The ultimate mug recipe guide (to see you through revision)

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Let’s face it, sometimes there’s just not enough hours in the day to be messing around cooking; especially during the revision-exam period. All you want is a quick and tasty revision snack that isn’t your 10^th bag of Pom-Bears (other crisp brands are of course available) and will help uplift you through this marathon of learning confusion.

And the last thing you want to be doing is adding to the ever growing pile of washing up for your fellow house dwellers to complain about or leave passive-aggressive post notes on.

The solution to this is an arsenal of quick mug recipes that keep washing up to a minimum and stomachs satisfied. And, plot twist, these mugs of microwaved deliciousness don’t just have to be of the cake format… There are savoury, vegan, gluten free and even healthy mug recipes too!

Like the sound of the mug you're reading about? We've included a recipe overview, and you can click the link at the end of each section to see the full original recipe page.

Cue Marks & Spenser’s food advert music… 

Breakfast

The ‘you-got-this-today’ warm breakfast blueberry muffin

Start the morning right with this delicious blueberry mug muffin that’s like being served a fresh warm batch of muffins every morning. Packed full of oozing blueberries in a spongey muffin pillow. It'll get you out of bed every time and really does warm the soul.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 1/16 tsp baking soda
• 3 tbsp fat free milk
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 7 fresh blueberries

Method:

1. Mix everything listed in muffin ingredients except blueberries into a microwave safe mug with a small whisk. Drop blueberries in, spreading them out. 
2. Cook in the microwave for about 1 minute. Let cool for a few minutes before eating.

Full recipe, complete with streusel topping (yum) can be found on Kirbie's Cravings.

‘In-a-min’ cinnamon roll mug cake

I know right, this looks really fancy but is actually very easy to make and all within three minutes! Plus there are a number of health benefits associated with cinnamon that could help keep you well during the exam period.

Ingredients

• Plain flour
• Apple sauce (the stuff you have with a roast)
• Vegetable oil
• Baking powder
• Vanilla
• Light brown sugar
• Cream cheese
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg

Method:

1. Add all ingredients to a mug and then whisk together with a fork to combine.
2. Microwave for one minute and check to see if its done (a knife inserted into in should come out clean). If not done, put back in the microwave for 15 seconds and check again. Repeat until done.

Full recipe - including a tasty cream cheese frosting can be found on Cooking Classy.

Lunch

‘Egg-celent work’ mug omelette (vegetarian and gluten-free)

Controversial I know, but it really works and is ready within two minutes! Plus you can adapt the recipe at your own will to add in your favourite omelette fillings like mushroom, ham, cheese... the world's your oyster!

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 2 eggs
• Veg, cheese to suit your taste chopped very small (you could also add cooked meat if you eat meat)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Spray inside of mug with cooking spray
2. Add eggs and whisk with a fork to combine
3. Add in your preferred add-ons and stir
4. Pop in microwave and cook on high power for 90 – 120 seconds depending on power of microwave.
5. Let sit for one minute before eating.

See a great pepper, feta cheese and spinach version of this classic, at Joyful Healthy Eats.

Soothing spaghetti in a mug

A warming comfort food lunch full of soothing cheese that acts like a supportive hug during this challenging period and is so much more satisfying than that pasta ‘mug shot’.

Ingredients:

• 180g of spaghetti, broken into short segments
• 355ml of water
• 1/4 tsp of salt
• 240g semi skimmed milk
• 1/8 tsp of freshly grated nutmeg
• 110g of grated cheddar cheese, plus more for topping
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 120g of ham 
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1 tsp of unsalted butter

Method:

1. Break the spaghetti up into short segments with your hands into a big microwave-proof mug or bowl. Add water and salt, then stir to combine.
2. Cover the bowl and microwave on high for four min, then stir again with a fork. Cover and microwave on high again for three to four min (depending on the thickness of the spaghetti) until the pasta is soft and the water’s mostly absorbed. 
3. Add the milk, grated nutmeg, and cheese. Mix evenly and season with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
4. Divide the ham, garlic, thyme and butter into two mugs. Use a fork to mix them slightly, then microwave on high for one min. 
5. Divide the spaghetti and cheese mixture into the mugs and mix with the meat mixture on the bottom.
6. Top with more cheddar (and parmesan cheese if you have it) and freshly ground black pepper. Microwave on high for another three and a half mins until hot and bubbly (you might want to place a sheet of baking paper on the bottom in case it over-spills.

You can mix things up with this recipe, by using sausage or different types of cheeses. Or you can remove the meat to make it veggie-friendly.

Dinner

Clever Thai green curry in a mug (vegetarian)

Take a momentary revision break to the streets of Thailand with this Thai green curry recipe from Bigger Bolder Baking that rivals the speedy cooking times of the Thai street food cooks.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup (4floz/120ml) coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon green curry paste
• 3 tablespoons frozen carrots and peas (or whatever frozen veggies you like)
• 1 handful vermicelli rice noodles
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Coriander and sliced red chilli to garnish (optional)

Method:

1. In a microwave safe mug add your coconut milk, green curry paste, lime juice and frozen veggies. Give this a good stir to combine then add in your noodles.
2. Microwave for one and a half to two minutes or until the noodles are soft and fully cooked. Enjoy straight away!

Speedy spinach ricotta lasagne in a mug (vegetarian)

A lasagne in a mug? Surely not?! This lasagne, from Healthy Nibbles, may not be quite like “mama used to make”, but super tasty and ready at a fraction of the cooking time.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 fresh lasagna sheet
• 75g baby spinach, roughly chopped
• 1/4 medium yellow pepper, diced
• 35g ricotta cheese
• 3 large basil leaves, finely chopped (optional)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• 6tbsp pasta sauce from a jar
• 45g cup shredded part-skim mozzarella

Method:

1. Cut the lasagna sheet in half and cut each strip in half again. Place the pasta sheets into a bowl, and pour very hot water in it, until it covers all the pieces. Set aside.
2. Chop the spinach and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover the top with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in it for ventilation. Microwave for one minute. Take out the spinach and let it rest.
3. Grate the mozzarella while you wait for the spinach to cool.
4. Mix the spinach with the ricotta, pepper, granulated garlic, and salt. Set mixture aside.
5. Pour two tablespoons of pasta sauce at the bottom of the mug. Top with a piece of softened pasta sheet. Add some spinach mixture, two tablespoons of mozzarella, and a pasta sheet. Continue building the lasagna, ending with a layer of pasta sheet at the top. Sprinkle mozzarella over the pasta.
6. Microwave everything for a minute and a half. Check to make sure that the mozzarella is melted. If it isn’t, continue microwaving at 15-second intervals until the cheese is fully melted.

Dessert

‘Working-towards-the-dream’ cookies & cream

This super easy cookies & cream mug cake, from Kirbie's Cravings uses only five ingredients and is super simple way to satisfy those cravings. Keep stocks of these ingredients in your cupboards as an emergency sweet treat when you need a little pick me up.

Ingredients:

• 35g white chocolate chips
• 4 tbsp milk
• 40g cup plain flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 2 Oreos

Method:

1. Combine white chocolate and three tbsp of milk (reserving the final one) into an oversized microwaveable mug. Microwave for about 30 seconds. Stir with a fork until chocolate is melted. Chocolate should melt, but it may not be completely smooth. Microwave for another 20 seconds and stir again. Chocolate should be thickened and completely melted and smooth.
2. Add in flour and baking powder. Stir with a small whisk or fork until batter is smooth. It will be quite thick. Add in the additional tbsp milk and stir again. This will loosen the batter.
3. Add in two Oreos. Using fork, smash Oreos into mug. Continue to mash Oreos into the batter until only small chunks remain. Microwave for approximately one minute. Top of cake should be dry. You can pry edges of cake to check inside of cake with a fork, to make sure it is done cooking.
4. Let cake cool completely in mug so that it sets before eating (about 20 minutes).

The ULTIMATE gooey caramel brownie mug cake

Now this is certainly the big daddy of all mug cakes. A warm brownie cake topped off with whatever naughty stuff you can think of: melted chocolate, caramel, crushed cookies, toasted nuts, ice-cream and whipped cream. 

Here's the base cake recipe - it's up to you what you want to load on top!

Cake Ingredients:

• 2tbsp unsalted butter
• 2tbsp chocolate chips (half dark and half milk)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2tbsp plain flour
• 1/4tsp baking powder
• 1 large egg
• 1/2tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2tsp instant espresso powder (optional)
• 2tbsp sugar
• 1tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 square of your favourite dark chocolate

Instructions:

1. Place butter and chocolate chips in a coffee mug and heat on half power for 15 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted (about 45 seconds total).
2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. 
3. In another separate small bowl, whisk together the egg, vanilla extract, and espresso powder.
4. When the chocolate is melted in your mug, stir in the sugar and cocoa powder, the egg mixture and the flour mixture. Stir well to eliminate lumps.
5. Microwave the mug on half power for 30 seconds (I set mine on a plate just in case there’s spillover). Stir. Microwave on half power for 35 seconds (the cake will rise over the top of your mug like a giant soufflé, but stay calm.)
6. Press the square of chocolate bar down into the centre of the cake (I broke mine into two pieces), being careful not to burn your fingers. Microwave on half power for 40 seconds. Let the cake cool in the mug for two minutes while you prepare your toppings.Enjoy!

This is the ultimate pick me up after a slightly stressful day. Thanks Willowbird Baking for making life so tasty! Go on, treat yourself, you’ve earnt it.

NEXT:

- Revision techniques for students

- Essential student meal you need to try