The Great Cardiff Bake-Off: Attempting to Bake with Just a Microwave

If you’d told me in my first year that I’d be baking cakes in a microwave, I would have laughed. Baking was something my mum did at home, with a proper oven and a kitchen that didn’t double as a laundry room. But here I am, a third-year student at Cardiff, and the microwave in our flat has become my secret weapon. Welcome to The Great Cardiff Bake-Off: Student Edition.

It all started during revision week. The craving for something sweet hit hard, but the oven was broken (again), and Deliveroo desserts are not kind to a student budget. So, I did what any desperate student would do – I Googled “microwave desserts.” What I found was a whole world of mug cakes, microwave brownies, and even banana bread, all promising sugar fixes in under five minutes.

My first attempt was the classic chocolate mug cake. I grabbed my biggest mug (the one with a chip in the handle), mixed flour, cocoa powder, sugar, a splash of milk, and a bit of oil. I even threw in some chocolate chips I found at the back of the cupboard. After ninety seconds in the microwave, the kitchen smelled like an actual bakery. The cake was a little gooey in the middle, but honestly, that’s how I like it. I ate it straight from the mug while watching Netflix, feeling like a genius.

After that, I got more adventurous. Vanilla mug cake with rainbow sprinkles? Easy. Just mix flour, sugar, baking powder, milk, melted butter, and a dash of vanilla in a mug, then microwave for about 80 seconds. The sprinkles melt into the cake and make it look like a party, even if you’re just celebrating submitting an essay.

Banana bread was next. Mash half a banana with a bit of oil and vanilla, add flour, sugar, and baking powder, then microwave for a minute and a half. It’s not quite my mum’s recipe, but it’s warm, sweet, and perfect for late-night study snacks. Plus, it’s a great way to use up those bananas that always go brown way too fast.

Not every experiment was a success. I tried to make a lemon mug cake and forgot to add the baking powder. It turned out more like lemon-flavoured rubber. My flatmate still laughs about it. But honestly, that’s half the fun. Baking with a microwave is unpredictable, a bit chaotic, and very student.

What I love most is how easy it is. No fancy equipment, no endless washing up. If you have flour, sugar, and a mug, you’re halfway there. It’s also a great way to bond with your flatmates. We’ve had late-night bake-offs where everyone tries a different recipe, and then we vote on the best one (winner gets to avoid dish duty).

So, if you’re in Cardiff, living on a budget, or just want to try something new, give microwave baking a go. You might not win Star Baker, but you’ll definitely win some smiles – and maybe a few new friends.

-Muskaan Pahwa, 3rd year, BA Journalism, Media and English Literature student