It is 9pm, the Christmas lights are on, there is a movie queued up, and you want something warm and chocolatey but you absolutely do not want to make a whole dessert. This peppermint hot cocoa mug cake was made for exactly that moment. Two minutes in the microwave and you have a warm, fudgy, single serve chocolate cake with that classic peppermint hot cocoa flavor that tastes like December in every single bite. This is my go-to movie night dessert all December long and once you make it once you will wonder how you survived the holidays without it.
Ten ingredients, one mug, and a microwave is genuinely all that stands between you and this cake. Flour, cocoa powder, hot cocoa mix, a little sugar, milk, melted butter, peppermint extract, and chocolate chips whisked together right in the mug and microwaved for seventy to ninety seconds until the top is just set and shiny. The hot cocoa mix is not just for flavor here, it adds a sweetness and that recognizable cozy hot chocolate taste that straight cocoa powder alone cannot replicate. It is a small addition that makes a big difference.
The optional center press is not optional in my house. Right when it comes out of the microwave you press a peppermint patty or a chocolate truffle right into the center and it melts into the most incredible molten lava cake situation that takes this from a really good mug cake to something genuinely special. It takes three seconds and completely changes the experience. Do it every single time.
Top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes for the full peppermint hot cocoa experience, or go with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you want that hot and cold contrast that makes warm chocolate desserts so irresistible. Either way this is the December dessert for the nights when you want something cozy, festive, and completely satisfying without any real effort. Two minutes. One mug. All the holiday feels.
Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 4 Tbs all purpose flour
- 2 Tbs sugar
- 1 Tbs cocoa powder
- 1 Tbs hot cocoa mix
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 3 Tbs milk
- 1 Tbs melted butter
- ¼ tsp peppermint extract
- 1 Tbs chocolate chips
Instructions
- Whisk flour, cocoa powder, hot cocoa mix, baking powder and salt in a large mug.
- Add melted butter, milk and peppermint extract and stir until there are no floury bits.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Microwave for 70-90 seconds until the top is shiny.
- Optional (but highly recommended for that lava cake gooeyness) press a peppermint or chocolate truffle in the center to melt.
- Top with ice cream, whip cream or toasted marshmallow and enjoy!
Comments +