topic Re: Depression Cake in Recipes

Depression Cake

hick — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 10:35:10 GMT

I've not done a lot of baking in my life but since I'm home, I've become more adventurous.

Yesterday I made this "Depression Cake." It was easy and it turned out very good.

I'm impressed with myself.

Today - bread making in the dutch oven!

Re: Depression Cake

4kitties — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 11:38:33 GMT

@hick

What is a depression cake? You have peaked my curiosity.........

Re: Depression Cake

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 11:45:01 GMT

I saw that on-line and I thought it looked tasty, but am too lazy to make it. Is it a dense, heavy cake or light? I would love to try it!

Re: Depression Cake

piperbay — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 12:42:41 GMT

I made this last week and I didn't know it was called Depression cake. I used olive oil and vinegar and it came out light and has a rich taste. Also, didn't have to use a mixer either.

Re: Depression Cake

Ainhisg — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 13:17:47 GMT

Here is a recipe for chocolate wacky cake also called depression cake or crazy cake...it is easy and good!

http://www.easyaspiecanbe.com/2018/10/wacky-cake.html

I also recently made this one (Snickerdoodle Crazy Cake). We didn't like the sugar/cinnamon on top, so next time, I will leave that off. What we DID like was the hot caramel topping and ice cream on it!

https://sweetlittlebluebird.com/snickerdoodle-crazy-cake-no-eggs-milk-or-butter/

Re: Depression Cake

Pook — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 15:02:37 GMT

@hick Is that an eggless cake? That is what my SO's mother called a Depression Cake and it is delicious!!

Re: Depression Cake

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 15:12:00 GMT

This is sometimes called a wacky cake, ( google it ). It is ridiculously easy, and so moist and chocolately, that you don't need frosting.

Re: Depression Cake

KatieB — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 15:53:08 GMT

Here's a good depresssion cake recipe:

Chocolate Depression Wacky Cake

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8 inch baking dish with a non stick spray.
In medium sized mixing bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Add in the vinegar, vanilla, oil and water and stir until well combined. Pour the batter into the baking dish.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Eat warm or cool completely and frost, if desired.

Re: Depression Cake

AnikaBrodie — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 17:05:47 GMT

My recipe is called Crazy Chocolate Cake and makes a 9x13" cake. It is really good with peanut butter icing or butter cream icing. Very moist and has no eggs.

Recipe – Crazy Chocolate Cake

"This cake was popular during the depression, and does not have eggs in it. It is very moist."

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar (less if desired)
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups cold water

Directions

Sift flour, sugar, salt, soda, and cocoa together into a large bowl. Make three wells. Pour oil into one well, vinegar into second, and vanilla into third well. Pour cold water over all, and stir with mixer.
Pour into 9x13" cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Cool and frost with your favorite icing.

Frosting: Buttercream or Peanut Butter; both are very good.

Re: Depression Cake

danedylan — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 17:08:55 GMT

unfortunately can't find flour in this neck of the woods--new jersey!--tried many stores--seems like everyone is baking!------------------marynj

Re: Depression Cake

WORKING GAL — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:49:13 GMT

@KatieB - Thank you for posting the Wacky Cake recipe. I had all the ingredients so I made it yesterday. It is so easy to make and it came out delicious. So moist and flavorful. I added about a quarter cup of mini chocolate chips to the dry ingred. so they wouldn't sink to the bottom after adding the wet. My hubby loved it.

Going to try the vanilla and lemon flavors too.

Re: Depression Cake

jannabelle1 — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 23:20:34 GMT

I've made this Depression Cake for years. For those who are younger and didn't grow up with stories of the Depression from their parents, this was one of a number of popular recipes at the time, and it's still good! It's just hubby and me, so this small recipe works for us since it's made in an 8x8 pan. (Just one of many of of similar recipes)!

Depression Cake

1 1/2 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup oil

1 cup water

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp vinegar

Mix all ingredients by hand. Pour into an 8x8 or 9x9 pan

Bake @350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes.

I lightly dust with powdered sugar...this is a great cake for snacking, and very moist.

Re: Depression Cake

hick — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 10:28:24 GMT

Instead of using water, my recipe called for 1 cup of coffee.

It came out great.

Re: Depression Cake

KatieB — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 14:34:51 GMT

@WORKING GAL wrote:
@KatieB - Thank you for posting the Wacky Cake recipe. I had all the ingredients so I made it yesterday. It is so easy to make and it came out delicious. So moist and flavorful. I added about a quarter cup of mini chocolate chips to the dry ingred. so they wouldn't sink to the bottom after adding the wet. My hubby loved it.
Going to try the vanilla and lemon flavors too.

@WORKING GAL Glad you liked the cake - it's an old Southern Living recipe that I've made for years. I have often substitued black coffee for the water.

Re: Depression Cake

Bridgegal — Fri, 01 May 2020 06:18:00 GMT

@WORKING GAL

Lemon version? Tell me more, please.

Re: Depression Cake

WORKING GAL — Fri, 01 May 2020 22:45:26 GMT

@Bridgegal - I just googled wacky cake (another name for the depression cake) and several websites came up. There is a lemon version using lemon zest and lemon extract instead of the cocoa and vanilla in the chocolate version. There is also a vanilla version. I didn't have time to copy it - just google the wacky cake version you want and recipes will come up. The lemon one will have to wait til the next shopping trip as I don't have lemon extract.

I might try a couple tbsp. of frozen lemonade concentrate along with enough water to make the one cup of liquid needed & the lemon zest. These cakes are so easy to make and are very good.

Re: Depression Cake

jannabelle1 — Sat, 02 May 2020 00:02:15 GMT

@hick, substituting a cup of coffee for water is a great idea. I've sometimes substituted a cup of orange juice and that works well too, but I'm going to try the coffee. Thanks!