5 Minute Treats

Not pretty but it does the trick

I am a big fan of quick and easy. Especially if it comes in the form of dessert. A few weeks ago I was craving brownies but didn't want to make a whole pan of them for fear that I'd end up eating them all. Instead, I found a recipe for a "brownie-in-a-mug" that looked interesting. I had all the ingredients on hand and decided to give it a shot; the result was exactly what I needed: a warm, chocolaty, personal-sized brownie in less than 10 minutes. It doesn't get easier than this! (I've since made it so many times that I now have the recipe memorized - so much for self-control.)

Now that I am an expert on brownies I've started searching out other "-in-a-mug" recipes. Over at Prudent Baby I found "a cup of coffee cake" and "2-minute French toast."  If you have time and want to get really fancy with your mug-dessert the Boston Globe has a feature on other recipes by author Stacey Miller who has written two cookbooks on the subject. However, if I had enough time to make her desserts I would go ahead and make the real deal.

If you know someone who might enjoy a gift of pre-packaged "-in-a-mug" goodness, there is a PDF online that has recipes and instructions for preparing your pass-along treat. (I think these would be a great idea for a student going off to college or maybe a other with a newborn and no time for treats!)

So now I am thinking, what else can be made in a mug? Leave a comment with your fave recipe!