Microwaves are one of the greatest tools for college students: they rely on them to cook food, heat water and make snacks for movie nights. So, any recipe for college students has to be microwave-accessible. 

For any student with a sweet tooth, instant cake in a cup is an easy treat for a snack, dessert or, knowing college students, a meal!

The ingredients for these cakes in a cup is fairly straightforward: many grocery stores sell instant microwave cake mixes, which need very few additions. All students need is access to a microwave (if not in their dorm, certainly in the kitchen areas of each residence hall) and a mug. Most instant cake mixes need a few simple additions, like milk (which can be found in the Jay’s Nest) or an egg. These mixes cook within minutes and can be a great quick snack. However, the downside is these boxes of instant mix only include a few packets and might be pricey for college students to afford all the time.

An alternative to instant box mixes could be making these cakes from scratch. Plenty of instructional videos and recipes can be found with a quick online search. The ingredients for these recipes are often fairly simple: flour, sugar, eggs, milk and other ingredients like chocolate or other flavors may be used depending on the recipe. 

Since these cakes are small, they require smaller amounts of each ingredient, so smaller quantities of each can last a long time. This is great for college students, as smaller bags of flour and sugar are cheaper and easy to store in the dorm. However, just like with instant mixes, there are a few downsides. Making these cakes from scratch takes longer and may get messier than a pre-made instant mix.

Each option has its merits, but overall, cake in a cup is a great and simple way for college students to get their sugar fix. For those who live in a dorm, an instant mix is best for a quick and fairly neat treat. Those who are willing to make the trip to a kitchen or who live in an apartment might prefer making this cake from scratch. It’s also a great activity to do with friends! Imagine movie nights, where each person gets to create their own cake in a cup with whatever flavors they want. It’s small enough to have with other snacks, so everyone can enjoy a variety of delicious but college-friendly treats.