Friday Funnies

Friday Funnies post is a bit different today because it contains a recipe for a cake that goes by many names, one in particular — Wacky Cake.

If you've ever made or sampled this rich chocolate cake, then you know that it's delicious.

I made it recently and can attest to this fact.

Wacky cake is a moist, chocolate eggless, dairy-free cake which uses vinegar and baking soda for leavening. It's easy, inexpensive and mixed directly in the baking pan and eliminates the need for a mixing bowl. The wacky name comes from its lack of traditional ingredients and its mixing method. This cake also goes by several other names, including:

• Crazy Cake - similar to "wacky," refers to surprising, ingredient-less recipe.
• Depression or War Cake - so called when rationing made butter, milk, eggs scarce.
• Crazy Cake - like "wacky," refers to surprising, ingredient-less recipe.
• Three-Hole Cake - refers to traditional method of creating three wells in dry ingredients.
• Milkless, eggless, butterless cake - highlights the lack of popular ingredients.
• Poor Man's Cake - highlights budget-friendly nature of the dessert.
• Cemetery Cake - refers to a simple, quick, comforting recipe for hard times. 

While names differ, the cake basically follows the same recipe with basic ingredients of flour, cocoa powder, sugar, vinegar, oil and water. Often, coffee is substituted in place of water for a deeper flavor.

Historical Background

The recipe gained prominence during the Great Depression and then WW I and II when dairy and eggs were either costly or rationed. The recipe was created by home cooks using basic pantry staples to provide a sweet treat during times of scarcity. 

Years ago, radio shows and women's magazines played a large role in promoting the recipe. Betty Crocker's Cooking Hour provided women with budget-friendly recipes. General Mills, owner of Betty Crocker, employed nutritionists and cooks to experiment with different ways of ruining a cake by omitting certain items. Ladies' Home Journal offered baking tips during the Great Depression by recommending that eggs be replaced with baking powder and using inexpensive grains and produce.During the COVID pandemic, the recipe's popularity was renewed as a simple quarantine baking project. 

Here's what's needed, including optionals:

• 1-½ cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vinegar (white or apple cider)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 5-6 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup water or coffee (optional for richer flavor)
• Optional: 1/2 tsp Espresso powder to boost chocolate flavor

How it Works

The reaction between the baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) creates carbon dioxide bubbles, which makes the cake rise without eggs. 

Traditional Preparation - "Three Wells" Method

Since prep time will be very quick, it's best to pre-heat the oven — 350℉ (175℃) before mixing ingredients together. 

1. Sift or whisk dry ingredients directly into an ungreased 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan. Make three depressions (wells) in the dry mixture, one large and two small. Pour oil into the large well, then vinegar and vanilla into two smaller wells. Pour water (or coffee) over everything and stir with a fork or whisk until smooth. 
2. Bake 25 - 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean. For 8x8 or 9x9 inch pans, 30–35 minutes is typical. Cool completely before frosting or dusting with confectioner's sugar.

Because it contains no animal products, wacky cake is vegan and dairy-free. It's also a popular option for folks with egg or milk allergies. 

This is the wacky cake made for a neighbor’s birthday last week. The photo above shows the cake before it was frosted. I made a frosting with confectioner's sugar, cocoa powder, water, vanilla and butter before looking for recipes that excluded dairy. There are other butter-free frosting recipes. One would be to melt chocolate in a pan, then add condensed milk and vanilla extract and stir until it thickens and cool before frosting.

Based on the reactions of those who tasted wacky cake, you won't be disappointed if you make it — especially if you're a chocoholic like Grenville and myself.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Hopefully, ours will be snow-free for a change

Robins pictured in the previous post haven't returned yet