Peppermint Chocolate Mug Cake | Free Printable

This peppermint chocolate mug cake is rich, gooey, and ready in just 90 seconds in the microwave—perfect for a quick holiday treat! Bonus: includes a free printable gift tag so you can share the joy with ready-to-gift mixes.

Find more olive oil cake recipes here.

Have you jumped on the mug cake bandwagon? I was a skeptic at first, until I made my first mug cake. A warm and gooey cake, mixed in a mug, made in the microwave and ready in 90 seconds?! Could it really be true?

The first mug cake I made was a simple vanilla cake and my kids happily scooped it out of my hands. I quickly came up with other varieties of mug cakes but only shared my pumpkin spice mug cake on the blog. Today I’m sharing our newest favorite flavor, a peppermint chocolate mug cake – just in time for the holidays!

Ingredients you need

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• Unsweetened cocoa powder: You can use regular or dark cocoa powder.
• Milk: You can use regular milk or non-dairy milk.
• Extra virgin olive oil: I bake exclusively with olive oil. Choose a mild flavored oil, not a peppery one. You can also use any other neutral vegetable oil.
• Chocolate chips: Depending on personal preference you can use semi-sweet, milk or even dark chocolate. I have also used non-dairy vegan chocolate chips from Enjoy Life.
• Peppermint candies: Instead of using peppermint extract, I crush a peppermint and add it to the mug cake.
• Pantry staples: All purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt.

Step-by-step directions

1. Mix dry ingredients. Add flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt into a 12-ounce microwave-safe mug.
2. Add wet ingredients. Stir with a fork until mixed, then stir in milk and oil.
3. Add chocolate chips. Stir in chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies. If mug is filled more than half with batter, your mug is too small and the batter will overflow in the microwave.
4. Microwave cake. Use a damp paper towel to wipe excess off the sides of the mug. Microwave for 90 seconds, then let the cake stand for 1-2 minutes before eating.

How can I make mug cake mix gifts?

I have made a dozen different versions of this peppermint chocolate mug cake to come up with an easy chocolate mug cake mix you can pack up and gift. The only addition your recipient will need to add is water and oil to make this at home or at work.

The key is milk powder. I have used three different powdered milk varieties and they all work well in this mix, including a vegan option. Substitute the milk in the recipe for either ONE of the following:

• 4 tablespoon water and 4 tablespoons Coffee Mate nondairy creamer
• 4 tablespoon water and 2 teaspoon powdered non-fat milk (Bob’s Red Mill brand)
• 4 tablespoon water and 2 tablespoons coconut milk powder (Native Forest brand)

Just add your preferred milk powder to the cake mix bags. To get the layered effect, I added the ingredients in the following order:

1. sugar and salt
2. flour and baking powder
3. milk powder
4. cocoa powder
5. chocolate chips
6. crushed peppermints

I made these cute gift tags you can print out to make your own peppermint chocolate mug cake mix gift bags. Pop a couple in a pretty mug, maybe a cute spoon, too, and you have a fabulous teacher or Secret Santa gift.

Click here for the free gift tag printable.

Expert tips and recipe FAQs

I have already shared in the ingredient section how to easily make this mug cake dairy free. I have tested it because my little nephew has severe egg and dairy allergies. Check out this recipe if you want to make a gluten free chocolate mug cake.

If you’re a sucker for chocolate peppermint desserts, then you must try these babies:

• 4-Ingredient Peppermint Oreo Fudge
• Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Peppermint
• Christmas Shortbread Peppermint Bark Cookies
• Christmas Unicorn Cake

Peppermint Chocolate Mug Cake

Laura Bashar | Family Spice

This peppermint chocolate mug cake is rich, gooey, and ready in just 90 seconds in the microwave—perfect for a quick holiday treat! Bonus: includes a free printable gift tag so you can share the joy with ready-to-gift mixes.

4.75 from 8 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 minute min

Additional Time 1 minute min

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Cakes

Cuisine American

Servings 1 mug cake

Calories 806 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1-2 tablespoon semi-sweet chocolate chips depending on personal preference
• 2 peppermint candies crushed

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

 

• Add flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt into a 12-ounce microwave-safe mug.
• Stir with a fork until mixed, then stir in milk and oil.
• Stir in chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies.
• If mug is filled more than half with batter, your mug is too small and the batter will overflow in the microwave.
• Use a damp paper towel to wipe excess off the sides of the mug. 
• Microwave for 90 seconds, then let the cake stand for 1-2 minutes before eating.
• Serve alone or with fresh berries, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Notes

If you want to make these into gift packets so your recipient only has to add water and oil, you will need to substitute milk with these options:

• ¼ cup water and 4 tablespoon Coffee Mate nondairy creamer
• ¼ cup water and 2 teaspoon powdered non-fat milk (Bob’s Red Mill brand)
• ¼ cup water and 2 tablespoon coconut milk powder (Native Forest brand)

TO STORE: Mug cakes are meant to be eaten right away. If you do have any leftovers, you can cover it and refrigerate for up to 4 days. The powder mixes should last for 6 months to a year, if sealed and stored in a cool dark place.

Nutrition

Serving: 1mugCalories: 806kcalCarbohydrates: 115.7gProtein: 9.3gFat: 39.7gSaturated Fat: 11.1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 336mgFiber: 5.5gSugar: 74g

Keyword chocolate mug cake, chocolate peppermint mug cake, DIY mug cake gift, peppermint mug cake

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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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