Sunday treat: three ingredient peanut butter mug cake

Mug cakes are ideal if you don’t have time to whip up a proper cake – and you can normally make them from a few odds and ends in the back of the cupboard. For me, they bring back the magic of baking: put everything in a mug, give it a stir – and pop it in until it pings!

Serves 1

Ingredients
140g (roughly 3 tbsp) crunchy peanut butter
30g granulated sugar
2 eggs

Method
You’ll need a suitable mug – a chunky ceramic one that can withstand the heat (you don’t want a cracked cup) and that won’t get too hot. Look on the base for one that’s microwave-proof.

Measure the peanut butter and sugar into the mug. Crack the eggs, and whisk everything together using a fork. Once the batter is fully combined – it should go around three-quarters of the way up the mug – put it in the microwave and heat on high for 1-2 minutes.

In my 700W microwave (category D), it takes exactly 1 minute, 45 seconds – but don’t worry if yours is different. Just watch through the glass so you can see the cake slowly rise around 2.5cm over the edge of the mug. It will sink a little as soon as the heat stops, but if it falls below the mug rim, blast it for another 5-10 seconds – it’s ready when it stays risen.

Use an oven glove or tea towel on the handle of the mug to take it out of the microwave. Let the cake cool for a minute before digging in.

Tip Try cashew or almond butter instead of peanut, or you can even use chocolate hazelnut spread. If you’re feeling particularly indulgent, add another spoonful on top before eating – it will go all gooey as it starts to melt into the cake.

Extracted from Three Ingredient Baking by Sarah Rainey (Michael Joseph, approx €15). Photograph by Alistair Richardson.