The praises of mug cakes are many; not only are they a beautifully quick and deliciously sweet pick me up, but they can often be made using simple cupboard ingredients, which is why they are perfect easy recipes for students. All these things mean that in a matter of minutes you can be enjoying some first-class home-made comfort food, all without having to endure any last minute dashes to the shop in the cold and rainy weather – always a bonus.

It's no wonder mug cakes have become a student staple! Just type 'mug cake' in to Google and you are presented with a wealth of options ranging from marshmallow fluff and peanut butter to gluten-free brownie... Mmmmmmmmmm I'm salivating at just the thought! Instead of forcing you to choose between such weird and wonderful creations, the recipe here is a quick and easy classic chocolate mug cake with chocolate chips. A perfect balance of gooey chocolate sponge and crunchy chocolate chips, this is heaven in a mug! I suggest serving with a scoop of ice-cream, or low-fat natural yoghurt for a 'healthy' alternative. 

Chocolate Chip Mug Cake

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons flour

• 4 tablespoons sugar

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

• 1 egg

• 3 tablespoons milk

• 3 tablespoons oil

• 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

• 1 splash vanilla extract

Method

You will need a large coffee mug.

1. Add the dry ingredients to the mug and mix well.

2. Add in the egg and mix well.

3. Pour in the milk and oil and mix again.

4. Add the chocolate chips,

if using, and the vanilla and mix well to get a smooth consistency.

5. Place in the microwave for approximately 3 minutes on high for a 1,000 watt oven, or vary time depending on your particular microwave. Wait until the cake stops rising, and sets in the mug.

If you are inspired to do more cooking check out our other blog posts in this series for a great variety of easy recipes for college students. Whilst this may be a quick and easy recipe it's important to follow the ingredients list exactly, don't be tempted to change the quantities (except perhaps of the chocolate chips – you can never have too many chocolate chips...). The first time I made this recipe I was a little reluctant to use 3 tablespoons of oil so put less in, and believe me when I say the results were disastrous! The cake was dry and inedible, but I refused to miss out on mug cake, so for my second attempt I followed the quantities exactly and finished up with a perfect mug cake – lesson learnt! 

Links

• If this recipe has given you a taste for cakes bigger than a mug, then check out the recent blog post for Toffee Apple Cake here.

• Converted to cooking in a mug? Click here for a selection of bizarre but awesome microwavable mug-snacks.

• How cool is this mug? Christmas present idea anyone?!