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Chocolate Wacky Depression Cake Recipe

Last update: July 18, 2016 By Alice Currah 106 Comments

[donotprint] This recipe has been around longer than I have.  Chances are your granny or great granny may have made this in the Depression era.  Some may know it as “Wacky cake” or “Depression Cake”.  During the Great Depression, someone figured out how to make a moist, delicious cake without eggs, milk, or butter because these ingredients were expensive and hard to get.  I call this a timeless generational recipe – passed down from generation to generation.

Since then, this cake has become quite popular for people who are vegan or allergic to dairy… like my daughter, Abigail.  She is allergic to dairy and like her mama, she loves her cake but can’t always eat it.  This cake  taste remarkably good with great flavor and texture – very similar to chocolate cakes made with boxed cake mix.People are always surprised to discover there is no dairy when I tell them.  Top off with your favorite chocolate frosting or a dusting of powered sugar and you’re good to go!  Enjoy! [/donotprint]

Chocolate Wacky Depression Cake

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup cocoa powder

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 cup water

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium mixing bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together by hand.  Add all the wet ingredients until well combined.  Pour into a 8×8 pan which has been prepared with non stick spray.

Bake for 30 until done.  Allow to completely cool before serving. Cake is even better if eaten the next day.  Enjoy!

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: cake, Chocolate, Vegan, Vegetarian

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Comments

  1. Alice Currah says

    April 19, 2018 at 3:31 pm

    Tried and true! Thanks for stopping by Mary!

  2. Mary says

    April 19, 2018 at 8:52 am

    I learned this in high school in 1970. Sift the dry ingredients into the pan, make three holes and put oil, vinegar and vanilla into each hole. Pour hot water over and stir. So good!

  3. Sue says

    April 25, 2017 at 10:30 am

    My mother made this one all the time. She also used it to make the best pineapple upside down cake ever (leave the cocoa out of the recipe). This is a wonderfully moist and versatile cake. She also used it for spice cake (adding nutmeg and cinnamon) and did mix it in the pan.

  4. Sue Boland says

    June 14, 2016 at 1:54 pm

    LOVE THIS CAKE I have poured cherry pie filling at the bottom of the pan and poured the cake batter over it. Yum

  5. Anita says

    May 15, 2016 at 10:45 pm

    I have been making this for years. ..I use apple cider vinegar and have many varieties of this recipe

  6. Valerie says

    January 23, 2016 at 5:32 am

    Our family favorite recipe passed down by my Grandfather calls for 1 tsp of vanilla. The directions also call for the dry ingredients to be sifted together.

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Hi, and welcome to Savory Sweet Life. I am so glad you are here! My name is Alice Currah and you'll find easy delicious recipes to feed your family and other useful tips for everyday living. Continue reading more about Alice....

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