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Nutella Mug Cake is the answer to a chocolate craving that hits at 9pm, a warm, gooey, single serving lava cake that goes from craving to spoon in about 5 minutes with no oven required. I make this for the girls on a rainy school night when we all want something cozy and chocolatey, and that molten Nutella center wins every time. If you love quick chocolate fixes, you will also love our Oreo mug cake.
Made in the microwave in one mug with pantry staples and a big scoop of Nutella, this is the easiest molten lava cake you will ever make.
Nutella Mug Cake Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 2 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 7 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 1 serving
- ⚡ Calories: 858kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Rich, deeply chocolatey, and gooey with a molten Nutella lava center
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our Oreo mug cake
Quick Answer
To make a Nutella Mug Cake, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, oil, milk, an egg, and a spoonful of Nutella until smooth. Grease a mug and dust it with a little flour and cocoa, then pour in the batter. Drop a couple tablespoons of Nutella into the center and microwave on high for about 1 minute 40 seconds. Serve right away while the center is warm and molten.
Jump to:
- Nutella Mug Cake Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Nutella Mug Cake
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Nutella Mug Cake FAQs
- Other Recommended Easy Chocolate Recipes
- Nutella Microwave Lava Cake in a Mug
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Microwave speed. No oven means you go from craving to dessert in under 10 minutes, perfect for a late night chocolate fix.
- Nutella in the center. Dropping Nutella into the middle of the batter creates that signature molten lava core when it heats through.
- Cocoa plus Nutella. Using both cocoa powder in the batter and Nutella in the center gives a deep, double chocolate hazelnut flavor.
- Oil instead of butter. A little oil keeps the cake tender and moist, and means there is no butter to melt first.
- Grease and dust the mug. Coating the mug with oil and a flour cocoa mix keeps the cake from sticking so it slides right out.
- Do not overcook. Pulling it at just set keeps the center gooey instead of dry and rubbery.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is a single serving treat, so there is no leftover cake tempting you all week.
- It comes together in one mug with no oven and almost no cleanup.
- That molten Nutella center makes it feel like a fancy restaurant lava cake, like our chocolate espresso cake in miniature.
Key Ingredients
Just a handful of pantry staples and a jar of Nutella. See the recipe card for exact amounts.
- Nutella: The star, both in the batter and as the molten center. Use a generous scoop for the gooiest lava.
- Self raising flour: Gives the cake a light lift without extra leavening. Use all purpose flour plus a little baking powder in a pinch.
- Cocoa powder: Deepens the chocolate flavor so the cake is rich, not just sweet.
- Egg and milk: Bind and moisten the batter for a tender, cakey crumb.
- Vegetable oil and sugar: Keep the cake soft and sweet, with oil doing double duty to grease the mug.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
Make this mug cake your own with a few easy swaps.
- Use peanut butter or cookie butter in the center instead of Nutella.
- Stir a few chocolate chips into the batter for extra melty pockets.
- Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a handful of raspberries.
- Swap the cocoa for an extra tablespoon of Nutella for an even more hazelnut forward cake.
- Add a pinch of espresso powder to deepen the chocolate, like in our chocolate espresso cake.
How to Make Nutella Mug Cake
- In a bowl or large measuring cup, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, oil, milk, egg, and 1 tablespoon of Nutella.
- Whisk everything together until you have a smooth batter with no lumps.
- Lightly coat a microwave safe mug with oil, then dust it with a tiny bit of flour and cocoa and shake out the excess.
- Pour the batter into the mug, filling it no more than three quarters full.
- Add about 2 tablespoons of Nutella into the center of the batter for the molten lava core.
- Microwave on high for about 1 minute 40 seconds, then serve immediately while warm and gooey.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Know your microwave. Wattages vary, so start at 1 minute 40 seconds and add a few seconds at a time if needed.
- Do not overfill the mug. The cake rises, so keep the batter at three quarters full to avoid overflow.
- Grease and dust well. This is the trick to sliding the cake out cleanly if you want to turn it onto a plate.
- Pull it early for more lava. A slightly underdone center stays molten and gooey.
- Use a room temperature egg. It blends into the batter more smoothly for an even crumb.
- Serve it warm. The lava center sets as it cools, so dig in right away.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This Nutella Mug Cake is a treat all on its own, but it is even better dressed up. Eat it straight from the mug with a spoon, or run a knife around the edge and turn it out onto a plate for a restaurant style presentation.
Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of extra Nutella, and a few fresh raspberries. It is the perfect quick fix when you want dessert without committing to a full bake like our chocolate espresso cake or a pan of fudgy brownies.
Craving more single serving sweets? Try our Oreo mug cake next, or go no bake with our raspberry cheesecake bites.
Nutella Mug Cake FAQs
Yes, though the egg helps it rise and stay tender. For an eggless version, replace it with an extra 2 tablespoons of milk and a splash more oil. The texture will be a little denser.
Rubbery mug cakes are usually overcooked. Microwaves vary in power, so check it at 1 minute 30 seconds and stop as soon as the top is just set.
Yes. Use the same amount of all purpose flour and add about a quarter teaspoon of baking powder so the cake still gets a little lift.
Drop the Nutella into the center of the batter and do not stir it in, then pull the cake from the microwave while the middle still looks soft. The Nutella stays molten as it cools slightly.
Mug cakes are best made and eaten fresh since the lava center sets as it cools. You can mix the dry ingredients ahead and stir in the wet ingredients when you are ready.
Use a microwave safe mug that holds at least 12 ounces so the batter has room to rise without overflowing.
Want another quick chocolate fix? Try our Oreo mug cake next.
For another decadent dessert, whip up our chocolate mousse.
For another single-serving dessert, try our easy vanilla mug cake.
Need a quick banana dessert? Try our golden banana fritters.
Beat the heat with a bowl of homemade butterscotch ice cream.
Nutella Microwave Lava Cake in a Mug
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup self-raising flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil plus more for coating
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 3 tablespoons Nutella
- 1 small egg
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, oil, milk, egg and 1 tablespoon Nutella. Mix all together until you have a smooth mixture.1/4 cup self-raising flour, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil plus more for coating, 3 tablespoons milk, 3 tablespoons Nutella, 1 small egg
- Grab a cup and coat with oil and a mixture of flour and cocoa (just a tiny bit). Shake the excess off.
- Pour the batter into the cup (aim to fill no more than 3/4 of the cup).
- Add 2 tablespoons of Nutella in the middle. You can add more if you want a richer “lava” in your cake (or use chocolate with a more runny texture when melted).
- Place into the microwave on high for 1 min 40 seconds. You may need to experiment with that as microwaves have different settings (mine is 850 watts). The secret is not to overcook the batter. The cake should rise with a fluffy texture and a glossy top.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Don’t Overcook: The key to a perfect molten center is to avoid overcooking the cake. Keep an eye on the microwave and stop as soon as the top is set.
- Use Good Quality Chocolate: For the best flavor, use high-quality cocoa powder and Nutella or other chocolate spread.
- Mix Gently: Stir the ingredients just until combined. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
- Add a Little Extra: If you love extra gooey centers, add an extra spoonful of Nutella to the middle before microwaving.
- Microwave’s Wattage Matters: Remember that microwave wattages vary. You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly depending on your microwave.
- Serve with Ice Cream: For an extra indulgent treat, top your lava cake with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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Softest and richest mug cake I’ve ever tried!! I definitely overfilled my cup the first time (good thing I had it on a plate in the microwave)! Other mug cake recipes I’ve tried in the past were so bland and dry but this one was absolutely delicious! I will definitely be making this all the time!
I’ve been making this recipe for the past 3 years and my entire family LOVES it!!! Thank you so much! I like to add a Lindt truffle in the middle with my Nutella, it really complements the recipe! Love to eat it with ice cream as well!
Nice ideas for baking and lam happy to find your site