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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Black Forest Mug Cake

    Published: May 25, 2023 by Maria Doss · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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    pinterest image.

    This Black Forest Mug Cake cooks in under 2 minutes. It features a rich, moist chocolate cake with a tender crumb, fresh cherries and a simple whipped cream. It is sure to satisfying your chocolate cravings!

    I wanted a black forest mug cake that takes all the flavors of the traditional cake, but made in a fraction of the time!

    Black forest cake is a traditional German black forest cake, also known as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, which feature tender layers of chocolate sponge, brushed with a cherry syrup and then layered with freshly whipped cream. It's a classic birthday or celebration cake.

    If you are looking ways to enjoy your fresh summer cherries, then try my Cherry Smoothie or Black Forest Cake Overnight Oats, which is a much healthier yet decadent way to kick start your hot summer day.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this?
    • Ingredients
    • How to make?
    • How to serve?
    • Helpful tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More mug cake recipes
    • Black Forest Mug Cake

    Why you'll love this?

    I adapted the chocolate mug cake recipe from Pioneer woman, to make an exceptionally easy dessert. Fresh bing cherries adds sweet, tart and intense fruity flavor, to the rich and moist chocolate cake.

    Whipped cream adds contrast in color, texture and accentuates the flavor.

    Ingredients

    Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.

    • All purpose flour - I prefer to use all purpose flour, which has 10 to 12 percent protein, giving stability and structure.
    • Cocoa powder - As explained in my chocolate avocado mousse recipe, I like to use dutch process cocoa powder.
    • Sugar -White granulated sugar makes the black forest mug cake, sweet and soft.
    • Oil - Vegetable oil, which is flavorless and liquid at room temperature, coats the flour's protein, leads to a supremely moist and velvety crumb.
    • Milk - Adds richness and flavor.
    • Baking powder - Double acting baking powder contains a dry acid and baking soda. It begins it's activation as soon as it comes in contact with the wet ingredients and then again when microwaved, providing a wonderful lift.

    How to make?

    You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.

    1. Stir flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder and salt into a microwave safe mug.

    2. Stir in milk, vegetable oil and Kirsch and stir until smooth.

    Tip: Kirsch or cherry liqueur, is a cherry-flavoured brandy. If you prefer not to use alcohol or don't want to purchase a whole bottle just to use a teaspoon, simply replace with vanilla extract.

    3. Stir in chopped cherries and add sprinkle more on top.

    4. Microwave for 1 minute and 45 seconds. The pioneer woman's recipe suggests 1 minute and 30 seconds. I like a few extra seconds, to compensate for the additional moisture and weight from fresh fruits.

    Pro tip: Cooking time - The time can vary with different microwaves and also different cup sizes. Cook for one minute and 45 seconds for a narrow coffee mug, and one minute and 40 seconds for a wide mug.

    How to serve?

    My idea of a black forest cake definitely involves mounds of freshly whipped cream and more chopped fresh cherries. It will also be terrific with vanilla ice cream, Nutella or chocolate syrup.

    Helpful tips

    • Mug - A standard size microwave coffee mug works for this black forest mug cake recipe. Please do not choose a smaller one.
    • Cooking time - If you use a wider mug, then remove about 10-15 seconds earlier.
    • Remove promptly - Remove promptly from the microwave. Cooking it longer will make the cake dry.
    • Cherries - Bing cherries give the traditional flavor.
    • Stir batter until lump free – Using a spoon, stir the batter until smooth and no lumps remain.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is the difference between a black forest cake and a chocolate cake?

    Black forest cake is traditionally made with layers of chocolate sponge cake, brushed with cherry syrup, layered with cherries, and whipped cream as frosting. Whereas, chocolate chocolate cake is made without any cherries and the frosting is usually a chocolate buttercream or ganache.

    Can I use maraschino cherries?

    They are preserved, sweetened cherries, typically made from light-colored varieties, and is perfect to make pretty garnishes to alcoholic drinks or dessert, but do not have a real fruity flavor.

    More mug cake recipes

    • white mug with vanilla cake topped with chocolate chips.
      Vegan Mug Cake
    • a spoonful of red velvet cake above a white cup.
      Red Velvet Mug Cake
    • microwave oreo cake in a white mug.
      Oreo Mug Cake
    • a spoon of banana cake from a mug.
      Banana Mug Cake

    Hungry for more? Follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or Pinterest for more delicious recipes

    White mug with chocolate cake, topped with whipped cream and 2 fresh cherries.

    Black Forest Mug Cake

    This Black Forest Mug Cake cooks in under 2 minutes. It features a rich, moist chocolate cake with a tender crumb, fresh cherries and a simple whipped cream. It is sure to satisfying your chocolate cravings!
    4.9 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 1 minute minute
    Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 Serving
    Calories: 632kcal
    Author: Maria Doss

    Ingredients

    Dry Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
    • 3 tablespoons sugar
    • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 pinch salt

    Wet ingredients

    • 3 tablespoons milk
    • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • ½ teaspoon Cherry liquor such as Kirsch (or use vanilla extract)
    • ¼ cup chopped Bing cherries
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Add all dry ingredients into a microwave mug, stir well with a spoon or fork.
      Tip: Double acting baking powder contains a dry acid and baking soda. It begins it's activation as soon as it comes in contact with the wet ingredients and then again when microwaved, providing a wonderful lift.
    • Add all wet ingredients, mix until smooth. Stir in chopped cherries (reserving some for garnish later).
      Tip: Kirsch or cherry liqueur, is a cherry-flavoured brandy. If you prefer not to use alcohol or don't want to purchase a whole bottle just to use ½ teaspoon, simply replace with vanilla extract.
    • Cook in microwave for one minute and 45 seconds for a standard coffee mug, and one minute and 40 seconds for a wider mug.
    • Remove, let cool for a few seconds, before serving. Top with reserved cherries and sweetened whipped cream.

    Notes

     
    Cherry liquor or Kirsch – It adds the authentic black forest cake taste.
    Cherries – Bing cherries give the traditional black forest cake flavor. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 632kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 24g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 165mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 73IU | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutritional information is based on third party calculations, should be considered estimates and not be construed as a guarantee. Varying factors such as product types, brands purchased, produce, the way ingredients are processed and more change the nutritional information in any recipe.

    Did you make this recipe?Mention @KitchenAtHoskins or tag #kitchenathoskins!

    The recipe is adapted from Pioneer Woman.

    Did you make this recipe? I’d love your feedback! Please let me know by leaving a comment or review below or snap a photo and share on Instagram.

    All contents and images are my original work, unless and otherwise mentioned. Please do not use my recipes or images without linking back to www.kitchenathoskins.com. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite in your own words and don’t forget to include a link back to the original recipe.

    Some of the links above are affiliate links, which pay me a small commission for my referral at no extra cost to you! I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for supporting kitchenathoskins.com

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ronak Mehta

      September 30, 2020 at 4:41 am

      Baked this cake for my birthday and it was an absolute hit! So moist and tasty. Thank you for doing what you do

      Reply
      • Maria Doss

        October 01, 2020 at 2:21 pm

        Glad you loved it:)

        Reply
    2. Liz

      November 28, 2021 at 8:20 pm

      Really good mug cake recipe! Have made a few other mug cakes in the past but this was way tastier and came out better than others I've made.

      Reply
      • Maria Doss

        November 29, 2021 at 5:11 am

        Hi Liz, That sounds wonderful, Maria

        Reply
    3. Susan

      February 04, 2023 at 11:20 pm

      Hi! Inspired by your Black Forest Mug Cake recipe, I adjusted for available ingredients. Needing more than one I Tripled the recipe first, added an egg, used melted butter, light cream with kefir, pinch of baking soda + baking powder, combined all purpose, almond and whole grain sorghum flours. I had sweetened dried cherries on hand and tossed them in too, so lowered the sugar amount. Also I only have an infrared oven, so I set it to the brownie setting - all totaled it took @ 25-30 minutes with this type of heat. Came out delicate and delightful! A work in progress…thank you!

      Reply
      • Maria Doss

        February 06, 2023 at 1:34 am

        Hi Susan, Loving all the modifications, have a fantastic week - Maria

        Reply

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    Hi I'm Maria, the recipe developer, photographer, and videographer behind this food blog. Here you’ll find simple everyday recipes that pack in serious flavors, with a sprinkling of creative twists to familiar dishes. I also focus on including an overview of why the recipe works, valuable tips, step-by-step photos, and videos to guide you along the way.
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