Nutella Mug Cake, need I say more? Also known as Tortino al Cioccolato in Italian. A fudgy, chocolate mini dessert with minimal ingredients that takes 5 minutes to make, including cook time!
Make this once and I guarantee you'll be making this Nutella mug cake over and over again.
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Here's Why You'll Love this Dish
- Quick and easy - can be made in minutes with just a few basic ingredients.
- Perfect portion size for one - you don't have to worry about overindulging or wasting leftovers
- Minimal Ingredients - uses minimal ingredients that are usually on hand
Make it in a mug or spruce it up by making a Tortino al Cioccolato in a ramekin. No matter which you choose the outcome is still delicious.
Make this chocolate dessert any time of the year when you want something sweet after a dinner, with coffee or tea.
This dessert was inspired by other mini desserts like individual Tiramisu cups and Raspberry White Chocolate mini dessert cups.
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Ingredients You'll Need to Make Nutella Mug Cake
Making this Nutella Mug Cake requires very few ingredients including: Hazelnut spread, butter, flour, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, and eggs.
- Hazelnut Spread - I like to warm up my hazelnut spread because it's easier to work with
- Vanilla extract - adds a touch of flavor
- Chocolate Chips - enhances hazelnut flavor and used as a decoration, because why not?
- Eggs - used as a binder
See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make a Chocolate Mug Cake
No need to warm up the oven for this one!
Flour and grease your mug or ramekin. Melt the butter in a small bowl. Add hazelnut spread and mix. Return to the microwave for 20 seconds to warm slightly so that mixing is easier.
Add vanilla extract and mix. Add flour and mix.
Make sure that your batter has cooled down slightly and add egg. Mix.
Place in a mug or ramekin. Top with chocolate chips.
Microwave for 30 seconds and check doneness. Continue to microwave for 20 second intervals until cooked to your preference.
Let cool. Top with your favorite ice cream and enjoy!
Meal Prep tips
- For better mixing, warm up the Nutella in the microwave, then add all other ingredients except egg. Lastly, add the egg last so that it doesn't get scorched.
- Mug cakes take seconds to cook. Don't overcook your mug cake. Check on it at 30 seconds. If it is still undercooked, return to microwave for another 20 seconds. Maximum cooking time, depending on microwave wattage, should be 70 seconds.
Substitutions
Here are some great ways to make this recipe fit certain dietary needs:
- Gluten Free - use a gluten free flour to make this treat gluten free
- Hazelnut Spread - use any type of hazelnut spread, it doesn't need to be Nutella. Just make sure that it isn't fat reduced.
- Dairy Free - use a paleo or dairy free hazelnut spread if you or someone you know has dairy allergies.
The perfect recipe isn't that far away. I'd love to know how you substituted ingredients to fit your dietary needs. Drop a comment below and let me know!
Variations
Here are some great variations for this Tortino al Cioccolato.
- Hot Chili Oil- add a touch of chili pepper flakes or a hot chili oil to compliment the taste of the chocolate.
- Peanut Butter - use peanut butter instead of hazelnut spread or add peanut butter to make a chocolate peanut butter mug cake
- Ice Cream - top off your nutella mug cake with vanilla ice cream.
- Chocolate Lava Cake - place a frozen teaspoon of hazelnut spread in the centre of the mug cake prior to cooking for that lava cake feeling.
If you can think of any other way to make this seafood risotto dish unique, go for it!
Equipment
For this recipe you can make them in a mug or use an 8 oz ramekin/mug. One 8oz ramekin will hold one mug cake. You can also split the batter between two ramekins but the portions will be smaller.
Bowls, measuring spoons and whisks will come in handy as well when making this Nutella mug cake.
Storage
Not sure that you'll have anything to store, but if you do cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 to 4 days. Remove from fridge and warm up in the microwave for 10 seconds. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the win!
You can make these ahead of time as well and store in the freezer. Make sur that you wrap them, ramekin included, with foil and store in the freezer for not longer than 1 month.
When you are ready to eat them, let them thaw out in the refrigerator overnight. Serve them warm with your favorite topping.
FAQ
The whole point of a mug cake is to make something with minimal ingredients quickly. You can skip the baking powder as it doesn't add any added texture or taste. The egg alone helps to create a fluffy batter that's chewy, fudgy and yummy.
A mug cake should cook for 50 to 70 seconds in the microwave on high. Best practice is to check on the mug cake 30 seconds into cooking and then adjust remaining cooking time from there.
You can use Kraft hazelnut spread or any hazelnut spread that is high in fat. A fat reduced spread is not recommended as it will affect the taste and the tenderness of the finished product.
More Desserts
Recipe Details
Tortino al Cioccolato (Nutella Mug Cake)
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp Hazelnut spread
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 tsp Chocolate Chips
- 1 Egg
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small bowl. Add hazelnut spread and mix. Return to the microwave for 20 seconds to warm slightly so that mixing is easier.
- Add vanilla extract and mix. Add flour and mix.
- Make sure that your batter has cooled down slightly and add egg. Mix.
- Place in a mug or ramekin. Top with chocolate chips.
- Microwave for 30 seconds and check doneness. Continue to microwave for 20 second intervals until cooked to your preference.
- Let cool. Top with your favorite ice cream and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Food Safety
Note that the storage guidelines provided on this page and site are estimates from personal experiences. We are all adults and as an adult you are responsible to ensure that the food you eat is safe to eat. Since, I'm not a food safety expert, you are responsible to review your local guidelines on food storage prior to storing any food left-overs.
Remember to:
- Not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For Canadian Guidelines check the Government of Canada Food Safety Guidelines or see more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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