Wacky Cake is one of the first recipes that I remember making as a kid. It’s super easy to make because you mix all the ingredients right in the pan that you bake it in. The ingredients are simple. I learned later that this cake was created during the depression when some ingredients, like butter and eggs, were scarce. Wacky cake is super moist and the chocolate flavor is really rich. Definitely a fun recipe to make with kids! 🙂

Wacky Cake Recipe

Start by adding all of the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa, and baking soda) to a 9×13 cake pan.

Mix this well. I find a fork works best for this.

Next, make two small depressions and one larger depression. In the smallest well, add the vanilla. In the next, add the vinegar. And, in the last add the oil.

Next, pour 2 cups of cold water over the whole thing.

Stir until all of the ingredients are mixed.

Bake this in a 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes. It’s done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or if the cake springs back when pressed gently in the middle.

Wacky Cake

Homesteading Dreams

Super easy cake with a rich chocolate flavor. Great recipe to make with kids.

5 from 1 vote

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Ingredients

  

• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups cold water

Instructions

 

• Mix the dry ingredients in a 9x13 cake pan.
• Make 3 wells - 2 small and 1 larger.
• Add vanilla and vinegar to each of the small wells and oil to the larger one.
• Pour 2 cups of cold water over all.
• Mix well.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
• Serve plain or with your favorite frosting.

Serving the Cake

This cake tastes delicious as is or add a frosting. For this particular cake, I made a batch of Woopie Pie Filling to use as the frosting. I remember doing this as a kid and loving the combination.

A fudge frosting would be delicious too, as would just about any flavor of buttercream or Cream Cheese frosting. If time is short, a bag of mini chocolate chips can be spread on top when the cake first comes out of the oven. The chocolate chips will melt and can be spread for a quick icing.