hours for me. I know that’s not always the case and we’re all feeling extremely lucky. But what did persist was exhaustion. I’ve still been able to work without missing a beat {hooray for remote work and taking the occasional meeting sprawled on the couch with my laptop}, but otherwise, I’ve been infusing my paycheck into the sharing economy to summon up food, groceries, and supplies. Thank you, remote work, and thank you, Instacart and DoorDash.
As soon as I felt better, though, I started cooking again. But I also started looking for things to make that were delicious and low effort, not just for my own tiredness but in the hopes I could share a few recipes that would give some comfort without a lot of work.
So I thought back to college. We lived in historic dorms where we couldn’t have appliances or ovens, but we usually had a common room with a fridge and a microwave. So we learned how to make a lot of really easy single-serve things in the microwave, usually in a coffee mug – like the breakfast sandwich I shared a while back. Or these coffee mug brownies I’m going to share with you today!
Yep, you can make this delicious fudgy treat with just a few ingredients and a microwave – which can be a marvelous kitchen assistant if you let it. It’s not just for reheating leftovers!
This super fudgy super soft super delicious brownie recipe is made for one, but you can make as many one-size recipes as you want in different mugs, and just rotate them through the microwave. I recommend using a 10-oz or microwave safe ceramic mug, which makes sure it will cook just perfectly.
Load it up at the end with a nice scoop of ice cream and you have the perfect TV time treat, and no need to change out of those pajamas. That you might have worn to the virtual office anyway {no judging here}.
So grab your favorite mug and grab the following ingredients:
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp packed light brown sugar
- 3 tbsp whole milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (I love using this Bourbon vanilla I make)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp miniature chocolate chips (optional)
- ice cream of your choice (also optional but it’s awesome)
Start by placing the butter in your microwave-safe mug. Microwave it until it’s fully melted and bubbling, about 20 seconds. Swirl to coat the mug with melted butter, and pour the remaining butter in a small bowl.
Whisk the brown sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together with the butter until the mixture is smooth.
Add the flour, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt (about 1/8 tsp) and stir until smooth again. Fold in the chocolate chips, if you use them.
Scrape the batter into the mug and microwave for about 1 minute.
The brownie is ready when the center is slightly gooey and the edges spring back when you press them. Keep cooking at 15 second increments if it’s not ready until you get to the right amount of doneness.
There now. So who’s ready for a night in with your mug of brownie and ice cream and a nice glass of Cab? This lady. That’s who. You can judge me, or you can pull on your fuzzy slippers, pour your glass, zap your brownie, and come join me.
Microwave Coffee-Mug Brownies
Equipment
- 1 10 oz ceramic mug
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp light brown sugar packed
- 3 tbsp whole milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp miniature chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Place the butter in a 10-oz ceramic microwave safe mug. Microwave until fully melted and bubbling, about 20 seconds. Swirl to coat the mug with melted butter, and then pour the remaining butter in a small bowl.
- Whisk 3 tbsp packed brown sugar, 3 tbsp milk, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract together in the butter bowl until smooth.
- Add 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, and 1/8 tsp salt (a pinch) and stir until smooth again.
- Fold in the chocolate chips if you're using them.
- Scrape the batter into the mug. Microwave for about 1 minute. The brownie is ready when the center is slightly gooey and the edges spring back when pressed. If not ready, keep cooking for 15 second increments until you get to the right amount of doneness.
Notes
Nutrition
Any other favorite microwave baking recipes or delicious low-effort recipes we should try? We’d love to hear from you!
Brownies are delicious, for sure. 🙂