I once saw a coffee mug that read, “Behind every good mother is a cup of coffee.” As a nursing mom, I looked at that and thought, “Not unless she has endless patience to deal with a grumpy, fussy, caffeinated baby.” I’d say instead that behind every good mom is a big chocolate bar—you know, the size that comes out only at Mother’s Day. One that can make up for 6 am mornings with a wide-awake baby, a toddler who forgets to say they need the potty, and all the other little stresses of being a mother.
And so I give you the three-minute brownie-in-a-mug recipe, for those time when a chocolate bar isn’t available. Someone emailed this to my husband when we lived up north and he passed it on to me. I think I have it memorized now. My mother-in-law says that chocolate may make for a gassy baby, but when I’ve just about hit my limits of patience and endurance, chocolate helps me go a bit further.
Three-Minute Brownie in a Mug Recipe
4 tbsp flour
3 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp cocoa
1 egg
3 tbsp milk or Bailey’s or almond/soy/coconut milk
3 tbsp oil or applesauce
3 tbsp chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips, or whatever other chips you have in the cupboard)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug
1. Add dry ingredients to a large microwaveable mug and mix well.
2. Crack the egg on top and add the milk, vanilla, and oil and mix well.
3. Fold in chocolate chips.
4. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high. (Test this in your microwave; in mine, I only cook it for 2 minutes.) The brownie may rise over the top of the mug (if the mug isn’t big enough), but don’t be alarmed (it won’t make a mess of your microwave).
Allow it to cool a little and then grab a spoon. It can feed two, if you are feeling slightly more virtuous (or want to serve it with ice cream). Enjoy your brownie in a mug!
3 Comments
I love this idea! It’s perfect for those days when you need a treat, and you need it fast 🙂
Emily – I haven’t tried it in a bowl, as I have a nice big mug that works perfectly and has so far withstood multiple microwaving. I was thinking that it would be good with a pack of Starbucks VIA (decaf) to make a mocha brownie… or perhaps a pack of the Healthy Coffee. 🙂
I will have to try this recipe being the chocoholic that I am. The only downside is that it uses the microwave and I find if can be tricky finding a good mug that will withstand microwaving (although I suppose you could use a bowl?).
I also wanted to suggest that if you’re having a problem with caffeine in your coffee and your nursling, there is a good alternative: http://www.emilyhiller.organogold.com. 150 antioxidants in every cup, it has red reishi in it that suppresses the absorption of caffeine and actually oxygenates your blood to give you a pure energy. And the best part is, it’s still 100% arabica bean coffee! I don’t know how I would have survived this pregnancy without it, given that I have 2 babies already zapping my time and energy. I highly recommend it :D.