What do you do when your pregnant wife has a cake craving and you need to act fast? You make a super quick microwave sponge in a mug and serve with some cream and fruits. Obviously! I know it will not replace properly baked sponge cake but if you need to make a quick dessert this is just perfect solution. It is so simple you can make it almost anywhere as long as you have a large ceramic mug and access to microwave oven.

Makes one large portion

Ingredients:

• 4 tblsp self raising flour
• 4 tblsp caster sugar
• 1 heaped tsp fine instant coffee (alternatively 2 tblsp cocoa powder or 1 heaped tblsp instant hot chocolate or any flavouring of your choice)
• 1 egg
• 3 tblsp milk
• 3 tblsp vegetable or sunflower oil
• Couple of drops of vanilla essence (or other essence of your choice)
• 2 tblsp chocolate chips, nuts, raisins, sultanas etc. (optional)

Method:

1. Add flour, sugar and coffee to a large mug and mix.
2. Break in the egg and mix with the dry ingredients as much as you can.
3. Add in the milk, oil and essence and mix well until smooth. Add the chocolate chips, nuts or raisins if using and mix again.
4. Cook in the middle of the microwave oven on high for 1½ – 2 minutes, until the cake has stopped rising and is firm to touch.

Serve with selection of fresh fruits, berries and cream.