Crazy wacky cake is a vintage recipe created during the Depression when people didn’t have access to expensive ingredients. This cake is made straight in the baking dish and is free from milk, eggs and butter.
If you love easy chocolate cakes, then try our chocolate mayonnaise cake and chocolate angel food cake, and double chocolate cheesecake.
Chocolate Wacky Cake (Crazy Cake)
This is a chocolate depression cake (also known as crazy cake or wacky cake) that was created during the Depression when ingredients like milk and eggs weren’t readily available.
Kids will love this easy cake because it’s almost like a science experiment! All ingredients are dumped and mixed straight in the baking pan.
Once boiling water is poured overtop, the vinegar fizzes and everything can be mixed together.
The result is a moist, chocolatey treat that can be enjoyed with or without frosting. Today I’ve added a simple frosting recipe that can be created on the stove and poured on top once the cake has cooled.
Why Is It Called Wacky Cake?
The reason it is called “wacky cake” is because all the ingredients are mixed in the baking pan, and without eggs or milk. These are two ingredients that are normally considered essential in baking cakes.
Ingredients For Wacky Cake
This cake is one of the most inexpensive cakes you can make at home! All ingredients are basic and probably already in your pantry.
No eggs, no milk, and no butter! Here’s what you’ll need with the full ingredients list in the recipe card at the bottom of this post:
- FLOUR – You’ll need all-purpose flour for this recipe.
- COCOA POWDER – Choose unsweetened cocoa powder.
- SUGAR – Granulated white sugar works best.
- BOILING WATER – It is important that the water is boiling. Use a kettle or boil on the stove.
- VINEGAR – White vinegar acts as a leavening agent when mixed with baking powder.
- BAKING POWDER AND SODA – 1 tsp each of baking powder and baking soda.
- VEGETABLE OIL – Vegetable oil creates a moist cake.
- VANILLA EXTRACT – Vanilla enhances flavors of other ingredients like sugar.
Variations
This is an easy chocolate sponge cake base that can be applied to a variety of recipes. Try adding chopped nuts and seeds, dried fruits, or sprinkles.
- CHOCOLATE CHIPS – 1 cup of white or dark chocolate chips to the batter.
- NUTS – For added crunch try adding 1 cup of your favorite chopped nuts to the batter.
- SPRINKLES – Try adding 1/2 cup of sprinkles for a birthday celebration. You can add them to the batter or sprinkle them on top of the frosting.
- CUPCAKES – You can pour this batter into a muffin pan for an easy cupcake recipe too!
How To Make Wacky Cake
Everything is mixed together in the baking dish and baked for 30 minutes! What’s not to love!? Here’s an overview of how to make the recipe with full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
- PREP – Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray an 8×8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- DRY INGREDIENTS – Add the dry ingredients straight to the baking dish including all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix it all together with a fork until it’s nice and even.
- WET INGREDIENTS – Boil 1 cup of water in a kettle or on the stove. While that’s boiling, make three holes in the dry ingredients.
- MIX TOGETHER – Pour the white vinegar into one hole, and the vegetable oil, and vanilla extract into the others. Pour the boiling water overtop of everything. Mix all the ingredients together with a spatula.
- BAKE – Bake for 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before adding frosting.
Storing Leftover Cake
This chocolate cake can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
What Can You Top Wacky Cake With?
Many people during the Depression served this cake without a frosting. So adding our frosting recipe is definitely optional, but it certainly elevates the cake.
A light dusting of powdered sugar or cocoa powder would also be delicious.
I used a vintage frosting recipe made from semisweet chocolate chips, powdered sugar, heavy cream, butter, and vanilla extract. All the ingredients are melted together in a saucepan and poured over the top of the cake.
You could also skip the frosting and add whipped cream with fresh fruit and chopped nuts!
Frosting Tips
Let the cake cool completely before adding any frosting. This may take a few hours. You can speed up the process by adding the cake to the fridge once it’s cooled a bit on the counter.
I like to bake my cakes the night before I plan to serve. I’ll add them to the fridge overnight and frost them the next day just before serving.
Chocolate wacky cake is a recipe the whole family will enjoy making. This simple cake recipe is made straight in the baking dish with no eggs and no milk!
More Chocolate Recipes
- Easy Chocolate Fudge
- Chocolate Glazed Donuts
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Beet Brownies
- Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Chocolate Crazy Wacky Cake
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour - spooned and leveled into measuring cups
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup boiling water - or hot coffee
Chocolate Frosting (Optional):
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup salted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup confectioners powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8×8 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add the all purpose flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt to the baking dish and mix together with a fork or spatula.
- Boil 1 cup of water in a kettle, in the microwave or on the stove.
- Make three holes in the dry ingredients. Add the vinegar to one hole, the vanilla extract to another hole and the vegetable oil to a larger hole. Pour the hot water overtop of all the ingredients.
- Use a spatula to mix ingredients together until the batter is smooth. Bake for 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when poked through the center. Cake can be served as-is, or with frosting. Let the cake cool completely before adding optional frosting.
Frosting Instructions:
- Add the semisweet chocolate chips, heavy cream, butter and vanilla extract to a small pot over medium heat. Gently stir until the chocolate melts and ingredients are mixed together.
- Lower the heat and add the powdered sugar. Gently mix it in until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Spread the frosting on top of the cake with a spatula. Slice into 8 squares and serve.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.