Mug cakes: the perfect late-night treat while cramming for tests

Typically, I reserve my favorite wide-mouthed mug for hot chocolate or orange juice. However, one late night while studying, I was craving a chocolatey treat, so I used my mug to try to make a molten chocolate cake.

Finding a recipe on Pinterest, I learned it takes only 5 minutes to make and is simple to do. Determined to make a mug cake, I went into the kitchen and tested out my sub-par baking skills.

Following the instructions, I added flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt directly into the mug and whisked it together with a fork.

After adding melted butter, milk, egg and vanilla into the flour mixture, I encountered my first challenge: smoothing out all the lumps in the batter.

I thought that, since I was mixing in a mug, I would have problems with spillage. But surprisingly, that was the easy part. The hard part was physically mixing the substance, as obtaining a uniform mixture required a considerable amount of energy.

I tried many different techniques of mixing: I tilted the mug, mixed as fast as an electric mixer and even used the baking technique folding — cutting the mixture vertically with a spatula and bringing it up the nearest side.

Finally, after a minute or so, everything was mixed together, but I was skeptical about how this thick, tan substance could possibly turn into a delicious cake. But it was too late to turn back. I couldn’t waste ingredients, nor could my stomach stop growling.

After placing chocolate pieces in the center of liquid and drizzling water into the mug, I popped the mixture into the microwave for a minute and 20 seconds, expecting an undercooked, lumpy cake.

Being the impatient person I am, I peeked into the microwave at around one minute and to my surprise, the cake had doubled in height.

When the microwave beeped, I rushed to get the mug out and in my eagerness, almost burned myself. What was in the mug truly did look like a fluffy cake.

Breaking into the crust on top, I found a gooey puddle of rich chocolate sauce at the heart of the cake. My teeth bit into the warm, melted Hershey's chocolate, mixed in perfect harmony with the light spongy cake.

Although many would automatically think of store-bought cakes in times of desperation, the mug cake’s quick preparation time, irresistible taste and reasonable portion makes it a more practical and hassle-free choice.  When I am craving a chocolatey late night snack while cramming for tests, I will be making mug cakes from now on.

It's the perfect way to fulfill cravings in a time crunch.