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
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.
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:
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.
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.
You Might Also Like
Easy Chocolate 1 Minute Icing
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Banana Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Graham Cracker Brownies
Pin This Chocolate Cake Recipe
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!
Depression Cake - Wacky Cake
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
Resources to Make this Chocolate Depression Cake – Wacky Cake Recipe and More
This post contains Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Audrey says
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.
Chris says
SOOOO yummy and easy to make. My 3 granddaughters made it with me. Now it’s a weekly date for wacky cake 🎂
Sandy says
So fun!
Collenev says
Great recipe. Thanks so much! If I want to make a white cake, do I just omit the cocoa powder?
Sandy says
Yes. You can add a few Tablespoons of vanilla pudding mix if you want for a great vanilla flavor.
Susan loeppky says
I have been making this cake for 60 years now never fail cake recipe
Sharlima Colbeck says
I made this cake for my daughter who is vegan. Loved it great recipe .Will make it again.
Briyana says
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. 😂
Cindy says
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