2 Minutes to Chocolate Heaven with a Dollop of NaNoWriMo on the Side

Writers! Need chocolate in a hurry to fuel those writing sprints or to reward yourself for meeting a goal? This blissful cup of brownie goodness is sure to hit the spot.

My experience with recipes for Brownies in a Mug has been largely unsuccessful—until now. They were either not chocolately enough (Remember, milk chocolate is a color, not a flavor!), too spongey (the result of using a whole egg, and if you only use part, what do you do with the rest?), or too dense and dry. Not any more! This recipe is a huuuuge hit at my house, and I can make it so quickly I don’t feel guilty for briefly abandoning the BIC** rule. (Secret: The whole thing can also be prepared and completely finished during a single commercial break…)

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Brownie in a Mug

In a 12 ounce microwaveable mug* mix the following:

1/4 cup flour (oat is good!)
3 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
3/8 tsp. baking powder
dash of salt
1/2 Tbsp. canola oil
3 Tbsp. milk, water, or coffee

Stir together until well blended. Microwave on HIGH for one minute. Microwaves vary! Check every 30 seconds. When done it will be springy but gooey on top.

*Any other 12 ounce microwaveable dish will work just fine. Anything less and you’ll have a Brownie Mess. No, the NaNoWriMo mug is not actually large enough—unless you want a slightly more dense brownie, in which case decrease baking powder to 1/4 tsp., and then it will turn out just like the photo. My daughter said it was every bit as tasty and ‘do-over-able.’

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Speaking of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), it’s coming right up! Only nineteen days! Are you excited? I am. I’d be even more excited if I knew what I was going to write. It’s time now to be plotting and outlining, but I’m working feverishly to finish up a few other projects.

I do know that I’ll be tackling one of Sherakai’s stories, but I’m not yet sure which.

I do know that I’ll have plenty of cocoa on hand for Emergency Brownies. And I suddenly wondered how this would taste if orange juice was used for the liquid…

Check out some of these helpful ideas for getting set for 30 Days and Nights of Literary Abandon:

• How to Prepare for National Novel Writing Month

(NaNoWriMo) by Brian A. Klems @ Writer’s Digest

• 11 Ways to Prepare for NaNoWriMo by Gary McLaren @ Publish Your Own eBooks
• NaNoWriMo: Quick Preparation Tips and Resources by Suzannah Windsor Freeman @ Write it Sideways

Want to hook up on the NaNoWriMo site? You can find me masquerading as StillCypher. So… who’s going to join the party, and how do you prepare?

(**BIC = Butt In Chair!)