07/16/2024
If you've never tried or heard of Depression-Era Cake, also known as "Crazy Cake," you're in for a delightful surprise. This recipe dates back to the Great Depression when certain ingredients were too costly, prompting creative substitutions to keep beloved dishes on the table. Unlike most cakes made with milk, eggs, and butter, these ingredients were scarce in the 1930s. As a result, people devised a method to make a rich, moist, and fluffy chocolate cake without them.
INGREDIENTS
* Cake:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/4 cups sugar
* 1 1/4 cups water
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
* 1 tablespoon coffee, optional
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* Frosting:
* 2 1/2 -3 cups powdered sugar
* 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1/3 cup water
* 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 pinch salt, optional
PREPARATION
1. Preheat oven to 375º F and lightly grease two 9-inch cake pans with butter or non-stick spray.
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl, then whisk in water, oil, cider vinegar, coffee and vanilla extract.
3. Stir until no lumps remain, then pour mixture evenly into greased cake pans.
4. Place in oven and bake for 24-26 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
5. While cake bakes, make frosting by whisking together powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt, if using, in a large bowl or mixer.
6. Add water, softened butter and vanilla extract, and beat together until smooth and creamy. Add more sugar for a thicker frosting and more water for a thinner frosting.
7. Remove cake from oven and let cool before frosting.
Enjoy!!!
