A Chocolate Depression Cake, also known as “Wacky Cake” or “Crazy Cake,” is a type of cake that became popular during the Great Depression due to its lack of eggs, milk, and butter, which were then expensive or hard to obtain. It’s a surprisingly moist and delicious cake that relies on basic pantry ingredients. Here’s a simple recipe for you to follow:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (not baking powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined.
- Make three wells. Make three deep depressions in the dry ingredients – two small and one larger. Pour the vinegar in one of the small wells, the vanilla extract in the other small well, and the vegetable oil in the larger well.
- Add the water. Pour the water over the entire mixture. With a fork or a whisk, stir everything together until the batter is smooth and well combined. It’s important not to overmix, just stir until you can’t see any large lumps.
- Pour into the pan. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to scrape all the batter from the bowl, and to smooth out the top.
- Bake the cake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for approximately 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached.
- Cool the cake. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for a bit, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. You can serve it directly from the pan if preferred.
- Frost (optional). Once the cake is completely cool, you can dust it with powdered sugar or spread your favorite frosting on top.
Notes:
- To make a simple vanilla frosting, combine 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of softened butter or margarine, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of milk or water. Adjust the liquid to get to your desired consistency.
- For a vegan frosting, you can use a plant-based butter alternative and a milk substitute like almond or soy milk.
Enjoy your homemade Chocolate Depression Cake! It’s a testament to the fact that simple ingredients can still make for an incredibly delicious dessert.