Chocolate Depression Cake

Chocolate Depression Cake originated during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Also known as Wacky Cake or Crazy Cake, it’s egg- free and dairy-free, free of all those ingredients that were expensive or hard to get at the time, and super moist and flavorful. One bite, and you’ll never realise that it doesn’t have eggs or milk.

It’s a great recipe to have if you need to bake on a budget. Simple and sinfully delicious, the cake tastes marvelous with some smooth and creamy chocolate frosting. The frosting’s not in the original recipe, but we’re not living in the Depression, are we? And who doesn’t love some creamy frosting? But if you want to skip the frosting, just sprinkle some powdered sugar on top. Here’s the recipe!

Happy Baking!

INGREDIENTS

• 1½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

For the frosting

• 2 tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

STEPS

• Preheat the oven to 350°F or 175°C. Prepare the baking pan. In a bowl sift through the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda.

• In another bowl, mix together the vanilla extract, vinegar, oil and water. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well.

• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and pop it in the oven for about 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting, or the frosting will melt.

• For the frosting, melt the butter and add the cocoa powder and mix well. Then add the sugar, milk and the vanilla extract and whisk until the concoction is smooth and creamy.

Enjoy!