Chocolate Depression Cake

This chocolate depression cake recipe is sometimes called chocolate crazy cake, chocolate wacky crazy cake. or chocolate surprise cake because it is made without eggs, milk, or butter. Which is surprising and sounds both crazy and wacky! The cake rises by using baking soda and vinegar, thus eliminating the need for eggs.

Depression as in The Great Depression, not depression as in “this cake will cure your depression.” Since a lot of us are experiencing ingredient shortages right now, I thought there was no better time to post this Chocolate Depression Cake (also known as Crazy Cake or Wacky Cake), which was also born out of a time when ingredients were in limited supply—The Great Depression. This unique cake is rich and chocolatey without using any eggs, milk, or butter. A cake without butter?? So “wacky,” I know.

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon coffee, optional
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

For the frosting:

• 2 1/2 -3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt, optional

How To Make Chocolate Depression Cake

1. Preheat oven to 375º F and lightly grease two 9-inch cake pans with butter or non-stick spray.
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl, then whisk in water, oil, cider vinegar, coffee and vanilla extract.
3. Stir until no lumps remain, then pour mixture evenly into greased cake pans.
4. Place in oven and bake for 24-26 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

How To Make Frosting

1. While cake bakes, make frosting by whisking together powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt, if using, in a large bowl or mixer.
2. Add water, softened butter and vanilla extract, and beat together until smooth and creamy. Add more sugar for a thicker frosting and more water for a thinner frosting.
3. Remove cake from oven and let cool before frosting.