A Three Minute “Cup” Cake!

OK I know you’re thinking this must have been a typo right? Because, after all, you must be wondering what kind of cup cake you can possibly make in 3 minutes!
Sounds crazy to me too. But when I came across this twist on a traditional cup cake created by Food Network celebrity chef, Michael Symon, I couldn’t resist giving it a try. It was, after all, my husband Randy’s birthday last week and he is the King of chocolate cake, at least in our home and the reason for my search for years for The Perfect Chocolate Cake. If you’ve been following Two Chums for long you’ll probably remember that story and may have already made that cake…..we’ve heard from many of you that you have made it and received rave reviews. If you haven’t read the story, or tried the cake recipe yet, check it out at the link provided. It is good for a laugh and even better for a recipe for what truly is the Perfect Chocolate Cake.

But this “cup” cake recipe is a fun one and certainly worth the 3 minutes it takes to make it. The twist is that the individual cakes are baked in actual cups….in 3 minutes….in the microwave! Prior to this experiment I’ve NEVER cooked anything in the microwave in my life but it was an adventure and for the sake of all of you, our Chums, worth a try I thought. So this past weekend when we celebrated the birthdays of my husband, Randy, son-in-law Peter (who happen to share a birthday on the same day) and my daughter Amanda, this was my contribution to the celebration and I have to tell you it was a hit…..the kids especially loved it!!!!

It is really more of a sort of molten lava cake with a soft gooey center. There is no icing but the whipped cream along with the fudgey, gooey center makes up for it and it really is the fastest cake, or dessert of any kind, I’ve ever made. I predict this one will be making many more appearances at our family gatherings and if you try it, it will be a favorite in your home too.

Even if you don’t have a birthday or anniversary or award of some kind to celebrate, a gooey choclatey dessert that you can have ready, start to finish, in under 10 minutes means this can be the sweet reason any day to celebrate love, joy and abundant living!

The “3 Minute ” Chocolate Cup Cakes

8 oz.butter
8 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
4 eggs
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon orange zest OR vanilla extract
Whipped cream and shaved chocolate

1. Put butter and chocolate into a glass bowl and microwave for 1 minute on high.  Stir until melted.
  

2. In another bowl mix together sugar, flour, salt, vanilla or orange zest and eggs.  Whisk in chocolate mixture.  Divide into mugs (4 or 6 depending on how large you prefer the cupcakes to be )
    

3.  Place mugs in microwave and cook on highest setting for 3 minutes.  Test cupcakes.  They should be firm on the sides and soft in the center.  Cook for 30 seconds or up to 1 minute more as needed.  Allow to sit for  30 seconds.
  

Add whipped cream and top with chocolate shavings.