This recipe for chocolate cake is from the time of the Great Depression, it’s a moist and light chocolate cake made without eggs or dairy.
Depression Cake? Yep, that’s what I said.
Actually, this is called “depression cake” because the recipe is from the time of the Great Depression, when things like eggs, milk, butter and sugar were really expensive and scarce.
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I first shared this recipe back in June of 2012. The other day while sharing with you my Chicken Piccata Recipe, it came to mind once again. As a matter of a fact, I couldn’t STOP thinking about it.
I had to make it. We had this for dessert Monday night. It’s one of my hubby’s favorite cakes. Why? Because there is no frosting. Yep. he’s “one of those” who scrapes the frosting off of the cake before he eats it. We like to serve this with a big dollop of whipped cream, but it’s delicious right out of the dish, like a snack cake.
Baking with Vinegar and Without Eggs:
I have come to find out that this cake, or similar cakes that are made without eggs, butter and milk, but utilize vinegar, go by many other names. The most common name is “Wacky Cake,” but it’s also been known as “Crazy Cake,” “Dump Cake,” and “War Cake.” Names like crazy and wacky come from the fact that most people would wonder just How on earth can you bake a cake without eggs?!
You sure can! Baking without eggs has become even more common in this day and age of so many people having allergies and such. Eggless cakes are made with things like applesauce, too. But in the case of this Depression Cake, we rely on the vinegar to do the “fizzy lifting.”
What does vinegar do to cake batter? Vinegar, used as an acid, reacts with the baking soda produces a chemical reaction, making carbon dioxide and give cake (and cookie) batters that lift they need while they bake. Most people think “yuck” when they think of the strong taste that vinegar has, but you won’t even taste it, or believe it’s in there at all!
SAUERKRAUT CHOCOLATE CAKE Dense, fudge-y chocolate cake made with sauerkraut – yes, sauerkraut -slathered in sour cream chocolate frosting. Best Chocolate cake I have ever eaten!
My Favorite Chocolate Cake Recipes:
- Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake
- Chocolate Espresso Cake
- Chocolate Banana Cake
- Black Forest Cake
- Chocolate Pudding Poke Cake
- Chocolate Macaroon Tunnel Cake
My husband’s favorite chocolate cake is this CHOCOLATE MACAROON TUNNEL CAKE Rich chocolate bundt cake with a coconut tunnel inside. Drizzled with both chocolate and vanilla icing. Just like that age old mix time forgot.
CHOCOLATE PUDDING FROSTING This fluffy Chocolate Pudding Frosting is reminiscent of that Jell-o Pudding Mousse you had as a kid, only it’s frosting perfection when slathered over your favorite chocolate cake.
Depression Cake
This recipe is from the time of the Great Depression, it's a moist and light chocolate cake made without eggs or dairy.
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 5 heaping Tablespoons of cocoa
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 10 Tablespoons oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 cups cold water
- whipped cream, for serving, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine ingredients and pour into an UNGREASED 9×13 pan.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
- Top with fresh whipped cream if desired.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
18Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 239Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 259mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 1gSugar: 22gProtein: 2g
Nutrition isn't guaranteed accurate.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to know! Snap a picture, share the photo on social media with the hashtag #AnAffairFromTheHeart – I’d love to see what you made! – Michaela
Aunt Bee says
Chocolate cake is one of my all time favorite desserts, so I need to try this! It looks SO GOOD! Happy Birthday, Kenzie!
Lynn says
Hi there! This looks wonderful! What type of cocoa do you use – Dutch processed or natural? I think one of them would change the flavor?
Michaela Kenkel says
I just use Hershey’s cocoa. Just the stuff in the can. Nothing special! 🙂
Sara says
Can I use gluten free flour instead and would it be the same measurements??
Michaela Kenkel says
Sara— I don’t know the measurements for gluten free flour or if they are different than all purpose? I have never baked with it before.
Michelle says
I used the same measurements for gf flour and it turned out just fine. I would encourage thorough mixing–when I poured it in the pan i noticed the oil and water was not as mixed, and I tried a little gentle stirring in the pan. It was 95% great, but one end had a gooeyness that was interesting. So mix well! 🙂
Michaela Kenkel says
Thank you so much for sharing how it turned out for you! This is sure to help others! 🙂
sara wickham says
Can I sub in gluten free flour instead of regular flour? Plus would it be the same measurements?
Michaela Kenkel says
Sara- I have never baked with gluten free flour? I would look at the manufacturer website to see if the measurements are the same as all purpose flour.
Linda Parrish says
This cake, I made for my kids when they were little. i was a poor working divorced mother and this cake didn require eggs or milk, so it was really cheap to make. Well, cheap before the price of cocoa skyrocketed.
It is a delicious and oh so moist cake.
This was way back in the 1970s when I was making this for my kids.
Try it, you won be disappointed.
Michaela Kenkel says
We love this one! I agree– Cocoa is no longer cheap, but this one is still a favorite. Thanks for visiting! ????
Sarah says
Hello! It looks good and simple! May I ask what does the white vinegar do? Im really interested to try this recipe but wonder if i can skip the vinegar as im not a fan of tt
Michaela Kenkel says
It’s what lets you replace the eggs. You can’t taste it AT ALL. I promise!
Elynes Callero says
Lo voy a preparar, muy fácil y económico !! Un abrazo desde Argentina!!
Juanita says
Can you tell me calorie count
Michaela Kenkel says
Juanita- I don’t know the calorie count. I have used sparkrecipes.com to figure calories in the past, you could try that. You enter the ingredients, divide by how many potions to get the count. Hope this helps.
Nancy Alleshouse says
I am 65 years old, and my mother made this cake for us as kids during our growing up years. I’ll bet she made it almost weekly. My husband likes it because its a dense cake.
Michaela Kenkel says
Thank you for sharing your story with me! 🙂
Dorothy says
It looks like a delicious chocolate cake. I’ve never made a cake without eggs and with Vinegar. Definitely going to try this one.
Jenn says
Thanks for explaining how the vinegar makes this cake so much better! It looks fabulous and I’m going to try this for my next special dinner.
Kushigalu says
This cake looks so perfect and delicious. Must try !
Whitney says
I’ve never heard of this cake and love the story behind it! Thanks for sharing!
Noelle says
This cake was so rich! Love that chocolatey flavor, yum!
Michaela Kenkel says
Great chocolate flavor!!
Genevieve says
This cake looks so good and what an interesting title. Pinning for later!
Jess says
I’ve never heard of this cake before but I like the simplicity of it! Thanks for sharing! Now I’ve got to try!
Raia Todd says
That is a gorgeous cake! Sounds so simple.
Sara says
I am not much for baking dessert. I love to make bread, it is my passion. So, I have a limited cake recipe collection. My current go to is a cake mix with a can of Diet Coke, and into the oven. But, this sounds pretty good! I am going to try it. My family will be amazed with a change in cake from what I usually bake.Sara
Veena Azmanov says
This cake looks so moist and delicious. Have to check on your recipe for my next chocolate cake planning.
Rose says
Hi
Can I substitute flour with SRF.
Michaela Kenkel says
In some cases, self-rising flour can be substituted. Typically it’s used in things like pancakes, muffins or biscuits. Self-rising flour already contains the baking powder and salt, whereas all purpose flour doesn’t. So You will need to omit them if using this SRF. I cannot guarantee the outcome, but I think if you omit the salt and the baking powder, you might be okay? This article talks more about the differences in AP an SR flours: https://www.myrecipes.com/ingredients/how-to-substitute-self-rising-flour-all-purpose-flour
Keith Fullerton says
Made this cake last week. Have been making it for 60 years. We called it Crazy Cake. Delicious.
Anne Larsen says
Hi. This cake looks great. I only have apple cider vinegar. Can I use that in place of the white vinegar? I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Michaela Kenkel says
Although I haven’t tried that myself, I am sure it would work. I did a little research and it looks like others have subbed the same amount of ACV for white vinegar with no problem.
Nik says
This recipe is amazing so thank you! I’ve also used gluten free flour in place of all purpose and turns out great as well. The batter is very thick with GF flour when putting it into the baking dish, but have no fear!
Michaela Kenkel says
Thank you for sharing that!! It’s good to know that gluten-free friends can enjoy it too!!
Louise says
I know this recipe as “Wacky Cake”. My recipe is slightly smaller, and uses an 8×8 pan. You can mix this right in the pan. I sift the dry ingrediants together into the pan, add the wet, and stir with a fork. No need for a bowl.
Michaela Kenkel says
I have seen recipes like that, too!! This is how I have always made depression cake.
Red says
I have heard of this recipe and have wanted to try it for a long time. Well it has happen now.! What a surprise it was. Bake it in my cast iron Dutch oven over coals. Those who have tried it was sure surprised on what was in it. I’ll be making this more now. Thanks for the recipe.
Michaela Kenkel says
Love that you made it over coals!! I need to try that!