Last-Minute Crazy Cake Recipe
Easy, last-minute Crazy Cake Recipe (or Depression Cake Recipe) is a classic that’s been around for a long time. Serve hot with fresh whipped cream on top!
When I think about chocolate cake, I think about my younger years, growing up with a mom who taught us how to cook and bake.
Crazy Cake Recipe
This Crazy Cake Recipe was one of the first cakes I learned to make. You know, the depression cake and chocolate wacky cake–so many names for this cake.
Delicious for dinner tonight served with an Epic Chili Dinner Board!
I also love this Best Flourless Chocolate Cake cake, served with yummy strawberries!
Last-Minute Crazy Cake Recipe
I call it Last-Minute Crazy Cake Recipe because it’s great for last-minute company, or when you need to whip up a quick dessert.
The cake you pour all ingredients in a pan and mix with a fork. A cake with no eggs. A cake that is … yummy and delicious with fresh whipped cream.
Sundays were made for desserts
I think about my sis, Diane, being the oldest. I actually remember her making this cake more than my mom. And we indulged this cake on Sunday afternoons, if we were lucky, before we’d head back to Sunday night church. We weren’t allowed to exercise or play outside on Sundays, so the extent of our exercise would be filling our mouths with Sunday dinner, a comfort dessert that my mom would make, and then again a dessert later in the day.
Sundays were made for desserts! :)
This cake, so simple to make and simple in flavor, is rather good.
But of course you have to eat it warm, or it does nothing for the palate.
What is depression cake?
Per Wikipedia, Depression Cake is a type of cake that was commonly made during the Great Depression. The ingredients include little or no milk, sugar, butter or eggs, because the ingredients were then either expensive or hard to obtain.
How to make Crazy Cake Recipe
“With a fork, mix the ingredients well and spread evenly in pan, making 2 small holes and 1 large hole in the mixture.” I do remember watching my big sis do this. I was always grossed out by adding vinegar though. HA.
So with so many desserts, we either ran around a lot at church to burn off the calories, or hopefully the next day we burned them off on the playground.
Double the recipe for a 9×13 pan!
You can make frosting, or serve warm with whipped cream (our preference).
Do you have a chocolate cake memory? I’d love to hear it.
More chocolate cake recipes: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Coconut Cream [RE], and Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake!
Get the Recipe:
Crazy Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 5 Tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- Whipped Cream, optional
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Pour into an ungreased 8x8-inch baking pan. Add in the unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar. With a fork, mix the ingredients well and spread evenly in pan, making 2 small holes and 1 large hole in the mixture.
- Pour the apple cider vinegar and vanilla extract into small holes, and vegetable oil into large hole.
- Pour the 1 cup of water over everything. Using a fork, mix everything together until blended.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- To make whipped cream, in a stand mixer, whip the cream for 2-3 minutes until thick. Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla; gently mix.
- Cut the cake into square pieces and add a dab of whipped cream on top!
Notes
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
yep, had been a kids favorite too (but not with whupped cream, definitely vanilla frosting), same crazy name and milk-less recipe, but hadn’t seen this recipe in years, so thank you for sharing it!
You show this cake in a jelly roll pan not a 8×8. I’m interest in the cake in the J.R. Pan showing. So what recipe do I use for it.
Hey, there. I added “double the recipe for a 9×13 pan.” I used 9×13 (not jelly roll). ENJOY!