Thursday, October 11, 2018

A Single Serving Of Homemade Cake

Photo: Lake of Lakes
Although I eat healthy mostly, sometimes I crave a slice of cake. At home, I have adopted the practice of eating whatever I want as long as I'm willing to make it myself. Often an entire cake is too much, enough for a week when all I desire is a slice.

So here is a recipe for a single serving of homemade cake. You can either oven bake the batter in a cup cake wrapper; or just use a sturdy mug and pop it into your microwave:

Vanilla Mug Cake

Ingredients: 

4 tablespoons of all-purpose (or whole wheat)
Photo: cooksvanilla.com
flour (All-purpose flour is lighter, while whole wheat flour is whole grain healthy. You decide.)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
a pinch of salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon egg (Throw the rest of the egg into another dish. Waste not, want not! The cake will come out without the egg, but will be less rich.)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons buttermilk

Other flavors:  

You can turn this cake into another flavor by adding the following ingredients to the recipe:


(1) Chocolate cake: 1 tablespoon of dark cocoa and 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee; 

(2) Lemon cake: 1 teaspoon lemon extract and lemon zest; 
(3) S'mores cake: 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, one tablespoon of brown sugar, plus definitely use whole wheat flour (for a graham cracker taste).
(4) Carrot Cake: 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 2 tablespoons of shredded carrot, and toss in a few broken nuts and raisins.

Directions:

Photo: BBC Good Food
1) In a microwave safe mug. I use an oversized mug. Use a fork to stir together all the ingredients, one by one. I like to add the buttermilk last to get the perfect amount of liquid. Add extra tablespoons of buttermilk if needy for a runny, but thick consistency. Mix until incorporated, but don't over mix -- as it toughens the cake batter.

2) Everyone's microwave is different. So the first time microwave for 60 seconds at a time. Repeat until the batter turns into a cake -- feeling firm to the touch on the edges and center.

(Or pour into a cupcake wrapper placed in a cupcake pan and bake at 350 degree in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until a tester produces a crumb.)

Vanilla Frosting

Ingredients:

Confectionery Sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Drops of milk
Photo: howsweetitis
Optional: A teaspoon of butter (for buttercream. I omit the butter.) 

Other flavors: 

Add --

(1) cocoa for chocolate
(2) lemon extract for lemon;
(3) If making a s'mores cake, melt dark chocolate and drops of milk together to make a gonache topping and follow with a toasted marshmallow.
(4) For a carrot mug cake, top with vanilla frosting and/or add 2 tablespoons of cream cheese to the basic vanilla frosting. 

Directions:

Combine the ingredients and mix until creamy. Spread on your single serving cake. Enjoy!

If you keep it simple, making a mug cake from start to finish takes about 10 minutes! Easy to double or triple for 1 or 2 guests and after the meal, you won't have leftovers to eat!


Extra tip: On a lazy day, you can eliminate the extra step of making frosting by topping your mug cake with ice cream.


You may also enjoy:  

A Classic 3 Layer Carrot Cake
A Pretty Rainbow Almond Cake
When Half Of A S'mores Cake Is Enough     
Buttermilk Layer Cake: Vanilla or Chocolate Frosting

5 comments:

  1. I for one am very much in favour of mug cakes. As you say, often just need/want one slice of cake, not a whole big cake. We often make and share one on Sunday afternoons - half the recipe into two tea cups. I love all your variations - I will print them off!

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    1. I’m delighted I hit upon something useful, Trish, it’s what makes blogging fun! I haven’t worked the proportions of ingredients out yet, but I can see adding a mug carrot cake to the selection.๐Ÿฅ•

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  2. Dearest Debbie,
    Sounds like a great idea for not ending up with huge amounts of sweets!
    Sending you hugs,
    Mariette

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    Replies
    1. Oh it is. I made the graham craker cake this evening. Decided to have after dinner was eaten. It satisfied the yen with no leftovers! Delicious ... and only one oversized mug and a fork to clean up.

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