Best 4 Great Depression Cake Recipes
During the Great Depression, families across the United States struggled to put food on the table. Many creative and resourceful cooks found ways to make delicious meals using simple and inexpensive ingredients. One of the most popular recipes from this era is the Great Depression cake, also known as Wacky Cake or Poor Man's Cake. This cake is incredibly moist and flavorful, despite the absence of eggs, butter, or milk, which were often scarce during the Depression. With its humble ingredients and nostalgic charm, the Great Depression cake is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of the American people in challenging times. Today, it remains a popular choice for bakers looking to create a delicious and economical dessert.
Let's cook with our recipes!
GRANDMA'S GREAT DEPRESSION CAKE
A delicious spiced cake recipe that is made with cinnamon, ground cloves and nutmeg, Grandma's Great Depression Cake is easy to make and easy on the budget. Old fashioned cake recipes like this will forever be remembered as some of the best desserts out there. Baked until golden brown, each slice has a bold flavor that is perfect for the colder months of the year. Serve it when it is still warm and you won't be able to stop at just one slice. This is a great cake recipe to serve with tea or coffee for a nice afternoon pick-me-up. It could even be eaten for breakfast, as a sweeter alternative to your regular eggs and toast. You might notice that this depression cake recipe is missing some common baking ingredients. It's dairy-free and egg-free, because those ingredients were difficult to get during the 1930s. This frugal cake was a great alternative to other cake recipes that used more expensive ingredients. And the recipe turned out to be so delicious that everyone continues to make it today! Our version of depression cake uses raisins and a healthy amount of spice, for a dessert (or snack) that is bursting with flavor.
Provided by RecipeLion.com Test Kitchen
Categories Cake
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325º degrees F. Line a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang.
- In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, combine water, raisins, brown sugar, vegetable oil and the spices. Bring to a boil and, stirring constantly, boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile mix the baking soda and salt in water and stir until completely dissolved. Combine flour and baking powder and toss with a fork to combine.
- After raisin mixture has cooled, add soda and salt mixture - it will bubble up, so stir well. Add the flour mixture and stir until a stiff dough has formed and raisins are well distributed. Spoon into prepared pan, smooth the top and bake 55 minutes.
- Remove cake from oven to a cooling rack and let cool 5 minutes, then use overhanging foil to remove cake from the pan and allow to cool completely.
- Serve slightly warm as dessert or with morning coffee. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving if desired.
GREAT DEPRESSION CAKE
This cake has many names and many variations. It is rumored to have come about during the Great Depression. In spite of the fact that it has no eggs it is nice and moist.
Provided by PaulaG
Categories Dessert
Time 50m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly greased and flour a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, set aside.
- Bring the first five ingredients to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionslly.
- Cool 10 minutes.
- Blend the dry ingredients together and stir into the boiled mixture.
- Pour batter into pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
DEPRESSION CAKE I
This was my mother's, it has sugar, but no eggs, no butter and no milk. It's from the Depression-era.
Provided by Lynn-Pgh
Categories Desserts Cakes Spice Cake Recipes
Yield 24
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a saucepan combine the shortening, water, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and sugar. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove form heat and let stand until cool.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x13 inch baking pan.
- Stir the flour and baking soda into the cooled raisin mixture and mix until just combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 234.3 calories, Carbohydrate 38.4 g, Fat 8.8 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 54.9 mg, Sugar 23.9 g
GRANDMA'S DEPRESSION CAKE
This is an eggless, milkless, butterless cake. " A delicious spiced cake that's easy on the budget". I found this recipe in the "Guideposts" magazine (August 2009 issue). The recipe was part of a wonderful article with the same title written by Rosemary Marbach.
Provided by nuts about music
Categories Dessert
Time 1h25m
Yield 1 cake, 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
- Combine sugar, water, vegetable oil, raisins, and spices in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Take pan off heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Dissolve baking soda and salt in 2 teaspoons of water and add to raisin mixture (it will foam).
- Blend in the flour and baking powder. Mix well.
- Pour the batter into a greased 9 inch square pan and bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick unserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cake cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Tips:
- Use simple and affordable ingredients like flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, eggs, and butter.
- If you don't have cake flour, you can make your own by adding 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to every cup of all-purpose flour.
- Creaming the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy is essential for a tender cake.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can result in a tough cake.
- Bake the cake in a preheated oven at the correct temperature. A too-hot oven will cause the cake to brown too quickly, while a too-cool oven will prevent it from rising properly.
- Don't open the oven door during baking, as this can cause the cake to fall.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting or serving.
Conclusion:
Great Depression Cake is a simple, yet delicious cake that can be made with a few basic ingredients. It is a reminder of the resourcefulness and resilience of people during difficult times. Whether you are looking for a budget-friendly dessert or a taste of history, this cake is sure to satisfy. So next time you are in the mood for a sweet treat, give this classic recipe a try.
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