Brownie in a Mug – a rich and fudgy homemade microwave brownie loaded with real chocolate flavor and melty chocolate chips.
Brownie in a Mug
I’m really excited to share this recipe for a homemade microwave brownie in a mug. I’ve used simple ingredients to create a real homemade brownie in a mug. Mug brownies are the best kind of brownies, because you don’t need to share! This recipe has been on my blog since 2013, and the most common reviews are that it’s the only microwave brownie recipe that actually works! Please let me know what you think by leaving a star rating and comment at the bottom of the post.
Microwave Brownie Ingredients
- butter
- sugar
- brown sugar
- salt
- vanilla extract
- egg yolk
- flour
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- semi sweet chocolate chips
How to Make a Brownie in a Mug
- Use a microwave safe mug.
- Start by melting the butter by heating it in the microwave.
- Do not substitute spreads for real butter.
- Add sugars, vanilla extract, and salt and stir.
- Separate egg, discard egg white or save for another recipe.
- Stir in egg yolk.
- Add cocoa powder and flour and stir until well combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Cooking time will vary according to your microwave. Start at 45 seconds and add more time if needed. Do not overcook.
Microwave Brownie Recipe Tips
- This recipe is based off my popular recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Cup, and I have been working hard to develop this delicious, decadent, single-serving treat.
- These treats are easy to make, and a reader favorite. Perfect for a late-night or after-school snack.
- Since this single serving brownie is made in the microwave, it’s great for kiddos just learning to cook, or those who don’t have access to an oven.
- This brownie in a mug is absolutely amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
- Just a note, make sure to follow the steps I have outlined in the recipe, and don’t substitute spreads for butter.
If you make this, I’d love for you to tag me on Instagram at @no2pencilblog
Brownie in a Mug - a rich and fudgy homemade microwave brownie loaded with real chocolate flavor and melty chocolate chips.
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar firmly packed
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch kosher salt
- 1 egg yolk
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder reccomened Hershey's
- 2 tablespoons semi sweet chocolate chips
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Melt butter in microwave safe mug or ramekin.
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Butter should be melted, not boiling.
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Stir together butter, sugars, vanilla and salt.
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Stir in egg yolk. Do not use egg white! Save for a different recipe or discard.
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Add flour and cocoa powder and stir again until well combined.
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Finally, add chocolate chips.
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Cook for about 45 seconds in microwave. Do not over cook. Microwave times may vary.
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OooOoh I LOVE brownies. I will definitely try this when I need a quick brownie fix.
This recipe is SO good! I tried it out earlier today with some milk… The perfect combination!
Wow, this looks amazing! Trying it this weekend… thank you!
This looks SoOo yummy! Love that the ingredients are ones I usually have on hand….although, that makes this a pretty dangerous recipe! 😉 Pinned! Thanks for sharing :*)
This looks amazing Melissa! I am SO in love with in a cup recipes!
This looks so good, Melissa! The perfect single serving dessert! Thanks for sharing : )
Liz
I think you have me hooked on this cook it in a cup stuff! Thanks (no, really I mean it even if I have to really exercise now!)
This looks sooo yummy! And I love the microwave desserts in a cup. My hubby always wants the real deal, baked in the oven, and I’m like, “Um… this takes all of two minutes and is easy to clean up. Get over it.”
Holy cow Melissa! This was delicious! I made it last night and am in love. I’m sharing your recipe on my blog today, I linked back to you.
Woowee…these may be about to get me into to some trouble!! YUM!
Delicious 🙂
Ooh, this looks great and dangerously easy!
Oh YES. I love these cup recipes! I’ve made the chocolate chip and peanut butter one countless times. The peanut butter cookie was my valentines treat to my other half! Love these.
I made this tonight and it’s perfect. Exactly what I wanted, and sooo chocolate-y. I replaced the butter with equal amounts coconut oil and it still worked great. Thank you for this recipe!!! I’m going to pin it for future safekeeping too 🙂
This is such an easy recipe. Yummy, too! I made one with half/half vanilla and almond extract and used butterscotch chips, just as good as the original.^_^ I would not change anything else in the recipe, it wont turn out right.
I just made this right now.
I put a tad less butter, and I didn’t have any chocolate chunks.. so I broke up a Milky Way in there.
Was really yummy. Definitely a once in a long while dessert because of all the butter in it, but was
super easy and fun to make. Thank you for the recipe! ♥
P.S
My name is Melissa too. 🙂
I made a vegan version of it by substituting the butter with vegan margarine and egg yolk for 1/2 flax egg (1/2 tbs ground flax meal with 2 tbs hot water). It was fantastic!!! Tender and full of chocolatey goodness. Not gummy at all..unlike recipes like these that calls for vinegar. No one could tell that it was vegan or that it was made in a microwave!
Mmmm. Thanks for sharing!
Just curious…what happens if you use the whole egg, not just the yolk?
The egg white adds much more lift and will make it more cake like. The egg white can also get rubbery when microwaved, so I try not to use it in my microwave recipes. Thanks for the comment:0)
I made it and it was a little too sugary for me, (25.2 grams) but it was sooooo yummy unlike other mug cakes/ cookies/ brownies! Next time I would use about 1 tbsp & 1 tsp sugar. But other than that it was super delicious!!!!
Hi! I just wanted to say that this recipe is AWESOME! I had tried another popular one that’s all over the internet but it honestly wasnt that good! thank you for sharing this!! 🙂
This was my first foray into single serving baking and it turned out awesome! I actually did one small substitution though just because I am a chocolate hazelnut fanatic. Our store has lately been selling a chocolate hazelnut spread ala nutella but it’s thicker, less oily and is more akin to the filling of Ferrero Rochers (sssooo yum!). I only used 1 heaping tablespoon of semi sweet chips and added 2 teaspoons of the hazelnut spread. IT was AH-mazing! My boyfriend is also quite grateful as he can now request “a” brownie whenever he wants!
Hey Jess,
I’m so curious about that hazelnut spread, it sounds amazing! Would you mind sharing what the brand/name of it is?
Thank you in advance!
I am so gonna make this when I get home tonight. Been thinking of brownies all day but don’t want a shop bought one. This is just the ticket.
It’s Friday evening and I wanted a treat so I gave this a try.
It was divine!
So rich & chocolatey in just a couple of minutes.
I’ve pinned this and plan on adding it to my favorites.
BTW, I’ve tried your chocolate chip cookie in a cup and the peanut butter cookie in a cup and this one is by far my favorite!
Great idea kids love the cookies in a cup yum!
This is sooooo good!
AMAZING!!!
The BEST mug cakes i have tried!
Best microwave cake I have ever had. I have tried a few! Thanks!
My friend and I tried to make these– we have since nicknamed them ‘The Brownie’s From Hell.” Obviously we did something wrong…
I’m sorry they didn’t turn out for you. Are you using real butter, not a spread?
Nope… But it’s possible that our microwave is a tad wonkey.
Can I use egg substitutes instead of egg whites? I don’t think it will work but I’m dying for a brownie right now and I don’t have regular eggs :-/ I guess I could just try it….lol. Just wondering?
I would try it! It might be more cake-like, but still yummy!
soooo good!!!!!! i added chopped pecans and caramel bits to mine for a turtle brownie. and i had chocolate chips on hand instead of chunks. i just used around a tablespoon of chips since i added the caramel bits. love this quick n easy recipe!!
I made it the first time and thought a few tweaks needed to be made. I added just 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 tbsp butter and 1 tspn coconut oil instead of 2 tbsp. I might use self raising flour instead of plain flour next time (hopefully 3rd time lucky) (which I did the first time, turned out great).. The boyfriend liked it last time but thought texture and sweetness was a bit off. Said it was perfect this time and guest finished it this time around too! =)
This is a fantastic recipe! I got a really smooth spongy cake, which was soo much better than one from another recipe. And it only takes 45s! Awesome.
Didn’t have chocolate chips, so I used butterscotch ones instead… DELICIOUS! Excellent microwave recipe!
what flour do i use?
All-purpose flour:0)
I made this tonight! And it’s absolutely delicious! My only concern is I’m not very sure whether my brownie is cooked haha it turns out a bit crumbly but still delicious! I microwaved it for abt a minute 🙂
Replaced the butter w oil, and added a tablespoon of greek yohgurt. Honestly the yummiest thing ever!!! Needs to be eaten still gooey but hot =)
I tried a mug-cake recipe yesterday and was disappointed by the spongy texture, but this… it was wonderful! I used chocolate chips instead and threw in some walnuts, but it was really nice. Thank you!
This looks amazing! I love how you make single serving desserts, just for those special craving 🙂
I hope you don’t mind if I use this in a food fight feature?! (photo only and lined back, of course!)
Of course! Thank you so much Lyuba!!
Great recipe! It’s the first Mug Brownie recipe I’ve found which is actually a brownie, and not cake. I cut the sugar back by half (I just prefer less sweet desserts) and the results were delicious.
I just wanna say, I’ve made this recipe about a million times, and it turns out perfectly each one!!! The ONLY thing that I recommend is putting the cocoa powder in before the flour, which makes it a whole lot easier to mix in and disperse evenly (:
if i bake this in a jar with a narrow top, will the brownie still be fine? as in the edges wont be hard and crusty and what not. same with the chocolate chip cookie recipe?
Hi! I was just wondering, how do you keep the brownie from tasting burnt? And how do you know when it’s time to take it out of the microwave so it won’t be overcooked?
P.S. Your single serving recipes are great for dormers like me! Thank you for sharing them. (:
Hi Desiree!
Try it at the 40 second mark, if it’s not done, you can cook it just a few more seconds at a time.
this was absolutely amazing!! I used 2.5 tablespoons of brown sugar because I didn’t have white sugar. Maybe that’s why it took a bit longer to cook? Its a keeper! Thank you
I just made this and it is SPOT ON. Tastes amazing and super, super easy. Thank you! Perfect for the upcoming cold winter months. 🙂
This recipe is truly Mmmmmmmm-azing!! I have made other brownie in a cup recipes and they left a lot to be desired. This is absolutely perfect just as it is! I did use margarine instead of butter and chocolate chips instead of chunks being as that’s all I had on hand. The only problem is I can’t get enough and they’re too convenient. Thanks for the recipe!! The kids love them, too!!
add a drop of orange extract, AMAZING
Just made this with a few tweaks… very yummy! Thanks for creating this! Pinned 🙂
I loved this recipe so much I decided to feature it on my blog! Feel free to come visit. I am just starting out, but can’t wait to add more posts! https://sugarandspicemakeslifenice.blogspot.com/2014/01/25-sweet-treats-that-wont-break-bank.html
The second time I made this I added a half teaspoon of baking soda and it got SO fluffy and amazing! This is an great tweak if you want something fluffy and chocolate flavored! Be sure you make it in a BIG mug because it expands A LOT!
This was amazing! It tastes exactly like a regular brownie and is so moist and delicious. We put walnuts on top. A great treat for Valentine’s Day!
I am totally hooked on these. I too made a couple of changes. I’m not crazy about chunks in brownies, so I substituted a tablespoon of chocolate syrup. Yum! and I also found that the whites can be used on the next brownie with no real change in taste. Thanks for the recipe. I don’t know why my friend told me to back away from the microwave. I’ve only gained three pounds because of these. 😉
Thinking about putting Nutella in this…can I sub it for cocoa powder or should I add in addition to? How much?
I haven’t tried it with Nutella, let us know if you do! Thanks!
I cannot wait to make this!! Looks so good 🙂
This is the best brownie in a mug recipe I have come across! Most are way to oily and rich but this one was surprisingly light. I actually halved this recipe and added a really creamy chocolate icing into two small mugs and everyone just raves around it! Thanks for sharing.
I am lactose intolerant, what do you suggest as a substitute for the butter?
Thanks!
Hey Lynda! I have a dairy allergy and had a bit of a frown when I saw the warning to not use any substitute spreads. I was craving some Brownie in a Mug, though, so I went on and risked it. I used “Earth Balance” Original ‘buttery’ spread, which is what I use for everything requiring butter, and it made a fantastic brownie. Don’t be afraid to take the risk! I hope this helps.
-Caroline
I made this today, following the recipe exactly yet the final product was very grainy in texture. Other than the texture, the flavor was nice. Entirely too sweet for me, but otherwise it was the type of chocolate flavor I would expect from a brownie. I may try it again, dropping the sugar down and see how it goes.
Great brownie! Also used spread instead of butter and mine turned out fine
i skipped the chocolate chips and added icecream. this is delicious
This is the best brownie in a mug I have tried thus far. It needed a little extra time, but still amazing.
Ive tried a lot of microwave cake recipes and this is the best one, I did add a 3rd more cocoa and sugar (with drizzle of water to make up for the extra cocoa) though since Im used to microwave cakes coming out bland and eggy
just made this but instead of vanilla I used strawberry and it was delicious!
I have now tried this recipe twice in a tiny mug that I have and it has been a success both times! Will definitely be recommending this recipe to all my chocoholic friends
by far the best recipe I’ve tried and I’ve tried a lot of them though I did put an extra scoop of brown sugar and a splash extra of vanilla.. but the best brownie in a mug recipe ever!!!
Great recipe!! I was skeptical but tried it anyway and this is a winner! Thanks!
this was an amazing recipe:)
I have just made it exactly as the recipe says, and it was delicious 🙂 I have tried other mug cake recipes and they were very hit-and-miss (mostly miss), but this was perfect. Chocolatey, fudgy and ready in under 5 minutes! I sifted the flour and cocoa powder together to get the lumps out first. Mine took maybe an extra 5 seconds to cook though, it probably varies slightly depending on microwave power. It did take a while to cool down enough to eat, but it was worth the wait! I’m going to try this again, and experiment with fudge pieces, Nutella, and caramel.
I doubled it and used a BIG mug to share with my husband and decided to try it *WITHOUT* the cocoa powder (GASP!) for a blonde brownie. But seriously folks… seriously.
Just did this! It was great! Thank u so much! so easy and taste awesome!
GREAT RECIPE!!!Loved it ….Thanks sooo much!:)
GREAT RECIPE!!!Loved it ….it tastes sooo good and i also put some nutella on itThanks sooo much!:)
LOVE IT, ate it with some frozen yogurt and topped with marshmallows too and wow!!
That was so easy. Thank you, I needed a chocolate fix.
This recipe and the chocolate chip cookie in a mug recipe are HANDS DOWN the best recipes I have found for a single serving dessert. I have tried so many different recipes and these two are by far my new favorites! The texture is the closest to an actual brownie and cookie than all the others I have tried. They all tasted good, but I just wanted it to feel close to the real thing without having to make a whole batch of cookies or a whole pan of brownies! Plus this way I can control my portions and not eat half a pan of brownies. You are my brownie/cookie angel! THANK YOU!! 🙂
Middle of the night, need something sweet, made this and it tastes wonderfully delicious! I had to cook it a little longer in my microwave but I was also very generous with the amount of ingredients I used. Did not use chocolate chips on top, didn’t need them, thank you!! Steph
Thanks so much for this fun and yummy recipe! I doubled it, made it in a bowl, microwave for approx 2 min. Worked beautifully. Fresh warm brownie for 2 in under 10 minutes! Genius!
I really loved it… Its damn easy and yummy.
YUMMMMM! So good! I have tried so many mug brownie recipes and this is my favorite by far! As Claire says, it’s amazing with milk. Delicious! I highly recommend it!
OMG SO GOOD you have to try this people so so good at the end of the day
Yummy and very easy. Five stars =)
I’m gluten-free so I replaced the regular flour with GF flour and it worked a treat! You don’t know how many times I’ve made a mug cake and it turning to custard (even the recipes that are FOR gluten-free mug cakes)! I am definitely bookmarking this and sending it to all my GF friends!
That’s great, Sera! Thank you!
This tastes SO GOOD with vanilla ice cream !!!
This is the best mug cake/brownie/anything recipe I’ve tried. It’s the only one I go back to. If you’re reading this, looking for a mug brownie that’s better than the crappy one you’ve tried – try this one
OMG this is sooooo good!!! I’ve made a lot of mug recipes & this was the best!! thank you!
This sounds amazing! And, I love that the nutrition facts have 0 calories! ? *off to make now*
I substituted Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour and Smart Balance Vegan Butter Substitute. It worked great!
Very good! Perfect for those sudden chocolate cravings! tip: stir the sugar into the melted butter until the sugar melt, so the brownie doesn’t taste grainy.
Looks great, tastes great too. A must try for all parent with kids.
Yummy! This looks so delicious and scrumptious! My daughter is going to love this recipe! Can’t wait to give this a try!
I had to make this as soon as I saw it! So easy and SO GOOD! The perfect sweet treat I needed today!
This brownie is so easy and so delicious!!!
Thanks for this amazing recipe, it really looks tasty and would totally fit for a cold winter night
I have such a hit or miss time with mug cake recipes but this was delicious. I followed the recipe exactly, and was careful not to overcook, but as the recipe stated – 45 seconds was perfect for my microwave. Will definitely make it again!
Love this Homemade Microwave Brownie, this one seems super delicious and amazing , super excited to try these brownies. Thanks for sharing this brownie recipe
Love this homemade microwave brownie, this delicious chocolate recipe seems super delicious and amazing . Super excited to try these brownies. Thanks for sharing this one with us .
This is the best mug brownie I’ve had! Definitely satisfied my late night sweet tooth. I will say if you use salted butter to skip the pinch of salt 😊