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4.43 from 73 votes
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Depression Cake

This recipe for chocolate cake is from the time of the Great Depression hence the name Depression Cake, it’s a moist and light chocolate cake made without eggs or dairy.  Also known as crazy cake or wacky cake this chocolate cake is anything but, it’s just a simple chocolate cake recipe. 
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate cake, Depression Cake
Servings: 15 servings
Calories: 282kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 cups flour
  • 5 Tablespoons cocoa powder (heaping Tablespoons)
  • 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.

Notes

Serve this cake plain as a "snack cake," top it with fresh whipped cream, or your favorite icing. It also pairs wonderfully with some fresh fruit. 
Freezes well.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 302mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg