Vegan Mug Brownie Recipe Jessica In The Kitchen

Sometimes the best things in life take a whole lot of effort. But, every once in a while, you get lucky and they come really easy to you, with almost no effort at all. What am I talking about? Glad you asked! I have three words for you: Vegan Mug Brownies. They are my new favorite chocolate dessert. Mug brownies come together in a snap, they cook in a minute, and then you’re left with a delicious fudgy brownie in your favorite mug. Top it with some chocolate chips, and you might never go to the effort of making a whole batch of brownies again!

Easy Vegan Brownie in a Mug

So, here’s the story of how this Microwave Mug Brownie – or Brownie Mug Cake (whichever name your heart desires) – came to be. A few days ago I had the beginnings of a craving. For a brownie. A ridiculously rich, fudgy, chocolate-y brownie. And the craving only kept growing the longer I held out. You know the feeling? Anyway, I finally gave into the craving, but I still didn’t want to bake a whole batch… because then I might eat a whole batch. Baking brownies is a slippery slope sometimes. But then I thought, what if I could bake just one? In 60 seconds? A brilliant idea, and one that will cut down on excess calories! So, this easy Microwave Mug Brownie recipe was born, and now you can share in my chocolate-filled joy.

What’s the Difference Between a Brownie in a Mug and a Mug Cake?

The main difference between a brownie in a mug and a mug cake, is that the former is a single-serve brownie, and the latter is a single serving of cake. Mug brownies are made with your typical brownie ingredients, and mug cakes are made with basic cake-making ingredients. Both lists are reduced to the essentials, though, which makes for a simple yet delicious dessert. I highly recommend you make both (something like this Chocolate Mug Cake!), but let’s start with this Vegan Brownie in a Mug!

Notes on Ingredients

Ready to try this delicious brownie in a mug? Silly question on my part – who could say no to chocolate in any form? Here are the mug brownie essentials that you’ll need to round up:

Flour: I used regular all-purpose flour, but you could try it with gluten free flour or another kind if you want.Sugar: Brown sugar is what we’re working with today.Coconut Oil: Other cooking oil will work too – vegetable oil is an easy substitute.Cocoa Powder: To give this brownie its chocolate flavor!Water: Cold, warm, room temperature, it doesn’t really matter.Salt: I like to use sea salt for this recipe – it really enhances the sweetness!Vanilla Extract: For added sweetness.Chocolate Chips: These are optional, but chocolate chip brownies are so good!

How to Make a Vegan Brownie in a Mug

Throw out everything you know about making a batch of brownies, because life in the kitchen just got a whole lot easier! Well, maybe don’t throw out everything… just put it to the side for now… Combine All Ingredients: Using a fork, mix flour, brown sugar, oil, cocoa powder, water, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, and salt in a mug. Put Mixture in the Microwave: Into the microwave you go! Say a little prayer that it doesn’t explode everywhere. (I put mine on 60 seconds – it was perfect.) Then dig in! Talk about simple, you guys!

Tips for Success

Looking for some tips on how to make the BEST mug brownie? I’ve got you covered! Here’s what you need to do to get the tastiest and fudgiest brownie:

Use a wide short-ish mug (like the one in these photos!). If you have a variety to choose from, using this type of mug means the cake rises higher in a concentrated space. I’ve found this helps with cooking.Make Sure to Stir Thoroughly: Incorporate all the ingredients by scraping the bottom of the mug. You don’t want any loose powder at the bottom when you’re trying to enjoy your brownie!Don’t Overcook the Brownie: Microwaves can vary when it comes to cooking, so you made need to adjust the cooking time for this recipe. That may mean adding a few seconds on, or taking a few off. Just make sure you don’t overcook the brownie, because it will become dry – when in doubt, undercooked is better than overcooked.Let It Cool: This will allow for the brownie to set and for the texture to develop. It will also ensure that you don’t burn your tongue!

Variation Ideas

Feeling like you need to change things up? That’s totally fine! Mug brownies are easily customized. Here are just a few things you could do to switch this sweet recipe:

Use Vegan Milk: Instead of water, you can use vegan milk (soy, almond, coconut, etc.) for an even richer end result!Add More Chocolate Flavor: To boost the chocolate flavor, you can add ¼ teaspoon ground coffee into the dry ingredients.Add-Ons: Add-ons can transform your brownie to make it totally over-the-top delicious! Some of my favorite additions include peanut butter, chocolate chips, M&Ms, etc. Serve It With Ice Cream: See if you can fit a scoop of vegan ice cream into that mug – vanilla bean ice cream is my go-to!

If you try this Microwave Mug Brownie – 1 Minute, Vegan please let me know in the comment section below, or tag me on instagram with the hashtag #jessicainthekitchen! For more exclusive recipes follow me on Instagram.