Mug cakes are an easy option when you are looking for a quick, single-serving dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth without a lot of prep work. You can make them from scratch, but they are even easier when you start with a mix. Trader Joe’s Chocolate Salted Caramel Mug Mix is a new option from the grocery chain that produces two  decadent chocolate cakes with gooey, salted caramel centers.

The mix makes two individual mug cakes, so you can make one at a time or use two mugs to make both. There are two packets of cake mix, along with four of Trader Joe’s Fleur de Sel caramels. The caramels are delicious on their own, but are used here to be the molten center of each cake. The mix is extremely easy to make: just pour it in a mug, add water and stir. I was a bit skeptical of the fact that the directions only called for a short cooking time (20 seconds on high, then insert the caramels and then microwave for an additional 20 seconds), but the cake turned out perfectly. It puffed up dramatically in the microwave and was light, yet loaded with chocolate flavor, when it was done. The caramels sank to the bottom of the mug, but it was still easy to get some in each spoonful of the cake – even if the caramel wasn’t quite in the center of things.

This cake really exceeded my expectations and it was more delicious than many mug cakes I’ve tried. The serving size is great for one person and it delivers lots of rich chocolate flavor. The salt in the caramels was a nice bonus and contrasted well with all the chocolate, though I probably could have done with even more caramel (because I am a caramel fan). This is a great way to treat yourself to a quick dessert and I’ll definitely be making them again.

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