{"id":18170,"date":"2025-06-09T13:42:42","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T13:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/?p=18170"},"modified":"2025-06-09T13:42:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T13:42:42","slug":"the-great-cardiff-bake-off-attempting-to-bake-with-just-a-microwave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/the-great-cardiff-bake-off-attempting-to-bake-with-just-a-microwave\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Cardiff Bake-Off: Attempting to Bake with Just a Microwave"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019d told me in my first year that I\u2019d 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\u2019t 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u2013 I Googled \u201cmicrowave desserts.\u201d What I found was a whole world of mug cakes, microwave brownies, and even banana bread, all promising sugar fixes in under five minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s how I like it. I ate it straight from the mug while watching Netflix, feeling like a genius.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019re just celebrating submitting an essay.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s not quite my mum\u2019s recipe, but it\u2019s warm, sweet, <\/span>and perfect for late-night study snacks. Plus, it\u2019s a great way to use up those bananas that always go brown way too fast.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s half the fun. Baking with a microwave is unpredictable, a bit chaotic, and very student.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019re halfway there. It\u2019s also a great way to bond with your flatmates. We\u2019ve 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).<\/span><\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re 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\u2019ll definitely win some smiles \u2013 and maybe a few new friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Muskaan Pahwa, 3rd year, BA Journalism, Media and English Literature student<\/p>\n

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