With 90 Seconds And A Few Pantry Staples, Make Mug Brownies Like Magic

Sometimes a moment hits when you want to curl up on the couch and enjoy a gooey, fudgy brownie, but you don't have the time (or the patience, for that matter) to whip up an entire pan of them. If you're dying for brownies but only have a few minutes, you're in luck. You can easily whip up a mug brownie with a few items you likely already have in your pantry. If you can pull together some cocoa powder, flour, sugar, vanilla extract (imitation and pure vanilla extract both work here), and vegetable oil, you're just a few minutes away from kicking back and relaxing with a mug brownie made for one. 

Making a microwave mug brownie is super simple. Mix up your ingredients in your favorite microwave-safe mug, add a bit of water (or milk — your call), pop it in for about a minute and a half, let it cool (we know it's hard to resist the urge to dig right in, but trust us — it comes out scorching hot), top it with some ice cream or whipped cream, and enjoy. While you can certainly stick to the basic ingredients, there are a few different ways you can utilize your culinary creativity and personalize your mug brownie to your tastes.

Don't get us wrong: there's nothing wrong with a basic, straight-up mug brownie, and making one with whatever you've got on hand can certainly satisfy a serious chocolate craving. That said, there are a few extra ingredients you can add to your brownies to make them even more delicious. One easy way to make your mug brownie even tastier: add a tablespoon of chocolate chips to the mix (or two, or three). Once you take it out of the microwave, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top for even more melty goodness. 

If you'd like to add some caramel flavor to your mug brownie, you've got a few delicious options. You can squeeze a bit of caramel sundae topping straight out of the fridge onto your brownie, and maybe add a sprinkle of sea salt for extra decadence. If you've got some time on your hands, simmer a can of sweetened condensed milk in a pot of water on the stove to make the easiest caramel of your life, then drizzle it onto your mug brownie for sweet perfection in every bite.

Finally, if you're in the mood for a peanut butter brownie (and let's be real — who isn't?), you can heat a bit of peanut butter in the microwave and drizzle it on top of your brownie once it's warmed up. Crush up some peanut butter cups and sprinkle them on top if you feel like going the extra mile. No matter what you're in the mood for, a mug brownie is the perfect chocolatey canvas to easily (and quickly) satisfy your cravings.