This deliciously moist chocolate cake mixes up in just 5 minutes and will have you kissing store-bought cake mixes goodbye! It’s made with just a few simple, budget-friendly ingredients.
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Would you ever have thought you could bake a rich and super moist chocolate cake without using eggs, butter, or milk?
Actually, Crazy Cake (also known as Wacky Cake) has been around since the Great Depression and is considered an old-fashioned favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Cake Recipe
- Quick and Easy to Make. Only 5 minutes of prep work and you literally dump all of the ingredients in a bowl.
- One Bowl Recipe. Basically, no mess to clean!
- No Mixer Needed. Simply mix together by hand and you are ready to bake.
- Budget-friendly. The total cost for this recipe is just $1.15! (Cost calculated using Aldi prices.)
- Made with Simple Pantry Staples. No preservatives, food dyes or hard to pronounce ingredients that you really aren’t sure what they are. Just everyday ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen!
Watch Video: Learn How to Make This Recipe
Crazy Cake Ingredients
- Flour. All-purpose is what I use.
- Sugar.
- Cocoa Powder. I use regular unsweetened cocoa powder but dark cocoa powder can be used as well. If you use that, you may want to increase the sugar to 1 3/4 cup.
- Baking Soda.
- Salt.
- Water.
- Oil. Canola or vegetable are the budget-friendly options, but I’ve used coconut oil too.
- White Vinegar. The vinegar reacts with the baking soda to make the cake light and fluffy since there are no eggs.
- Vanilla.
How to Make Wacky Cake
STEP 1: Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Mix together and pour into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
STEP 2: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
Expert Tips
- Frosting: Top your crazy cake with Quick Caramel Icing, 5 Minute Chocolate Buttercream Frosting or your favorite frosting before serving.
- Storing: Cover the dish and store it on the counter or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Layered Cake: If you want to make a layer cake, you can also bake this in two round cake pans or two 8×8 cake pans. You will need to reduce the baking time to 20-25 minutes though.
- Freezing Unfrosted Cake: Wrap in a layer of plastic wrap and aluminum foil before freezing. Or you can freeze the cake directly in the pan- just cover with saran wrap. Thaw completely before frosting.
- Freezing Frosted Cake: Not all frostings freeze well, but if you are using buttercream or a shortening-based frosting, you can frost your cake before freezing. You can either freeze the cake directly in the pan (just make sure it’s covered with saran wrap) or cut it into slices and transfer it to a freezer-safe container.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Super Moist Gingerbread Cake with Caramel Icing
- Easy Apple Dumpling Dessert
- Homemade Cool Whip
- Super Easy Strawberry Pie
- Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake
Simple Moist Chocolate Crazy Cake
This deliciously moist depression era chocolate cake mixes up in just 5 minutes and will have you kissing store bought cake mixes goodbye!
Servings: 18
Ingredients
- 3 c. flour
- 1 1/2 c. sugar
- 6 Tbsp. cocoa powder
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 c. water
- 2/3 c. canola or vegetable oil
- 2 tsp. white vinegar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 min.
Notes
If you want to make a layer cake, you can also bake this in two round cake pans or two 8×8 cake pans. You will need to reduce the baking time to 20-25 minutes though.
Zouhair
Awesome Recipe…Awesome speech about Cost of Eggs and looking for Easy Inexpensive Recipes…Frankly speaking we have Energy problem and High cost of either Gas or Electricity<<We always look for Stove Top Cakes ,,pies,,,Could you Kindly help me find such recipes if available,,,Many Thanks,,Zouhair
Lydia Beiler
I’m sorry, but I don’t know of any recipes for stovetop desserts. Maybe try Googling? That’s my best suggestion!
Carrie Drake
I have to say that, even though I was raised in a very VERY poor home, I was blessed with some of the most amazing cooks and bakers!! The Black Magic Cake. The Black Forest Cake. The Secret Lady Areda G Cake. Shhhh
Well, one day I was given a piece of cake, and without even thinking, I thanked my hostess and just took a bite.
I immediately gestured for a drink.
When I was able…
I all but demanded the recipe!!
Hunni, I thought I had all of the great cake recipes.
Congrats on this being right there with them!(๑˙❥˙๑)
Lydia Beiler
Aw, thanks, Carrie! Delighted to hear that you love the recipe.
Wendy
Can self rising flour be used?
Lydia Beiler
No, you want to use just plain, all purpose flour.
Donna
This is the second time I’ve made this cake and it tastes fabulous. It’s my go-to when I’m out of eggs or milk and don’t want to run to the store. I absolutely love it. Thank you so much for this recipe
Lydia Beiler
You are very welcome, Donna! I’m delighted to hear that you love it.
susan
Odd, I just made it and it is horrible. Flat and dense. Not a lot of chocolate taste.
Lydia Beiler
That is really strange, Susan, as this cake is anything but flat and dense. Could it be that your baking soda is old and not working well as a result? Or did you perhaps use baking powder instead of baking soda?