6 Tips for Making Desserts in the Microwave

Mug cakes are probably the easiest microwave desserts to master, but you can't make anything unless you're prepared. Our first tip for making desserts in the microwave is to have this handy infographic shown below. Print it out, and stick it on your fridge, so you have it when you're ready to make that midnight snack.

Click on the image to download the full infographic for step-by-step instructions:

It's important to know what your microwave is capable of. Christina Lane from Dessert for Two gave us this advice about making desserts in the microwave:

Eggs in the microwave are perfectly safe, but the next time you see a mug cake recipe that includes an egg, you should be a little suspicious. Eggs usually leave you with a dense, soggy cake when they’re included in mug cake recipes.

That said, your mug cakes will still need something to keep them nice and moist, so you don't end up with something that's too dry. Throw in some caramel or a peanut butter filling to turn your mug cake into a lava cake that's simply divine! This easy mug cake recipe below uses lemon-lime soda to give it that soft, velvety texture:

Most bakers roll their eyes at the thought of melting chocolate via the tempering or Bain Marie methods. And rightfully so, especially when you can totally do it in the microwave in no time at all. But there are ways it can go wrong. Here's one blogger's advice on how to prevent this microwave mishap:

Melted chocolate is perfect for dipping strawberries! This is an easy way to make a dessert in a hurry that's also a real crowd pleaser. Give this recipe for Chocolate Covered Strawberries below a try the next time you have company over!

When making mug cakes, the wider and shorter the mug is, the more evenly it will bake in the microwave. Mugs that have straight sides do better with mug cakes, too. When choosing your mug, look at the difference between the mouth of the mug and the base of the mug. The bigger the difference is, the more uneven the baking will be in the microwave.

There's really no better piece of advice for making desserts in the microwave than to simply do it often. Over time, you will feel more comfortable with these miracle microwave desserts, and you'll get to know the ins and outs of your microwave.

Now that you've got these tips and tricks for making desserts in the microwave, give them a try with these recipes! There's so much more than just mug cakes:

1. Microwave Cherry Crisp Recipe
2. Microwave Peanut Butter Cups Recipe
3. Microwave White Chocolate Peppermint Bark
4. Microwave Chocolate Nutella Mug Cake
5. Microwave Pistachio Fudge
6. Microwave Date Pudding Recipe

This is probably the most important thing to remember about making your microwave masterpieces. Of course, they will turn out a little bit differently than they would if you were making them traditionally. But that doesn't mean you've done something wrong! When it comes to mug cakes, the batter will not brown on the top, like it does in the oven. If you continue to microwave your mug cake until it does brown, you'll have one very dry mug cake.

It's also important to keep in mind that you cake will not rise as much as you think it will. It might also be a good idea to use self-rising flour instead of all-purpose. For more great tips and tricks for your mug cakes, check out these 6 Tips for Making the Best Ever Mug Cake!

Side Note: These tips and tricks are not meant to be used in a microwave oven. A regular microwave cooks with convection, whereas a microwave oven does not and therefore should probably not be used to making desserts like mug cakes.