When you can't wait for that chocolate cake fix...

original post (lost in the aether til now): http://karenjcarlisle.com/2016/06/19/when-you-cant-wait-for-that-chocolate-cake-fix/

Hello, my name is Karen and I'm a chocoholic.

You could say I haven't met a chocolate I didn't like (well, as long as it's dark chocolate) but that isn't entirely true. I'm not too fond of chocolate hot cross buns. There it is. My deep dark secret.

What is true is when I get a craving for chocolate cake, I can't always wait thirty minutes to an hour! Thank goodness for the chocolate mug cake recipe. Chocolate cake. In a mug. In about five mintues.

There are several recipes for mug cakes on the internet. Most are in US measurements. (insert sad face here). After trying a few, I came up with my own version, converted them to metric, reduced the sugar content and upped the cocoa. More chocolate!

The great thing about this recipe is in about five minutes you get steaming hot chocolate cake - and very little washing up. (Always a bonus).

You need:

• a mug
• a microwave
• 4 tablespoons of self raising flour
• 3 tablespoons of sugar (the originals called for four or five!)
• 3 tablespoons of cocoa
• 3 tablespoons of milk
• 3 tablespoons oil (I use olive oil as it is healthier)
• 1 egg (I use freerange or backyard eggs)
• splash of vanilla to taste
• 3 tablespoons (or more if you want) of dark chocolate chips. This is optional.

I've made a video to show you how easy it is:

Best of all, If you cook from scratch you can use healthier ingredients, such as olive oil. You can reduce the amount of sugar and use free range eggs. Most of all, you can avoid added artificial colourings, flavourings, sweeteners and preservatives.

Have a go. And enjoy.