Hot Cocoa Kitchen Chemistry Challenge

Shared by Girl Day Presenting Partner: BASF Corporation

All are welcome to try this experiment! With winter in full swing, nothing beats a cozy mug of something warm and sweet like hot cocoa.

But what if you could learn some kitchen chemistry while you're enjoying a delicious treat?

Recommended Grades: All

Ingredients:

  • 4 Tbsp self-rising flour
  • 4 Tbsp Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp Whisked egg
  • 3 tbsp milk (preferred milk: 2%)
  • 3 Tbsp Pure canola oil (applesauce can be substituted for oil)
  • Splash of Vanilla
  • Microwave safe mug (pick your favorite!)
  • Icing and sprinkles (optional)
  • 2 Tbsp vanilla ice cream (optional)
  • Berries (optional)

Procedure:

  1. Mix dry ingredients in the mug.
  2. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients in mug and stir thoroughly.
  3. Microwave for 1-2½ mins. (time varies depending on microwave)
  4. Decorate with ice cream, berries, icing or sprinkles
  5. Enjoy!

STEM Connections: Scientists and engineers put together different chemicals or materials to create products used in communities, by people and with animals every day. Kind of like cooking, when you mix different things together in different ways, you get different results. Scientists and engineers figure out the best way to put things together and how to put them together to create the best solutions. Every time you cook and follow a recipe, try out new things in a recipe, create fabulous food, or cook spectacularly terrible food, you're being a scientist or engineer. You create, observe, test, and redesign as needed. 

Click on this link or click below to see a brief demonstration of a cupcake in a mug in action: