Brownies & Bars, Mug Cakes & Meals

2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl

4.67 from 6 votes
My 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl makes the fudgiest, moist, and insanely decadent brownies in just minutes!
The luscious perfectly microwave-steamed brownie bowl looks fudgy and moist, with an almost black color from dutch-processed cocoa powder, brown color from soft melted chocolate chips and milk color from the smooth velvety vanilla ice cream. Served in a white bowl with a spoon and a fork on the left.

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE  We all love an impressive luscious dessert such as our favorite brownies bursting with rich chocolate flavor but made FAST ! This 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl cuts right to the chase: with only a few pantry staples, just one bowl and a couple of minutes, boom, the brownie of your dreams is ready to enjoy.

Making a batch of full-size brownies takes roughly an hour from gathering ingredients, baking, to cleaning up dishes. Comparatively, this 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl is just as warm, fresh, and decadent as the full-size brownies, but with much less work involved!

Table of Contents

What is a 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl?

The 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl is a brownie that’s steamed in the microwave. It’s not structured like brownies that are baked in a pan and cut into squares—this brownie is eaten with a spoon from a bowl. It’s a deliciously sharable new version of my 1-Minute Microwave Brownie in a Mug that went viral with over 10 million views and 2,000-plus five-star reviews.

As a professional chef, I love tinkering in the kitchen, but the reality for most of us (including me as a busy working mum!), is that we need recipes for delicious food that’s fast and easy to prepare. For all of those after-school snacks and dinners you need on the table in minutes, I have 100+ Mug Cake and Mug Meal Recipes.

The 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl takes the Brownie Mug concept and makes it Bigger and Bolder. Instead of a single-serving, there’s enough to share, with an amped-up chocolate level and an extra fudgy and moist texture.

Tools You Need

  • Microwave-safe soup bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spoon

2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl Key Ingredients and Why

Ingredients for 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl are separately prepared. Dry ingredients in a bowl including cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, sugar, and slat. Wet ingredients in a liquid measuring jug including milk, oil, and vanilla extract.

Flour:

  1. A fudgy brownie batter like this one has less flour and more cocoa powder than a cakey brownie recipe.
  2. All-purpose flour has the right amount of protein at 11% to keep the batter together without making it too chewy.

Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder:

  1. Dutch-processed cocoa powder has been treated with an alkalizing agent to make it less acidic.
  2. The process also modifies its color–this cocoa looks redder–and gives it a milder taste compared to “natural cocoa.”
  3. Read about types of chocolate and cocoa in The Ultimate Guide to the Different Types of Chocolate.

Granulated Sugar (aka White Sugar):

Check out my  Best Sugar Substitutes for Baking & FREE Substitutes Chart for more options!

Salt:

Salt enhances the chocolate flavor.

Milk:

Whole milk or full-fat milk is my go-to choice for baking to give brownies deeper flavor and richness.

Vegetable oil:

  1. Oil is vital to give brownies a moist and fudgy texture.
  2. A neutral-tasting oil, like vegetable oil, won’t overpower the chocolate like olive oil or butter would.
  3. You can use melted cooled butter or ghee instead if preferred.

Chocolate Chips:

  1. Chocolate chips combine with the cocoa to create multi-layered chocolate flavor.
  2. Mixing chocolate chips into the batter elevates the texture of the 2-Minute Brownie, making it fudgier.

How to Make a 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl

Mixing the Ingredients

  1. Measure carefully. In a smaller-scaled recipe like this one, even a small variation in one of the ingredient amounts can throw off the mixture.
  2. You have to be very careful when you’re mixing chocolate, because it can separate from your other ingredients. Just want to mix it very lightly until a batter is formed, and then stop mixing.

Brownie bowl batter is looking rich, thick and smooth. topped with chocolate chips, ready for cooking in the microwave.

Cooking the Brownie Bowl

  1. The Brownie Bowl cooks very quickly, and if it’s overcooked, it will be dry and tough. To be safe, check your brownies at 90 seconds to see if they’re done. If it’s not ready, put it back in the microwave and check at 15-second intervals.
  2. The brownies are done when they’re firm to the touch and the batter on top doesn’t look wet.

Perfectly cooked brownie bowl with firm edges but they’re still soft with a JUST-set-to-the-touch center, no longer jiggling. Chocolate chips add color contrast.

Cooling and Serving

  1. Let the 2-Minute Brownie Bowl cool for a minute before eating.
  2. Top it off with whipped cream or my easy No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream.

Brownies look extra moist and decedent with softened melting chocolate chips, topped with a big dollop of vanilla ice cream. One scoop of brownies is being taken from the left side of the bowl.

FAQs

I don’t have a microwave. Can I make a 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl in the oven?

  • Yes, you can bake it in an oven-safe bowl at 350°F/180°C for roughly 12-15 minutes.
  • Be careful not to over bake your brownies! You know when your brownies are perfectly cooked when they’re firm around the edges but they’re still soft and JUST set to the touch in the middle, no longer jiggling.

How do I keep my 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl from being dry?

  • Be sure to measure the ingredients carefully. Even slightly too much flour could make the 2-Minute Brownie Bowl dry.
  • My microwave is 1200 watts, and it took 2 minutes and 15 seconds to cook, but microwave cooking times vary. Check your 2-Minute Brownie Bowl after 90 seconds.

Can I make my 2-Minute Brownie Bowl vegan?

Yes. If you don’t drink dairy milk, you can use any kind of a nut milk soy milk or whatever you like.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips:

  • You must use Dutch-processed cocoa for the right flavor. Regular cocoa powder is too acidic for this recipe and will result in a flat, bitter, off-tasting brownie.
  • The amount of sugar seems high but this is what gives the brownie the dense and fudgy texture that differentiates it from a cake.
  • The cooking times are approximate because everyone’s microwave is different. It may take a few tries to get this recipe perfect. The test batches are usually still delicious!
  • You can switch out the chocolate chips for white chocolate or chopped nuts in the same amount.
  • Don’t forget to elevate your brownie bowl with my Signature Caramel Sauce made on the stovetop or Caramel sauce made in the microwave!

Don’t Miss My Other Brownie Recipes

Gemma’s Best-Ever Brownies Recipe

Banana Bread Brownies

Chewy Mochi Brownies

Brownie Brittle

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Brownie Trifle Recipe

Watch The Recipe Video!

2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl

4.67 from 6 votes
My 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl makes the fudgiest, moist, and insanely decadent brownies in just minutes!
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 2 people
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
My 2-Minute Microwave Brownie Bowl makes the fudgiest, moist, and insanely decadent brownies in just minutes!
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

  • ½ cup(4 oz/115 g) granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons(1½ oz/43 g) Dutch processed cocoa powder
  • cup(1½ oz/43 g) all-purpose flour
  • teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons (3 fl oz/85 ml) whole milk
  • cup (2 ½ fl oz/75 ml) vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup(1½ oz/43 g) chocolate chips
  • Vanilla ice cream for serving

Instructions

  • In a microwave-safe soup bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, flour, salt, milk, oil, and vanilla extract until a smooth batter.
  • Fold in the chocolate chips and then wipe the edge of the bowl clean.
  • Microwave for 90 seconds, then in 20-second increments until set. Mine took 2 minutes and 15 seconds. (My microwave is 1200 watts so check the wattage of your microwave because your cooking time may vary)
  • Let cool for 10 minutes before serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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Sandi
Sandi
7 months ago

Why did mine turn out oily? I could see the oil bubbling on the top in the microwave. I followed the recipe, but used dark cocoa powder rather than Dutch processed. Would that make it oily? Otherwise, it has a very good flavor!

Paul Bradburne
Paul Bradburne
10 months ago

Hi I can’t get Dutch processed cocoa powder where I live… any suggestions? Thanks

Tara
Tara
10 months ago

Delightful. I used your homemade 2 ingredient vanilla ice cream, halved the recipe, and substituted the Dutch processed cocoa powder with regular cocoa powder and baking soda and it was great. It’s moist, has a rich chocolate flavour, great brownie texture, and is just awesome!

Jared Dion
Jared Dion
1 month ago

I wonder if I would be able to substitute a brown sugar replacement sugar with this recipe, and a sugar free chocolate chips and if so would it work

David S
David S
3 months ago

Can I use skim milk in recipes such as this instead of whole milk.

Rosemary Barker
Rosemary Barker
10 months ago

So very easy!! Not too sweet at all. Easily we could divide this into 3 servings. A keeper recipe for sure.

Mma
Mma
10 months ago

Can’t wait to try, do you think it would work with butter instead of the oil?

About Us

Meet Gemma

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

 

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