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Home » Dessert » Chocolate Depression Cake – Wacky Cake

Chocolate Depression Cake – Wacky Cake

Mar 20, 2020 · 9 Comments

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Chocolate Depression Cake - Wacky Cake
Chocolate Depression Cake - Wacky Cake
Chocolate Wacky Cake - Depression Cake
Chocolate Wacky Cake - Depression Cake

Chocolate Depression Cake, or Wacky Cake is a unique retro cake recipe that uses basic pantry ingredients, but no eggs! This chocolate cake recipe was made to use what you had on hand. It is a simply delicious chocolate cake!

Chocolate Depression Cake - Wacky Cake

Chocolate Depression Cake – Wacky Cake

The Great Depression was a scary time for Americans. This time of scarcity lasted nearly four years, and had a global reach.

For housewives, and others who made the meals for their families, getting creative in the kitchen was a must. They had to use what they had on hand, or could get cheap, if at all.

This retro chocolate cake recipe speaks to the cleverness of those cooks, and shows us what is possible to make with less.

Chocolate Depression Cake - Wacky Cake

What this Cake Doesn’t Have

Amazingly this is a chocolate cake made without eggs, butter, or milk. I read that many people even made it without sugar!

Luckily there are ingredients that work to make a cake rise, and to make it moist.

I do think that even though this is a Depression Cake, it must have been a splurge for most people in those days.

The steps to make this retro chocolate cake recipe are simple. Here they are:

cake making process
cake making process
cake making process

The original recipe did not call for frosting, but I like to frost my cakes, so I use my Nana’s recipe for Easy Chocolate 1 Minute Icing.

Chocolate Depression Cake - Wacky Cake

This cake is tender, moist, and has a nice flavor. It tastes a lot like Devil’s Food Cake when you make it with coffee.

Making it with water is also good, and the cake has a lighter flavor.

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Chocolate Depression Cake - Wacky Cake

If you make this super easy chocolate cake recipe, please leave a comment with a star rating below. I’d love to know how you liked it!

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Chocolate Depression Cake - Wacky Cake

Depression Cake - Wacky Cake

A delicious retro chocolate cake recipe that uses no eggs! Mix it all in the baking dish.
5 from 7 votes
Print Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 3 hole cake recipe, crazy cake recipe, depression chocolate cake, wacky cake recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 9
Calories: 246kcal
Author: Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1/3 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp White Vinegar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 cup Cooled Coffee or Water I use 1/2 and 1/2

Instructions

  • In an ungreased 8"x8" baking dish, add the flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar, and cocoa powder. Whisk together.
  • Make 3 small wells in the mix. Add the oil to one, vinegar to another, and vanilla to the third.
  • Pour the coffee (or water) over and gently whisk together just until combined.
  • Bake at 350° F for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake.
  • Remove from oven and let cool in dish on a wire rack.
  • Frost if desired (the original had no frosting, but we like this Easy Chocolate 1 Minute Icing recipe).
  • Cut into 9 squares and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcal

Resources to Make this Chocolate Depression Cake – Wacky Cake Recipe and More

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Audrey says

    June 23, 2022 at 10:16 am

    5 stars
    My grandmother and mom made this and mom made it for my birthday a few times with mini marshmallows melted in oven and then put chocolate frosting on top of marshmallows.
    I had lost the recipe, so glad I found it on Pinterest.

    Reply
  2. Chris says

    May 20, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    5 stars
    SOOOO yummy and easy to make. My 3 granddaughters made it with me. Now it’s a weekly date for wacky cake 🎂

    Reply
    • Sandy says

      May 20, 2022 at 8:51 pm

      So fun!

      Reply
  3. Collenev says

    April 16, 2022 at 1:06 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe. Thanks so much! If I want to make a white cake, do I just omit the cocoa powder?

    Reply
    • Sandy says

      April 17, 2022 at 10:46 am

      Yes. You can add a few Tablespoons of vanilla pudding mix if you want for a great vanilla flavor.

      Reply
  4. Susan loeppky says

    September 26, 2021 at 12:24 pm

    5 stars
    I have been making this cake for 60 years now never fail cake recipe

    Reply
  5. Sharlima Colbeck says

    April 14, 2021 at 5:58 pm

    5 stars
    I made this cake for my daughter who is vegan. Loved it great recipe .Will make it again.

    Reply
  6. Briyana says

    March 01, 2021 at 5:14 pm

    5 stars
    Such a yummy cake!! I made some for my husband and I, my Grandma, and his co-workers and everybody loved it!! My grandma requested me to make another cake just the other day. 😂

    Reply
  7. Cindy says

    March 25, 2020 at 5:09 pm

    5 stars
    I made this cake this evening ,wow it was amazing loved it I have to have frosting on my cakes ,I’m gluten free and soy free so I made it with gluten free flour and it still came out great ,my husband has no allergies just me and he loved this cake thx

    Reply

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