There are plenty of days when we’re fired up and eager to begin a baking project. Unfortunately, those moments don’t always line up with when our chocolate cravings hit. More often than not, we start craving a warm, fudgy brownie right as we sit down to relax in front of the television, perfectly content to not move for the rest of the night.

Unfortunately, we can’t just snap our fingers and have a brownie appear. But this recipe gets us pretty close — you’ll have a brownie in your hands in less than five minutes.

The perfect late-night single-serve treat

This fudgy brownie recipe — made entirely out of pantry ingredients — is perfectly portioned to serve you and only you, which means you don’t have to worry about what to do with the rest of the pan. It also means fewer ingredients, so even if you’re down to the last few tablespoons of sugar or flour, you can still whip this up. I recommend making it in an 8-ounce ceramic mug, which will ensure it will cook evenly in the microwave.

Ingredient substitutions

If you don’t have cocoa powder, you can use 2/3 ounce (20 grams) unsweetened chocolate, and reduce the butter by two teaspoons. Melt it with the butter, then proceed with the recipe as directed. You could also use chocolate chips or a sweetened bar of chocolate, but you’ll want to use less brown sugar to keep the brownie from tasting overly sweet.

If you’re looking for a vegan treat, simply use dairy-free milk and melted coconut oil in place of butter. I enjoy mine with a little scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, as it melts into the warm brownie. Vegan ice cream would be equally as delicious.

Brownie in a Mug

Serves 1

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

3 tablespoons whole milk or non-dairy milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Pinch salt

1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips (optional)

Vanilla ice cream, for serving

1. Place 3 tablespoons butter in a large, microwave-safe mug. Microwave on high until fully melted, about 30 seconds. Swirl to coat the mug with melted butter, then pour the butter into a small bowl.

2. Add 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar, 3 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and whisk until smooth. Add 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and a pinch of salt, and stir until combined. Fold in 1 tablespoon chocolate chips if desired.

3. Scrape the batter back into the mug. Microwave on high for 1 minute and 15 seconds. The brownie is ready when the center is slightly gooey and the edges bounce back when pressed. If not ready, microwave for 15 seconds more. Top with ice cream and enjoy!

This article is written by Marcella DiLonardo, The Kitchn.com from The Kitchn and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.