Just wanted to share with you all what I did for some of our Christmas gifts this year 
For the 10 teachers, therapists and bus drivers that we work with each week, I gave them a little package containing my latest discovery and new guilty pleasure…
“Chocolate Mug Cake”
Their gift included a coffee mug, dry ingredients, recipe card and cocoa packets! Michael’s has coffee mugs for $1 each, and the package of Ho-Ho-Ho Recipe cards was also $1 at Michaels. I had all thebaking ingredients on hand…so this proved to be a very frugal gift!!! And delicious too!
Ingredients
4 T flour (wheat or rice)
4 T sugar
2 T cocoa powder
Pinch salt
Pinch baking soda
1 egg
3 T oil
3 T milk
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Directions
Mix all ingredients in bowl. Grease LARGE coffee mug. Add batter to mug and cook in the microwave on high for 3 minutes. Let cool (cuz you don’t want to burn your tongue just before eating chocolate cake!). Enjoy your chocolate cake in 5 minutes or less!
I came up with a Gluten Free version (that I actually like better than the wheat version). This is PERFECT because I can have a piece of GF cake ready for the boys in minutes for a birthday party, school party or other event.
For the grandparents, I made these. (No peeking Nana, Gaga or Laddie!)
Heather at Freebies4Mom.com compiled a list of great snack and gift ideas that are sugar-free. You’ll definitely want to check out her Have a Sugar-Free Christmas post!
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this idea….Great gifts….
That sounds really good and like a neat gift!! Thanks for sharing it!
Aren’t these wonderful? We have been making these for a few years now, for the ladies in our bible study class and the nursery workers.
Blessings, Beth Ann
I saved BOTH of these ideas. Thanks for sharing!
One question I have–how large should the mug be? It looks like it might need a 14 or 16 oz mug for the volume of dry ingredients alone, not to mention any rising that might happen. What size have you found works best?
Incidentally, (in case you’re interested) I ran the nutritional information and each cake has over 1000 calories–so it’s definitely one for sharing!
Holy moly! Add a little chocolate sauce on the top and these are the Betty Crocker Warm Delights that I send my husband to the store for at 11:00 at night!!!! YIPPEE! Not only have you given me a great gift idea, you’ve given me the PERFECT idea for when I’m craving those stupid $3 snacks!
oooo, what’s the recipe for the gluten free version??
This sounds FANTASTIC! I’m in the middle of baking cookies for my husband’s office, but am seriously considering doing this instead. Great post!
I’m a teacher and I think this is an adorable idea. I could envision all of us teachers going into the faculty room…whipping these up, “borrowing” milk from the lunch room and eating them with ZEAL!!!
Great suggestion…and thoughtful too.
That’s a great affordable gift idea.
I love this! I have printed it and am saving it to use next year!!
Have a great Holiday!!!
In the ingredients you mention cocoa. Is that cocoa powder or cocoa like the drink mix?
That is a great idea!
I tried this the same day I saw your post! What a great idea for a gift or those monthly chocolate cravings! Definitely get a very large mug–my regular large mug overflowed a bit.Thanks for the idea!
For a different opinion on cupcake in a mug see: http://mendonfoodie.blogspot.com/2008/09/cupcake-in-mug-really.html
These would make a great party favor (in themed mugs) at each person’s dining place at the table as well.
Thank you!
Jenny
If you’ll forgive a little shameless self-promotion… I found out about this treat quite awhile back, and loved it so much that I put the recipe on a mug!
http://www.cafepress.com/FullTimePress.297684641