Chocolate wacky cake. Dense, rich, and loaded with chocolate! Also known as a “depression cake,” this cake contains no eggs, milk, or butter. It is also the first cake that I ever made from scratch.
It has become a tradition, starting sometime around my junior high years, that I make this cake for my mom’s birthday. When we were up at my parents this weekend, we had a belated birthday celebration for my mom, and I, of course, made this cake!
This recipe has been around for years, but I don’t actually know the original source of this exact recipe. In fact, when looking through my mom’s recipe box this weekend, I found a recipe from my grandma that was a little different than my mom’s.
The fudge frosting was a later addition, and I think it was originally called “No Fail Fudge Frosting.” That name fits. You can let it boil longer or shorter than the instructions, not beat it enough or too much, and you will still end up with a wonderful layer of fudge. Go ahead and give it a try!
Chocolate Wacky Cake with Fudge Frosting
Yield: 24 pieces
Ingredients
- For the Cake
- 3 C all-purpose flour
- 2 C sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/3 C unsweetened baking cocoa
- 2 C water
- 3 tbsp canola oil
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For the Frosting
- 1 1/2 C sugar
- 3 tbsp unsweetened baking cocoa
- 1/3 C milk
- 1/3 C butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray a 9×13 cake pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Sift together flour, sugar, salt, soda, and baking cocoa into a large bowl. If you have a small sifter, just whisk the dry ingredients together thoroughly. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir together wet ingredients. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir until completely combined.
- Pour batter into cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove for oven to a wire rack to cool completely.
- When cake is cool, prepare frosting.
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, baking cocoa, milk, and butter. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
- Remove from heat. Add vanilla and beat until glossy and frosting starts to thicken.
- Pour frosting over the top and smooth across top of cake with the back of a spoon. Frosting will harden as it cools, so it is important that you work quickly.
This recipe is linked with Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Friday Favorites, I’m Lovin’ It Fridays, Kitchen Fun Friday, Martha Mondays, Mop It Up Mondays, Pamela’s Heavenly Treats, Strut Your Stuff Saturday, Sweet Treats and Swanky Stuff, Tastetastic Thursday, Thursday Treasures, Totally Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday Talent Show, Weekend Potluck.
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
Um, wacky or not, I totally want to bury my face in it! Chocolate may not be my first pick (I’m a blondie/brown sugar girl!) but I cannot resist chocolate frosting, especially one as smooth and decadent as that! LOVEEEEE.
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
The fudge frosting is pretty amazing! No frosting is left behind when making this cake!
Nicole says
This has been a family staple for my entire life. I also prefer the blonds so I adjusted the recipe. Replaced cocoa with flour and doubled the vanilla. May play with that more but this is super yummy!
Emma @ Food, Fork and Good says
Oh my good god! That is so cute, and neat! How did you cut your squares so tidy and neat?!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
I’d love to say that it is because I have amazing cake cutting skills, but the frosting is just like fudge and the cake doesn’t crumble! I think that is why it was the first cake that my mom let me try to make!
Mo 'Betta says
That was my first thought too…how are those squares so neat 🙂
Sarah Carletti says
I’ve heard of wacky cake. I’ll have to try this!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
You really should, it’s really easy and it tastes incredible!
Rachel {Studio Cuisine} says
I love a frosting without powdered sugar, definitely pinning this for future reference!
Bec says
I’ve never heard of wacky cake but anything without eggs or milk is good with me 🙂 and I love fudge frosting so this on my things to make list 🙂
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
You would love this frosting! It’s just like eating fudge!
SerenaB says
I love how simple the ingredients are and how I have everything on hand! Fabulous! Have a great week!
The Cooking Actress says
Aw such a cute tradition! I love how simple this is-it looks fab 🙂
sandra says
Wow, your chocolate cake and frosting look amazing, and must taste ever so delicious 😉
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
Oh, it does! 😉
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
The crumb on this cake is perfect and that’s without the eggs, milk or butter! Love the cute sprinkles on frosting – adorable 🙂 Happy Birthday to your mom, sweet Jessica!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
Aw, thank you, Anna!
Medeja says
It looks so cute! Those sprincles just make it look magic!
Guru Uru says
I have always wanted to try wacky cake my friend – yours looks perfect 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Nichole@DulceDelicious says
I love chocolate cake, but I especially love chocolate cake with sprinkles! So cute and so delicious!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
Thanks, Nichole! Chocolate cake deserves sprinkles!
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings says
Like the name wacky cake over depression cake– and the sprinkles make it look so fun!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
I agree!
Mo 'Betta says
This is one of my favorite cakes to make since my 4 y/o son is allergic to eggs. He LOVES chocolate, so this is usually his birthday cake! This recipe calls for a lot less oil, so I am going to give it a try the next time I make it.
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
I hope you do!
Tonia L says
I’ve never tried this kind of cake but I love that I could make it even when I run out of eggs and butter!
Winnie says
I love tradition recipes – and I’d looooove to try this cake !:)
The frosting is familiar to me though
I’m pinning this
Emily says
This looks mighty delicious. My birthday is coming up. Maybe I can get my husband to make me this…no fail frosting after all.
Courtney @ Bake. Eat. Repeat. says
Love sprinkles on cakes! Instantly festive.
Jen @ Savory Simple says
Yay sprinkles and chocolate cake!
anniebakes says
oh my, this looks super delicious!! anne
The Country Cook says
Thank you so much for sharing at Weekend Potluck! I featured this one over on facebook. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
madge | the vegetarian casserole queen says
Vinegar in cake! I guess this is what makes it wacky! I love how perfectly cut your piece is…good job.
S. Gathampari Harivijayaraj says
attractive cake with gud topings..lovely
Nicole {WonkyWonderful} says
Oh sweet chocolaty Love! I so want a piece of this right now. Pinning for sure 🙂
BecHeflin says
Wacky cake brings back SO many memories for me! My sister always made me a pan full when I babysat for my nephew. Hers had some sort of amazing white glaze on the top though. Regardless, this looks AWESOME!
Khadijah says
Are there really only 3 Tbsp oil in the cake? I use the same recipe (called Crazy Cake) but it calls for 3/4 cup oil!If I could get away with 3 Tbsp, that would be amazing!
Susan says
This is one of my favorite cake recipes and have made it for over 50 years. The only difference is that my recipe calls for 3/4 cup oil and 2 tbls. apple cider vinegar. Try adding chocolate chips to the batter.
Also, my recipe says not to bake in a round cake pan as the cake will not bake in the center. I have tried baking in the round cake pan, and the middle did not get done but if you bake cupcakes, they are OK.
Alison at NOVA Frugal Family says
I had a recipe like this awhile ago but I was a little afraid to try it. If this is something you think is yummy, I am totally going to try it 🙂