Everyone's Making Red Velvet Mug Cakes And They're So Easy To Recreate

Forget slaving over a perfectly risen sourdough - in lockdown, we're celebrating that beloved sweet treat cobbled together from store cupboard ingredients: the mug cake.

Gooey. Comforting. Ready in moments. Mug cakes first boomed back in 2015 but are now having a resurgence during quarantine - and the flavour currently filling our Insta-feeds is classic red velvet.

Topped or stuffed with cream cheese frosting, giving way to moist, ruby-coloured sponge, these spongey creations are both super speedy and decadent.

Tyla enlisted the help of Rachel Kivlahan, an LA-based cinematographer and dessert blogger (@sugarcoatedinsp), who shared her red velvet know-how.

Rachel's mug cake is stuffed with cream cheese and serves two. In 3 minutes, you'll have a fluffy red cake with a warm, creamy centre.sugar

Anyone else salivating?

@sugarcoatedinspo)

You will need:

• 6 tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. white vinegar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 10 drops red food colouring
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (coated in flour)
• 2 tbsp. cream cheese
• 1 tbsp. powdered sugar (plus extra for decorating)

@sugarcoatedinspo)

Step-by-step:

1. In a bowl, whisk together the milk, vinegar, flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, vegetable oil, and red food colouring. Fold in the chocolate chips (coated in flour to prevent them from sinking) and pour into a large mug.

2. Combine the cream cheese with 1 tbsp. of powdered sugar and dollop the mixture into the centre of the batter, making sure it is completely submerged.

3. Microwave for 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the strength of your microwave (it took only 3 minutes in my microwave.) Once cooked, a toothpick inserted into the centre should come out clean.

4. Garnish the red velvet mug cake with powdered sugar and enjoy!

Elsewhere in the world of red velvet mug cake inspo, you could always microwave your creation in a greased ramekin to give a fancier finish, like the yummy offering above shared by @kato_zell.

"If you happen to have my first red velvet recipe from eons ago saved, please please please replace it with this bad boy!" enthused the Instagrammer, posting a snap of the dinky cream cheese-topped cake.

Or how about studding the top of you mug cake with white chocolate chips instead of a slathering of frosting, like home baker @bitingshutter?

Meanwhile, @jeankitchendiary used a scattering of red velvet cake crumbs to decorate her cream cheese topping.

Turned out onto a plate, the final result is super professional-looking.

She commented: "craving satisfied at last."

Mmm.

Brb, just waiting patiently for the 'ding' of the microwave.

Topics: Tasty Food, Food And Drink, Cake

Mary-Jane Wiltsher

Mary-Jane Wiltsher is a freelance lifestyle and culture journalist. Elsewhere she writes for Stylist, Euronews, PHOENIX and What We Seee.