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Vintage Mayonnaise Cake

Servings: 12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Rich, moist, and loaded with chocolate flavor, this vintage Mayonnaise Cake recipe from the 1950s is easy and delicious! 

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 ⅔ cups sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 ⅓ cups water

For the Chocolate Frosting with coffee:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 4 ½ cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons of cold coffee
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk, cream, or half-and-half -- to make a spreadable frosting

Instructions

Making the cake:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl (stand mixer or a bowl using electric beaters), beat the egg and sugar for 2 minutes. Add in mayonnaise, vanilla and water and continue to beat.
  • Next, slowly add the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt) a little at a time, mixing as you go. Scrape down the sides as you mix the batter.
  • Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Check with a toothpick, in the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean (then the cake is done). Transfer the cake to a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting, otherwise the frosting will stick to the cake while spreading.

Making the Chocolate (coffee) Frosting:

  • In a large bowl, beat the butter and confectioners' sugar at low to high speed until light and fluffy, for 2-3 minutes. Next, add in the cocoa, cold coffee, and vanilla. As it thickens up, slowly add in the milk one tablespoon at a time until desired thickness for spreading on the cake.  The amount of milk depends on how thick or creamy you like your frosting.
  • Spread the frosting on top of the cake.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 482kcal, Carbohydrates: 95g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 90mg, Sodium: 316mg, Potassium: 162mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 548IU, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 2mg