Easy 10-Minute Microwave Chocolate Cake with Ganache

Quick Overview

This microwave chocolate cake is a soft, moist dessert made entirely without an oven. You whisk simple pantry ingredients together in a bowl, microwave the batter in a silicone mold, and top it with a warm chocolate ganache.

People love this recipe because it delivers a rich, bakery-quality slice of cake in minutes. It completely eliminates the wait time for preheating standard ovens while keeping the cake fluffy and tender.

• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: 3 minutes
• Total time: 8 minutes
• Servings: 4
• Estimated calories per serving: 320 kcal

Ingredients

For the Cake Batter

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup melted butter

For the Chocolate Ganache

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup warm heavy cream

How to Make Microwave Chocolate Cake

1. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a medium glass bowl.
2. Pour the melted butter and warm water into the dry mixture.
3. Whisk all ingredients continuously until a smooth, glossy batter forms without any lumps.
4. Line a microwave-safe silicone cake mold with parchment paper.
5. Pour the smooth batter evenly into the lined silicone mold.
6. Microwave on high power for 2 minutes and 30 seconds until the cake rises and a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Combine the dark chocolate chips and warm heavy cream in a measuring glass while the cake cooks.
8. Stir the chocolate and cream mixture thoroughly until it melts into a silky, glossy ganache.
9. Invert the warm cake onto a serving plate to remove it from the silicone mold.
10. Pour the warm chocolate ganache over the top of the cake and smooth it out evenly using a spatula.

Pro Tip

Avoid overcooking the cake in the microwave, as even 30 extra seconds can turn the moisture into a rubbery texture. Stop heating as soon as a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Serving & Storage

Serve this warm cake immediately with fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Store leftover cake in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Do not freeze this cake because microwave baked goods lose their delicate soft texture when thawed. Reheat individual slices in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds to restore softness.

FAQs

Can I substitute the melted butter with oil? Yes, vegetable oil or neutral coconut oil works great and keeps the sponge very moist.

What if I do not have a silicone baking mold? Use any round microwave-safe ceramic dish or glass pyrex container lined with parchment paper.

Why did my microwave cake turn out tough? Tough cake happens when the batter is overmixed or heated for too long in the microwave.