This chocolate cake recipe is fast, easy, and made in the microwave. Who knew microwave cake could be so delicious?
Packing my kids’ lunches in not my favorite chore ever.
Our oldest kid, The Lizard, is easy to please, and since their school has a couple microwaves, it’s even easy to pack leftovers.
The Fruitarian is another matter entirely. Once, I put some chili in a thermos for him (I make a mean batch of turkey chili!), but he didn’t eat it because it didn’t stay hot enough. The next time, I put chili in a container so he could heat it up at school. It came home with not a single bite taken, because he didn’t want to stand in line for the microwave.
“So you didn’t eat your lunch at all? Not even a bite?”
“No. I’m hungry, is there an after school snack?”
I wanted to strangle him that day.
I assume the kids get tired of sandwiches, so sometimes I pack a pasta salad. Fruitarian brings that home untouched, too.
“It tastes weird.” (by “weird,” he means he may have spotted something green in it.) {pause} “I’m hungry.”
On top of all that, his years of orthodontia have made him unable to eat a whole apple, corn on the cob, or anything sticky. Fruit must always be cut up for him.
And he is Always. Hungry. And he always wants my fresh fruit.
Thank goodness for fast and easy recipes. When the inevitable herd of teenage boys tramples through the house at 3:00 today, I’ll be ready for them with the fastest chocolate cake in the west.
**IMPORTANT NOTE Number One** about baking in the microwave: It’s all about the pan. It needs to be a silicone bundt pan for this to work right. Because, obviously, metal pans do not belong in the microwave, and if there is not a hole in the middle, the middle will never be cooked through.
**IMPORTANT NOTE Number Two** about this recipe: {because I know you’re going to ask} YES. You do put the frosting on BEFORE cooking. I know you’re worried about it, I know it sounds strange, baking frosting, but trust me. It’s Okay. What happens is that the frosting melts down through the cake mix while it bakes, making it all moist and delicious, and when you turn the bundt pan over, there is all this gorgeous melty frosting on the bottom, which is now the top, and it runs beautifully and temptingly all over the cake.
**IMPORTANT NOTE Number Three** about the frosting: If you are using a can of store bought frosting, you can use the entire can, if you want. (This is what I normally do.) If you find it to be too moist and delicious for you, feel free to back that down to about half a can. For the cake pictured in this post, I used homemade frosting, in an amount that would be close to about half a can of the store bought stuff. I do like it more frosting-y, but this is one of those recipes that is, shall we say, open to interpretation.
You can use any cake mix/frosting combo you like, although in my humble opinion, Devil’s Food with chocolate frosting is the best.
9-Minute Microwave Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix + ingredients listed on box
- 1 can prepared chocolate frosting
Instructions
- Prepare cake batter according to package directions.
- Pour batter into a silicone bundt pan.
- Drop spoonfuls of frosting on top of the cake batter.
- Place bundt pan in the microwave and cook for 9 minutes on high. Immediately overturn onto a large platter. Serve immediately.
Notes
Thanks for linking up my caramels ant this is classic “If you find it to be too moist and delicious for you, ..” I love that 🙂 If there was an option to add 10 cans, I would. lol
This is quite the inventive cake! Ive done mugcakes but never something so big and impressive like this. Braov, Jen!
Wow,Jen!!! Looks fabulous. I especially love the tips. So helpful. Thank you!
Aweosme idea, LOVE this! I need to get a silicone bundt pan, clearly! 🙂
Sara, get one, definitely! It’s totally worth it just for the microwave cake!
In a pinch, if you don’t have a microwaveable bundt pan, you can use a glass cake pan and cut a paper towel roll, greaser the end so it sticks, and place it dead center in the middle of the pan. You might want to hold it in place if you pour instead of spoon your batter into the pan to ensure it stays centered. Another twist on this recipe is to simply add chocolate chips instead of frosting. They fall to the bottom and melt so that when you turn the cake out, it has a lovely REAL chocolate frosting. I’ve been doing that one for years and using ALL generic ingredients to boot!
Before I got married, the ladies at work threw a pampered chef shower for me. The lady made this cake in the microwaveable rice cooker. I got the rice cooker just so I could make this cake. I have never used the rice cooker for rice. Just a lot of this cake. Also it’s fabulous with fresh fruit.
(there is no centre hole in the rice cooker, but maybe something else of the design makes it cook alright in the middle?)
How cool to put the frosting on the cake before baking it! Love the idea. And love the idea of a microwave cake – microwaves can do some amazing things. Really good stuff – thanks.
I love this recipe! I actually have it on the back of my business cards. This can also be made in the Pampered Chef Fluted Stoneware Pan (I usually allow 10-12 minutes cook time).
What an interesting recipe! I love how the frosting goes in with the cake! Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂
Can I use a glass bowl insted?
Marianne, unfortunately not. You might be able to split it into 3 or 4 parts and do it that way, but without the hole in the middle that you get with a bundt pan, the cake won’t cook all the way through. You could also try filling a coffee mug about 2/3 full with the batter, put a big dollop of frosting on top, and microwave that. Good luck, let me know how it goes!
Yes! Just cut a paper towel roll; off, grease it to ensure sticking and center it. Then spoon the batter in. Been doing that one for years. 🙂
I have used a glass bowl and put a glass in middle and it worked
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Wow Jenn can’t wait to try this today 🙂 Only thing I need to know is do I have to spray the silicone pan with Pam spray ? I’m hoping you get back with me today before I attempt this lol.Awesome reciepe Jenn you go girly thanks 🙂
I probably would, but it’s not a huge deal if you don’t spray the pan. I wouldn’t expect this cake to come out looking picture-perfect… the frosting in it makes it pretty loose and gooey on the bottom, er, top. Good luck Ricki lynn!
Thanks for sharing this great recipe! I needed something quick for dessert to bring to our guys out harvesting in the field. This was fabulous and they were all impressed. This recipe is a keeper!
The directions are confusing. Help. After mixing box cake and putting in bundt pan, along with frosting, how do I use the remaining ingredients called for in this recipe?
To make it simple, just follow the directions on any cheap chocolate cake box, add a package of COOK type chocolate pudding, then add your frosting or (I use chocolate chips) and bake.
Can I do this in a mug? It’s 2:39 and I am craving cake