Depression-Era Chocolate Cake a.k.a. “Crazy Cake”

 

 

Really though, we can’t impress upon you enough how good this cake is. The coffee brings out all the chocolate-y goodness, and the apple cider vinegar, along with the baking soda, keeps things light and perfectly puffed up. This is everything you want a chocolate cake to be: sinfully rich and full of flavor. What are you waiting for? Make this crazy cake tonight!

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.

Related Posts

After 37 years of marriage, Jake left his wife, Edith, for his young secretary

After 37 years of marriage, Jake left his wife, Edith, for his young secretary. His new girlfriend insisted they live in Jake and Edith’s luxurious multi-million-dollar home….

Biker’s Late-Night Stop Leads to a Life-Changing Rescue That No One Saw Coming

It was past 3 AM when William “Hammer” Davidson, a 69-year-old biker and Vietnam veteran, stopped at a quiet gas station off I-70 near Kansas City. He…

My mama knew her stuff

In the quest for spotless, dust-free floors, many of us have experimented with an endless array of cleaning products, sprays, and solutions. Yet, sometimes the most effective…

Do this immediately.

Tick eggs are often laid in clusters that resemble tiny piles of jelly-like beads. While they may seem harmless, these small clusters are the beginning of a…

I never knew this!

Bathroom maintenance can often feel like a daunting task, especially when it comes to dealing with cracked caulking. This common issue not only affects the aesthetic appeal…

This trick to keep pipes from freezing with almost 0 effort.

As winter approaches, homeowners face the perennial challenge of keeping their pipes from freezing. When temperatures drop, the water inside pipes can freeze, expand, and cause the…