I can’t think of a more appropriate recipe for 2020 than Wacky Cake. This cake, which is also known as Crazy Cake or Depression Cake, is mixed right in the pan. There is no butter, no eggs and no milk in the cake which made it popular during the Great Depression. It can be topped with your favorite frosting, including chocolate, vanilla, or peanut butter.

Wishing everyone a safe and healthy holidays and a more sane 2021.

Print Recipe

Chocolate Wacky Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Course

Cakes, Dessert

Cuisine

American

Keyword

Dessert

Servings

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

Peanut Butter Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons milk at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Course Cakes, Dessert Cuisine American Keyword Dessert Servings Ingredients Cake 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon white vinegar or apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 5 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup water Peanut Butter Frosting 1/2 cup butter at room temperature 1 cup creamy peanut butter at room temperature 3 tablespoons milk at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cake

1. Mix first 5 dry ingredients in a greased 8″ square baking pan. Make 3 depressions in dry ingredients – two small, one larger. Pour vinegar in one depression, vanilla in the other and the vegetable oil in third larger depression. Pour water over all the ingredients. Mix well until smooth.
2. Bake on middle rack of oven for 35 minutes. Check with toothpick to make sure it comes out clean. Cool.
3. Top with the Peanut Butter Frosting.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1. Place butter and peanut butter in a medium to large size bowl, beat using an electric mixer blend until smooth.
2. Add two cups of confectioners’ sugar, beat until blended and it is thickened.
3. Add vanilla then and 1 tablespoon of milk at a time, stirring after each addition.
4. Mix for approximately 3 minutes, until it’s fluffy and spreadable.