Crazy Cake is a Depression Era cake recipe that does not require any eggs, milk or butter. This Chocolate Crazy Cake is so rich and topped with chocolate frosting. You don’t even need a mixing bowl!
This Crazy Cake Recipe is packed with chocolate and so moist and delicious. My Grandma made this depression cake back when ingredients were hard to come by. Another favorite is this easy Chocolate Depression Cake.
I love to make easy cake recipes for any occasion. This recipe with pantry staples is simple but so amazing. You might also like Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake.
What's in this post: Crazy Cake Recipe
What is a Crazy Cake?
It is a chocolate cake recipe that originated in the Depression ages. This simple cake does not require any eggs, butter or milk. In fact, you don’t even need a bowl.
The ingredients combine in the baking dish and you don’t even need a bowl. You might also hear this simple chocolate cake called a Wacky Cake.
Ingredients
Cake
- All-purpose flour
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Granulated sugar
- White vinegar
- Vanilla extract
- Vegetable Oil
Frosting
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Butter
- Powdered sugar
Jump to the recipe at the bottom and find the complete list of crazy cake ingredients.
Variations
- Sprinkles. Add sprinkles to the top of the cake for any celebration. This is perfect for a birthday cake.
How to Make a Crazy Cake
Step 1. Prepare the baking dish with cooking spray. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda and salt. Whisk these ingredients until thoroughly combined.
Step 2. Make 3 holes in the dry ingredients in the pan. Then, pour the vinegar into one hole, the vanilla into one and the vegetable oil into the other hole.
Step 4. Pour the water on top.
Step 5. Finally, whisk the cake batter. Bake in a preheated oven to 350 for 35 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
How to Make Frosting
Step 1. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or you can use a double boiler. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until fully melted. Allow the chocolate cool.
Step 2. Get out a separate bowl. Combine together the butter with an electric mixer or stand up mixer until smooth.
Step 3. Mix in the powdered sugar and combine until smooth. Then add the vanilla extract.
Step 4. Add the cooled and room temperature chocolate. Mix for several minutes until the frosting is creamy and smooth.
Step 5. Carefully spread the frosting on top of the cake.
Step 6. Slice, serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Cupcakes. Feel free to use this cake recipe to make cupcakes. Adjust the baking time.
- Mixing the batter. If you prefer to use a large mixing bowl to combine the ingredients, you absolutely can.
- Double the recipe. The recipe is easy to double for a 9×13 baking pan.
Frequently Asked Questions
The vinegar reacts with the baking soda. This is part of the leavening process and makes the cake rise.
You will not taste the vinegar once the cake is baked.
Refrigerate the leftovers, covered in plastic wrap inside an airtight container, for up to 6 days.
The ingredient list for the cake does not include eggs, milk or butter. That makes it crazy!
The oil helps to make the cake moist. The chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda makes the cake fluffy.
More Easy Chocolate Cake Recipes
Go ahead and try this yummy cake recipe. Then please leave a comment once you do. I love hearing from you!
Crazy Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 cup Water
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray an 8X8 baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray.
- In the pan, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda and salt. Whisk these ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Make 3 wells (holes) in the dry ingredients in the pan. Pour the vinegar into one hole, the vanilla into one and the vegetable oil into the other one.
- Pour the water on top and whisk to combine all the ingredients.
- Bake for 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before topping with the frosting.
For the Frosting:
- Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until fully melted. Let the chocolate cool to room temperature.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the butter with a hand held mixer or stand up mixer until smooth.
- Add in the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
- Then add in the vanilla extract and the cooled chocolate. Mix for approximately 2-3 more minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until the frosting is creamy and smooth.
- Spread the frosting on top of the cake and then it’s ready to slice, serve and enjoy!
