The Most Dangerous Cake Recipe in the World

I recently stumbled upon the television show The Mind of a Chef on PBS. It features Chef David Chang (Momofuku) exploring the history, culture, and science of food. It is a great show, full of humor and education, with Chang's unique spin on classic recipes and his travel adventures. I definitely recommend it--you can watch most of the episodes online too!

I posted the show on facebook, and and old friend mentioned David Chang's food journal Lucky Peach. I had heard of the magazine, and have been wanting to get a subscription, but just never got around to it. I finally went online and ordered Issues #2-5 (no Issue #1 because it is $140!!) and they just arrived in the mail today. Yahoo!

I was just skimming through Issue #3 and reading an article on the history of cake with a runny center. I was always under the impression Jean-Georges Vongerichten invented the original molten lava cake after he accidentally undercooked a chocolate sponge cake. Apparently, over 20 years before that discovery, a housewife entering a Pillsbury bake-off created a Bundt cake filled with a pudding-like tunnel center. Who knew? Yay for knowledge!

At the end of the article, there is a recipe for a Two-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake. I've heard of baking a cake in a mug popped in the microwave, but I never believed they would be any good. But this recipe is published in Lucky Peach! It must be delicious! It looked simple enough and I had all the ingredients on hand, so I figured I'd give it a try. Wow! I am so surprised. This cake turned out light and fluffy with a slightly undercooked bottom that was like a gooey fudge--probably from the chocolate chips settling on the bottom. From start to finish, this took about 3.5 minutes, you can't beat that. I also dusted a bit of powdered sugar on top, just to make it fancy. Make this cake, now!

"Why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are only 2 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night."

Two-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake
from Lucky Peach Issue #3

1 egg
3 Tbsp milk
3 Tbsp neutral oil
3 Tbsp flour
4 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
3 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips
small splash vanilla extract
pinch salt
1 small or medium coffee mug

Add wet ingredients (including the egg) to a small or medium coffee mug and mix well. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug into a 1000-watt microwave for 2 minutes. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed. Allow to cook and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (This can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).