Wacky Chocolate Cake | What’s Cookin’ Italian Style Cuisine

It is written that the cake was invented by creative bakers back in WW2 times but the actual person was murky to identify its original maker.

The cake batter smelled so delicious it was always a fight who got to lick the beaters after Mom had leftover cake batter in the bowl.

During the Depression era, the ingredients were hard to come by and this cake was a frugal means to a delicious inexpensive dessert and families were grateful for this wonderful treat.

Mom usually sprinkles with granulated sugar before baking however, you can frost or dust this cake with powdered sugar.

This cake has been called many names Pan Cake, War Cake, and what we know as Wacky Cake.

During WW2, there was a lack of butter, milk, and eggs, and this cake was a real treat for the troops and families to make economically and use what was available to them.

This was developed in that period and the cake remains popular and easy to make through many decades.

It has a rich dense crumb and a wonderful chocolate cake recipe the recipe is printable and at the end of this post.

The necessary ingredients you will need for the Wacky Cake recipe:

1. granulated sugar: regular sugar that is granulated that is refined from sugar cane or sugar beets
2. AP flour: regular all-purpose flour
3. baking soda: this is a leavening agent to make the cake rise
4. salt: regular table salt
5. unsweetened cocoa powder: this is an unsweetened cocoa powder for desserts in powder form
6.  red vinegar or white: vinegar will help the cake rise
7. pure vanilla: a flavoring agent with vanilla uses only pure extract
8. vegetable oil: this will contribute to the moistness of the cake (do not use butter)
9. water chilled: chilled water will make a lighter less dense cake

Serving Wacky Cake:

• dust with powdered sugar: use a mesh sieve add some powdered sugar and shake over a slice of cake for a bit of extra sugar taste
• sprinkle before baking with granulated sugar: add a sprinkle of granulated sugar on top before baking for a glistening effect
• make a thin chocolate glaze for the top: add a bit of cocoa powder to powdered sugar and a teaspoon of water or milk at a time to create a free-flowing glaze for the cake
• before baking sprinkle with chocolate chips: before baking add some chocolate chips on top for a richer chocolatey cake for all the chocolate lovers out there
• serve with fresh red raspberries and raspberry puree: serve the cake with red raspberries for a fresh burst of berry flavor. Add a few to a food processor with sugar to taste to pour a sweet puree over each slice when serving
• add a dollop of heavy cream whipped: whip up some fresh heavy cream sweetened with sugar for a creamy topping
• serve with ice cream: serve the cake with a delicious ice cream any flavor your family prefers for an ice cream cake and special occasion

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Chocolate Moist Cake

This cake is great for when you’re on a budget and these ingredients are always readily available staples.

The cake is moist and delicious and perfect for snacking on.

This recipe for wacky cake has made a comeback through the years and becoming more and more popular with rising prices, give it a try you won’t be sorry!

Pan Cake, War Cake, Wacky Cake, WW2 cake, depression cake, chocolate wacky cake, chocolate cake recipes

economical cake recipes, chocolate cake recipes, depression cake recipes

American

Yield: 12

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

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Wacky Chocolate Cake

Wacky cake is made without milk or eggs and is a moist, dark, and delicious chocolate cake that is economical to make.

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 26 MinTotal time: 36 Min

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups of AP flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon red vinegar or white
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water chilled

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8 x 8 cake pan with butter and flour then set this aside.
2. Note: this cake originally back in the 1940s was all mixed in the same pan it’s baked in, I don’t do that however you are welcome to place the ingredients in the pan adding water last, and mix it in the same pan.
3. Directions for Wacky Cake:
4. Sift all the dry ingredients into a bowl then add the vinegar, vanilla, and oil stirring in the water.
5. Pour into the prepared pan.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
7. Although this cake was eaten plain or with whipped cream, you can frost it if you prefer.
8. See notes below for serving ideas.

Notes

The necessary ingredients you will need for the Wacky Cake recipe:

1. granulated sugar: regular sugar that is granulated that is refined from sugar cane or sugar beets
2. AP flour: regular all-purpose flour
3. baking soda: this is a leavening agent to make the cake rise
4. salt: regular table salt
5. unsweetened cocoa powder: this is an unsweetened cocoa powder for desserts in powder form
6.  red vinegar or white: vinegar will help the cake rise
7. pure vanilla: a flavoring agent with vanilla uses only pure extract
8. vegetable oil: this will contribute to the moistness to the cake (do not use butter)
9. water chilled: chilled water will make a lighter less dense cake

Serving Wacky Cake:

• dust with powdered sugar: use a mesh sieve add some powdered sugar and shake over a slice of cake for a bit of extra sugar taste
• sprinkle before baking with granulated sugar: add a sprinkle of granulated sugar on top before baking for a glistening effect
• make a thin chocolate glaze for the top: add a bit of cocoa powder to powdered sugar and a teaspoon of water or milk at a time to create a free-flowing glaze for the cake
• before baking sprinkle with chocolate chips: before baking add some chocolate chips on top for a richer chocolatey cake for all the chocolate lovers out there
• serve with fresh red raspberries and raspberry puree: serve the cake with red raspberries for a fresh burst of berry flavor. Add a few to a food processor with sugar to taste to pour a sweet puree over each slice when serving
• add a dollop of heavy cream whipped: whip up some fresh heavy cream sweetened with sugar for a creamy topping
• serve with ice cream: serve the cake with a delicious ice cream any flavor your family prefers for an ice cream cake and special occasion

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