This Chocolate Berry Mug Cake is a quick and easy way to get your chocolate fix. The bottom layer consists of a sweet and juicy berry sauce (using either fresh or frozen berries!). The berry sauce is then topped with a rich, fudgy chocolate cake. You can make this indulgent dessert in only about 10 minutes!
Note: this post was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2021 with new photos and improved instructions.
Sometimes you're craving a special dessert and store-bought cookies or ice cream just won't do. If you're short on time or you don't want a ton of leftovers, that's a perfect time for a mug cake! And this chocolate berry mug cake is one of my absolute favorites. This is no ordinary mug cake - it pulls out all the stops. Fudgy chocolate cake with chocolate chips, AND a juicy, sweet berry sauce at the bottom of the mug!
Plus, you can make this dessert with mostly pantry ingredients and frozen berries (or fresh, if you prefer!). By using frozen berries, you can make this recipe without any pre-planning, and at any time of the year, as long as you've got a bag of berries stashed in the freezer!
And, if you're a mug cake fan like me, you need to try some of my other favorite mug cake creations: how about snickerdoodle mug cake, apple cinnamon mug cake, or strawberry shortcake mug cake?
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Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Frozen berries: you can use one type or a mix of a few different types of berries. Cut up any large strawberries before using in the recipe. If you want to substitute fresh berries, see the Recipe FAQs section!
- Oil: any light oil will work, like vegetable oil or canola oil.
- Milk: any kind, I have used both 2% and whole milk.
- Chocolate chips: I highly recommend not leaving these out! They melt into the cake and help create a rich, fudgy texture. My go-to for this recipe is dark chocolate chips. You could substitute chunks of chopped chocolate if you don't have chips.
Step by step photos
1. Add frozen berries, ½ teaspoon flour and 2 teaspoons sugar to the mug. The flour helps to thicken the berry sauce. (Greasing the mug first is optional - see the tips and tricks section!)
Keep stirring the berry, sugar and flour mixture until no dry pockets of flour and sugar remain.
2. Place a folded paper towel on top of the mug and microwave for 45 seconds, or until berries are warm and juicy. Stir again.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining dry ingredients. Here I'm using my favorite mini whisk (affiliate link). It's the perfect size for mug cake batter!
4. Add the wet ingredients into the dry. Whisk with a fork or mini whisk until most of the lumps are gone.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Pour the chocolate cake batter on top of the berries, but do not stir!
7. Place the folded paper towel back on top of the mug and microwave for 90 seconds on high, or until the cake is cooked through. The cake is done when the top is firm with no wet batter on the top or sides.
If you want to and you've greased the mug, try unmolding the cake into a bowl or plate. Enjoy!
Tips and tricks
- If you want to unmold the mug cake, spray the inside of the mug with non-stick spray before you add the first berry layer, making sure to get the sides really well! Or you can grease the mug with oil or butter. When the cake is done, run a knife or toothpick around edges to help unmold it if needed.
- Make sure you mix the flour and sugar into the berries really well before microwaving. You don't want any pockets of dry flour in the corner. It may not seem like all the flour and sugar will incorporate at first, but as you keep mixing, it will start to combine with the moisture from the berries. Mixing well at this stage will ensure the berry sauce is nice and smooth!
- Also, I recommend pouring the batter over the berries slowly and gently, which will help keep the berries on the bottom rather than pushing them to the side. This way, when you unmold the cake, the berries will be beautifully displayed on the top!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can substitute fresh berries for the frozen berries!
I actually found that the frozen berries get more "saucy" after microwaving than fresh berries. To replicate that desirable saucy texture of the frozen berries, lightly press down on the fresh berries when mixing them with the small amount of flour and sugar. You don't need to crush them completely, but break up a few of them so some juice is released.
And, rather than microwaving them for 45 seconds, you only need 30 seconds. Then, you can follow the rest of the recipe instructions as written.
I prefer to use a mix of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. I found that they produce the most deep flavor and juicy texture! Strawberries will also work, just cut any large ones into bite-sized pieces first. Want to get more creative with your berry selection? Check out this list of 25 types of berries!
Because this mug cake has a lot of liquid from the berries, it's possible you may have some spatter or overflow in the microwave. To help catch any spatter, place a paper towel on top of the mug when microwaving.
Also, be sure to use a mug that is large enough; you will need a microwave-safe mug that holds at least 12 ounces (355 ml).
Finally, if you want extra insurance against mess in the microwave, place the mug on top of a microwave-safe plate to catch any potential drips!
Related recipes
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PrintChocolate Berry Mug Cake
You can use berries straight from the freezer, plus a few other basic pantry ingredients, to make an indulgent, rich and fudgy cake with a tangy and sweet berry sauce at the bottom of the mug!
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: dessert
- Method: microwave
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (37 g) plus ½ teaspoon all purpose flour, divided
- 2 tablespoons (27 g) plus 2 teaspoons (9 g) granulated sugar, divided
- ½ cup (70 g) frozen berries (to use fresh berries, see note 1)
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- pinch salt
- 5 tablespoons (74 ml) milk
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) neutral oil (canola oil, vegetable oil, etc.)
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) chocolate chips (any kind)
Instructions
- Optional pre-step: If you want to unmold the mug cake rather than eating it right from the mug, spray the inside of the mug with non-stick cooking spray or grease it with oil or butter.
- In a large, microwave-safe mug, add the frozen berries, ½ teaspoon flour and 2 teaspoons sugar. (If using strawberries, cut up any large ones into bite-sized pieces before adding.) Stir well to combine, there should be no remaining pockets of dry flour or sugar at the bottom of the mug.
- Cover the mug with a folded paper towel to catch any potential spatter. Microwave the berry mixture on high for 45 seconds, or until the berries are juicy and warm (they do not need to be hot, just not cold!). Stir the berry mixture again and set the mug aside.
- Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, combine the remaining flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder, and pinch of salt.
- Add the oil and milk to the dry ingredients and whisk well with a fork or small whisk until most of the lumps are gone. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Slowly pour the cake batter over top of the berry mixture. Do not stir. Replace the paper towel on top of the mug and microwave again on high for 90 seconds. Check the top and sides of the mug cake (see note 3). If you see any wet batter remaining, microwave again in 10 second increments on high until the cake is cooked through. When checking for wet batter, make sure you aren't looking at a melted chocolate chip instead! (My cake needed the extra 10 seconds after the initial 90.)
- Unmold the cake onto a plate or bowl, or enjoy straight out of the mug!
Notes
You can also substitute fresh berries for the frozen berries in this recipe. When mixing the berries in the mug with the ½ teaspoon flour and 2 teaspoons sugar, lightly break up a few of the berries with a spoon to release some of the juices. Then, microwave them for only 30 seconds, rather than the 45 seconds called for in the recipe.
Be sure to use a microwave-safe mug that holds at least 12 ounces (355 ml) to ensure the mug cake does not overflow. For extra insurance, you can also place the mug on top of a microwave-safe plate to catch any potential drips in the microwave.
To more easily check the sides of the mug cake to see if it's cooked all the way through, here is what I like to do: tilt the mug about 45 degrees and slide a butter knife down between the cake and the mug. Press the cake slightly inward with the knife. This way you can see all the way down to the bottom!
The nutrition information below is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. See our full disclosure policy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug cake
- Calories: 555
- Sugar: 52.6 g
- Sodium: 194 mg
- Fat: 20.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 90 g
- Fiber: 5.1 g
- Protein: 8.8 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg
Keywords: chocolate berry mug cake, berry mug cake
Kelly Anthony
I really love the frozen berries at the bottom taking this quick dessert to the next level.
Kate
Thank you Kelly! 🙂
Jacque Hastert
Chocolate and berries are a delicious combination of flavors! I can't wait to make this to satisfy my sweet tooth!
Kate
Thank you Jacque! 🙂
Jen
I find mug cakes have gotten out of hand- too dry. BUT this is the exception. The berries really help keep it moist and elevate it from a 6th grade science experiment to a real adult treat. Yum!
Kate
Thank you Jen! Yes I agree, sometimes mug cakes can not taste too great so I try to find ways to spice them up! I'm so glad you like the recipe 🙂
Anna
Mug cakes are so great when you fancy a cake but don't want the hassle of baking a whole thing. I love the combination of chocolate and berries, and this is definitely something I'm going to try next time the craving strikes!
Kate
Awesome, I'm so happy to hear you like the recipe Anna! 🙂
Swapna Sarangdhar
Hiya, we are trying this cake out but just wondering what wattage 'high' is on the microwave. We have a 950w high setting, or 600w. Which one should we use?
Kate
Hi Swapna! Thank you so much for your question, I actually didn't know that microwaves could have different wattage settings for "high". So I learned that today, good to know! My microwave is 1000 watts, so I think the 950w high setting would be better. Although, all microwaves do cook a little different, so if you are worried you can always set it for less time and check, then add small increments of time (10 seconds or so) until it's cooked. It's always better to undercook and add more time, since there is no fixing overcooked of course 🙂 I hope this helps, and I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Pam Greer
Quick and easy and so delicious! No one would ever guess that this yummy dessert came from the microwave!
Kate
Thank you Pam! 🙂
Amanda
What a fun recipe! It turned out delicious, and I love the chocolate and berry combo. It was so easy, so this is definitely happening again!
Kate
So glad you liked the recipe Amanda!
LaKita
This is the perfect amount of chocolate cake to make any time the sweet craving hits! Love that it has frozen berries added to the mix, yum!
Kate
Thank you LaKita I'm so glad you like the recipe 🙂
Sam
Wow this mug cake looks amazing! Chocolate and berries are the BEST combo. Can't wait to try this.
Kate
Thank you Sam!