Wacky cake, also known as Depression cake, is a beloved dessert with a rich history dating back to the Great Depression era. Its humble origins have given rise to countless variations and interpretations, each with its own unique twist. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice cook, the wacky cake is an easy-to-make treat that will surely delight your taste buds and spark conversations around the dinner table.
Here are our top 20 tried and tested recipes!
PERFECT WACKY CAKE
This is Mom's favorite chocolate cake. Easy to make and has a little different twist. Also has no eggs or dairy products. Pick your favorite frosting for the top--Mom likes 7-minute the best.
Provided by Cindy Lynn
Categories Dessert
Time 40m
Yield 1 8x8 cake
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Sift together and make 3 holes in dry ingredients.
- In first hole, pour vegetable oil.
- In second hole, pour vinegar.
- In third hole, pour vanilla.
- Pour cold water over all.
- Mix well with fork or whisk, but do not beat.
- Bake in greased 8 x 8 pan for about 35 minutes at 350 deg F.
WACKY CAKE II
Children will love the cake you make from this recipe for a simple chocolate cake with a simple chocolate frosting.
Provided by JJOHN32
Categories Desserts Cakes Chocolate Cake Recipes
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9 inch square pan.
- Sift together the flour, 1 cup of the sugar, 1/4 cup of the cocoa, the soda, and the salt. Stir in the vinegar, oil, water, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 35 minutes. Let cake cool. Then spread chocolate icing over top.
- To Make Chocolate Icing: Combine 1 cup of the sugar, 1/4 cup of the cocoa, the milk, and the butter or margarine. Boil for 1 minute. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and continue stirring until partially cool. Spread over cake.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 286.7 calories, Carbohydrate 47.5 g, Cholesterol 10.6 mg, Fat 10.7 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 3.6 g, Sodium 329.7 mg, Sugar 33.7 g
WACKY CHOCOLATE CAKE
Make and share this Wacky Chocolate Cake recipe from Food.com.
Provided by steff_koczera
Categories Bar Cookie
Time 45m
Yield 9-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Sift dry ingredients into an ungreased (8x8) pan. Make 3 holes in dry ingredients.
- In first hole, put 6 Tbsp oil.
- In second hole, put 1 tsp vanilla.
- In third hole, put 1 Tbsp vinegar.
- Pour 1 cup water over all and stir until smooth.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
- Frost or sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.
- Can double recipe.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 250.3, Fat 9.4, SaturatedFat 1.2, Sodium 270.5, Carbohydrate 39.2, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 22.3, Protein 2.5
WACKY CAKE III
You might think this cake recipe is a bit wacky because it has vinegar but no eggs, but only until you're enjoying a rich chocolate cake.
Provided by Adora Marchi
Categories Desserts Cakes Sheet Cake Recipes
Yield 14
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Sift the flour, white sugar, baking soda, salt and 6 tablespoons of the cocoa into a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
- Drizzle melted margarine and the vinegar over the flour mixture. Add the vanilla and cold water and stir well to remove lumps.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes. Spread with chocolate frosting.
- To Make Chocolate Frosting: Combine the confectioner's sugar, 6 tablespoons water, 3 tablespoons cocoa, and 1/2 cup of the margarine. Heat until melted and stir until smooth add vanilla and nuts if desired, and spread over cake.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 476.1 calories, Carbohydrate 85.3 g, Fat 14.8 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 3.6 g, SaturatedFat 2.8 g, Sodium 595.6 mg, Sugar 62.5 g
WACKY CHOCOLATE CAKE
The unusual name of this cake, also known as "Crazy," "Mixed-Up," "Mix-in-the-Pan," or "Three-Hole" cake, was inspired from the fact that the ingredients are sifted, mixed, and baked in the same pan. The result is a surprisingly light chocolate cake, quick to make, which kids love to help prepare because it is so easy. I like it plain (for breakfast!) or with whipped cream and fresh berries on the side.
Provided by Michele Urvater
Categories Cake Chocolate Dessert Bake Valentine's Day Vegetarian Kid-Friendly Vegan Kidney Friendly Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher Small Plates
Yield Makes one 8-inch square cake, or 8 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square pan.
- 2. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt directly into the baking pan, then add the sugar. With your finger, poke 2 small holes and 1 large one in the dry ingredients. Into one of the small holes pour the vanilla, into the other one the vinegar, and into the larger one the oil.
- 3. Pour the water over all the ingredients and stir the ingredients together with a table fork, reaching into the corners, until you can't see any more flour and the batter looks fairly well homogenized.
- 4. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is springy and a tester inserted in the center comes out dry. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack, then cut and serve it from the pan.
- Storage Keep at room temperature, wrapped airtight, for up to 3 days; refrigerate after that.
- Level of difficulty* [easy enough for a novice to make]
WACKY CAKE
Wacky cake is spongy and unlike most desserts, because no eggs or milk are used to make it (a great recipe if your family has food allergies). It's a wonderful old-fashioned cake make from pantry items. Light and fluffy, this cake is full of chocolate flavor. It is incredibly moist and melts in your mouth. One taste and you'll be...
Provided by Candy Ayers
Categories Cakes
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- 2. In a medium mixing bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together with a whisk.
- 3. Add all the wet ingredients until well combined.
- 4. Pour into an 8×8 pan which has been prepared with non-stick spray.
- 5. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- 6. Serve warm or allow to cool and serve with a dusting of powdered sugar.
- 7. Note: This would also be good served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. A light frosting might be good too but I wouldn't use anything heavy on this moist fluffy cake.
GOLDEN VANILLA WACKY CAKE
Make and share this Golden Vanilla Wacky Cake recipe from Food.com.
Provided by ratherbeswimmin
Categories Dessert
Time 45m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°; spray an 8-inch square metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Add in milk, oil, and vanilla to the flour mixture and stir until just blended.
- Whisk in vinegar until just blended.
- Immediately pour batter into pan.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a pick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
- Can eat as is, or dust with powdered sugar or top with frosting.
ALL IN ONE PAN CAKE (AKA WACKY CAKE)
I thought this recipe looked familiar when I first saw it and I was right. My Mom used to make this cake for every birthday celebrated in the house but she called it wacky cake. What makes it wacky? There are no eggs or dairy in it.
Provided by budgiesntiels
Categories Dessert
Time 40m
Yield 8-9 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In an 8x8 inch square baking pan combine the flour, cocoa, sugar, salt and baking soda. Mix until it is completely light brown.
- When it is mixed, make 4 dents in the mixture with a spoon, 2 large dents and 2 small dents.
- Pour the water into one of the large dents.
- Pour the oil into the other large dent.
- Pour vanilla into one of the small dents.
- Pour vinegar into the other small dent.
- Stir until well moistened.
- When batter is well mixed, smooth it out and spread into place with a spatula.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Cool the cake in the pan for 30 minutes before cutting it into squares.
BEST WACKY CAKE EVER WITH CHOCOLATE GLAZE
Every vegan has a Wacky Cake recipe up their sleeve. For those of you that don't know, WACKY CAKE is "wacky" becasue it's a chocolate cake, made without any milk or eggs. Recipes such as this one came to be during the Great Depression, where ingrediets such as milk and eggs were extremely had to come by, and often too expensive for the average family. The "lift" in this cake comes from the reaction between the baking soda and vinegar. I found this recipe burried in a random website, labled as the BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER" and it just so happens to be vegan. The chocolate glaze totally makes this recipe, so do yourself a favor and try it at least once. Cake IS still amazing in its own, dusted with some powdered sugar. I added in the "optional" extracts that I use when making the cake too. They really add a great flavor.
Provided by Kozmic Blues
Categories Dessert
Time 40m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- lightly spray a sqare cake pan (mine's 9x9) with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt with a wisk, making sure it is blended together well.
- In a large measuring cup add the water, vanilla, oil, and vinegar, ans wisk to combine.
- Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix batter until blended together well.
- Use a spatula to scrape down the sides if necessary.
- Pour batter into cake pan, place in oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean.
- Cool on a rack completely.
- For the glaze: in a small saucepan, bring sugar, margarine, milk, and cocoa to a boil.
- Stir frequently; then reduce heat to a simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and stir for another 5 minutes.
- Add vanilla and almond, if using, stir, and immediately pour onto cake.
- The glaze will begin to dry really quickly, so if it doesn't cover the whole cake (mine usually does) spread the glaze to the edges quickly, before it dries.
- If you like, top with sprinkles, and let cool for a hour.
WACKY CAKE
This dense, moist cake is a great baking project for children. Cooking with kids requires having a lot of tolerance for mess and a willingness to slow down the process.
Provided by Trish Hall
Categories dessert, side dish
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a 9-by-13-inch cake pan, mix all dry ingredients. Smooth them out and make three holes. Put the vinegar in one hole, the vanilla in another and the oil in the third. Then cover the whole thing with the water. Mix it all up with a fork until the lumps are gone.
- Bake 40 or 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. When the cake is cool, frost with butter frosting (recipe below).
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 311, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 51 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 244 milligrams, Sugar 29 grams, TransFat 0 grams
WACKY CHOCOLATE-ORANGE CAKE WITH ORANGE FROSTING
When I first saw this recipe (on the label of a white vinegar bottle - where else?), I thought "Vinegar in a dessert? This must be a joke!) So I made the recipe, just for the heck of it, and found it surprizingly yummy!
Provided by Millereg
Categories Dessert
Time 1h
Yield 1 cake, 9 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- ---- THE CAKE ----.
- Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
- Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt into an 8" x 8" baking pan.
- Make 3 holes in the dry ingredients.
- Place oil in the first hole, vinegar in the second hole, and vanilla in the third hole (again, I kid thee not- trust me on this one!).
- Pour orange juice over everything and mix well.
- Spread batter evenly in the pan and bake in dish that the batter was mixed in.
- Bake 30 minutes or until center is firm.
- Allow to cool.
- Refrigerate leftovers (if any).
- ---- THE FROSTING ----.
- Combine gelatin, orange juice, and cold water in small saucepan.
- Let stand until thick.
- Place over low heat, stirring constantly, just until gelatin dissolves.
- Remove from heat and cool, but do not allow to set.
- Whip cream, sugar and vanilla until slightly thickened.
- While beating slowly, gradually add gelatin to whipped cream mixture.
- Whip at high speed until stiff.
- Spread thickly on the cake.
VEGAN WACKY CAKE
This is my family recipe. It is a delicious chocolate cake with a twist, it's completely vegan. This cake goes great with some chocolate or vanilla frosting and a scoop of ice cream on top! I get extra fancy with a few mint leaves!
Provided by Quentin Whitcomb
Categories Desserts Cakes Chocolate Cake Recipes
Time 1h40m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch round baking dish.
- Sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl. Add water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla extract, to flour mixture and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour batter into baking dish.
- Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour before removing from baking dish.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 270.1 calories, Carbohydrate 44.4 g, Fat 9.7 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 2.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 450 mg, Sugar 25.2 g
WACKY BUCKWHEAT SPICE CAKE
A cheap, delicious snack cake that's not too sweet, and has a lower gluten content. Made with ingredients most have right on hand! Great with coffee, and creme fraiche or whipped cream - yum!
Provided by Heather Feswick
Categories Desserts Cakes Sheet Cake Recipes
Time 1h40m
Yield 9
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk together the all-purpose flour, buckwheat flour, cornstarch, white sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, dry mustard, and ground black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Stir together the molasses, oil, vinegar, vanilla, and cold water in a measuring cup. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; pour the wet ingredients into the well. Mix the batter together until just blended. Pour the batter into an ungreased 8x8 inch baking pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 202.5 calories, Carbohydrate 35.4 g, Fat 6.4 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 1.6 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 272.4 mg, Sugar 18.1 g
WACKY CAKE IV
A chocolate cake made by putting dry ingredients into pan first, then placing various ingredients into three scooped out hollows, and pouring cold water over all.
Provided by Karin Christian
Categories Desserts Cakes Sheet Cake Recipes
Yield 14
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Spray one 13x9 inch cake pan with cooking oil spray.
- Mix the flour, white sugar, 4 1/2 tablespoons cocoa, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. Pour dry ingredients into the prepared pan. Scoop out 3 holes in the dry mixture. Put the vegetable oil in one hole, vinegar in the second hole, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the vanilla in the third hole. Pour the cold water over the top and stir until smooth.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 20 minutes. Ice cake while it is still hot.
- To Make Icing: In a saucepan over medium heat melt the butter or margarine. Add the cocoa and remove pan from the heat. Stir in the salt, milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix in the confectioners' sugar until desired consistency is attained. Spread icing over a still hot cake.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 412.5 calories, Carbohydrate 75.9 g, Cholesterol 9.1 mg, Fat 12.1 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 2.8 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 286.2 mg, Sugar 55.4 g
WACKY CAKE V
This quick and easy recipe delivers a low-sugar version of typical Wacky Cakes.
Provided by Tina
Categories Desserts Cakes Sheet Cake Recipes
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9 x 13 inch pan, or three 8 inch round pans.
- Stir together flour, soda, cocoa, sugar, sugar substitute, and salt. Stir in vanilla, water, vinegar, and oil. Pour batter into prepared pan(s).
- Bake cake in a rectangular pan or three round pans for 35 minutes, or until done. Cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 197.1 calories, Carbohydrate 28.4 g, Fat 8.6 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.2 g, Sodium 270.7 mg, Sugar 11.2 g
WACKY CAKE (SPICE CAKE)
This recipe is super easy, and it's great if you don't have milk or eggs on hand. The cake is really moist.
Provided by AlwaysAl
Categories Dessert
Time 35m
Yield 6-9 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- -preheat oven to 350.
- -stir the dry ingredients together.
- -add in the wet ingredients
- -grease an 8 by 8 inch pan.
- -cook for about thirty minutes.
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER WACKY CAKE
Chocolate cake with peanut butter icing. This recipe has been a favorite for birthdays in my family for years. The cake is very moist.
Provided by Teryl Shryack
Categories Desserts Cakes Sheet Cake Recipes
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa, and white sugar.
- To the sifted ingredients, add the 10 tablespoons butter or margarine, vinegar, and warm water. Mix thoroughly, but do not beat. Pour batter into ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove cake from oven, but keep it in the pan.
- Cream together peanut butter, brown sugar, milk, and 1/4 cup butter or margarine. Spread icing onto cake. Place under broiler until brown and bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 314.3 calories, Carbohydrate 51.9 g, Cholesterol 24 mg, Fat 11.3 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 3.6 g, SaturatedFat 6.3 g, Sodium 354.7 mg, Sugar 34.6 g
WACKY BANANA CAKE
What makes this cake so "wacky"? You mix it right in the pan, no need to get a bowl dirty. Also, there are no eggs in this cake. Wacky right!? I found this recipe in my Better Homes and Gardens baking cook book. I've baking this for 10 years. It's always a hit. The original recipe is baked in a 8x8 pan. I doubled it and us a...
Provided by Anna Sciancalepore Antoniello
Categories Fruit Desserts
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- 1. In an ungreased 9 X 13 pan stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
- 2. Add the bananas, melted butter, cold water and vinegar. Stir just until combined.
- 3. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips evenly over the top of the cake.
- 4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick insterted in the center comes out clean.
- 5. Sprinkle the hot cake with the toffee chips. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares to serve.
WACKY CAKE
This was my great-grandma's recipe that she gave to my mom when she was young. I've added chocolate chips to it before but they are optional. (In the picture my sister put frosting on it and "decorated" it with pecans for New Years.)
Provided by ThatSouthernBelle
Categories Dessert
Time 35m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- In an 8 x 8 ungreased pan, mix all the ingredients.
- Bake 25 minutes.
- Cool.
- Store at room temperature, covered.
WACKY CHOCOLATE DEPRESSION CAKE
This is a dense, but very moist cake, and so easy to make. It's not overpowering with chocolate. Fluffy frosting mixes up in seconds. Change up the pudding in the frosting to your liking. I used vanilla tonight. Mix all in one bowl, and no eggs. My photo's
Provided by Cassie *
Categories Chocolate
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- 1. In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Beat on medium for 1 minute.
- 2. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
- 3. For frosting, in a bowl, beat the milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Beat in whipped topping. Spread over cake. Refrigerate leftovers.
Tips:
- Use quality ingredients: Fresh, high-quality ingredients will make your Wacky Cake more flavorful and delicious. Look for ripe bananas, real butter, and pure vanilla extract.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter will make your cake tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Bake the cake at the right temperature: The cake should be baked at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting: This will help prevent the frosting from melting and running off the cake.
- Get creative with your frosting: You can use any type of frosting you like on your Wacky Cake. Some popular options include cream cheese frosting, chocolate frosting, and vanilla frosting.
Conclusion:
Wacky Cake is a delicious and easy-to-make cake that is perfect for any occasion. With its moist and fluffy texture and sweet and flavorful taste, it's sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you're looking for a simple and delicious dessert, give Wacky Cake a try.
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