In five minutes you could be tucking into a delicious warm, freshly baked, fluffy sponge. Here are a couple of takes on the ridiculously simple “Cake in a Mug” that don’t use eggs or dairy. Besides the ingredients, you will need a mug (preferably with straight sides) and a microwave.

Chocolate Cake

Put the following into a mug:

• 4 tablespoons of flour (self raising or plain)
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa

Mix them thoroughly in the mug and add:

• 3 tablespoons of soya milk
• 3 tablespoons of cooking oil

Mix them thoroughly into a smooth paste using a fork.

Cook in the microwave for 3 minutes on full power (900W). The cake should rise rapidly in the cup and then slump down again before it is done.

Turn out onto a plate while still warm and enjoy!

Banana Sponge

Mix these together in a mug:

• 4 tablespoons of flour
• 1 tablespoon of sugar

Chop half a banana into the mix and mash it in well with the other ingredients with a fork.

Then add:

• 3 tablespoons of soya milk
• 3 tablespoons of cooking oil
• A drop of vanilla essence (if you have it)

Mix well into a paste and microwave for 3 minutes as above.

Variations

Once you have got a feel for the ingredients and proportions, why not try making up your own variations?

Think of the recipe as having 14 parts: 4 parts flour, 2 parts sugar, 2 parts ingredient of your choice, 3 parts oil, and 3 parts another liquid (water, fruit juice, soya milk). It is hard to go wrong with this simple formula.

Related articles

• 5 Minute Vegan Pancakes (thefatsausage.wordpress.com)
• Vegan Lemon Star Cake (seymourjacklin.co.uk)