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You are here: Home » Recipes » Crazy Cake

Crazy Cake

Dessert

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Crazy Cake
Crazy Cake No Eggs Milk or Butter

This vintage crazy cake recipe is made without any eggs, milk, or butter. The result is a rich, moist, fudgy, and absolutely delicious chocolate cake.

Like these old-fashioned no-bake cookies and this fruit cocktail coconut cake recipe, this is the kind of recipe you are likely to find in your grandma’s cookbook. You might have even made it with her as a child!

Crazy Cake

Also known as wacky chocolate cake, the dessert became popular during the great depression and the 1940s when some common cake ingredients were expensive and difficult to come by. The innovative bakers went to work to make a cake with affordable ingredients that they had in their pantry and the crazy chocolate cake was created.

The budget-friendly recipe calls for just a few simple pantry ingredients and no dairy. That is right–no eggs, no milk, and no butter!

Crazy Chocolate Cake

Since the depression-era cake is made without eggs or dairy, it makes the cake naturally egg-free, dairy-free, and vegan.

The simplicity of this old-fashioned cake recipe makes it a fun recipe to make with the kids, too.

And if you thought one-bowl desserts were amazing, wait until you try this no-bowl dessert. Everything is mixed right in the cake pan, making clean-up a breeze.

Ingredients

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

flour, cocoa, sugar, water, oil, vanilla, vinegar, salt, baking soda, and square pan

For this easy cake recipe you will need a handful of basic pantry staples:

  • all-purpose flour
  • granulated sugar (white sugar)
  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • vegetable oil- canola oil would work, too.
  • white vinegar- apple cider vinegar can be used instead if you prefer.
  • vanilla extract
  • water

How to Make Crazy Cake

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below. 

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below. 

How to Make Crazy Cake
  1. Add the dry ingredients to an ungreased 8″ square or round baking pan.
  2. Gently whisk the dry ingredients together.
  3. Create 3 wells in the mixture for the wet ingredients. Pour the oil, vinegar, and vanilla into the wells.
  4. Pour water over the top of the cake.
  5. Mix until well combined.
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Serve the rich chocolate cake plain, with your favorite frosting, or topped with powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I often just use a tub of pre-made chocolate frosting from the store.

Crazy Wacky Cake

Storage

Unfrosted cake: Cover with plastic wrap and keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Frosted cake: Depending on the frosting you use you may need to refrigerate the cake. In the fridge the cake will keep for up to 4 days.

Baking Tips and Variations

  • Don’t be tempted to try to skip the vinegar. Vinegar is a necessary ingredient in this simple chocolate cake recipe. It interacts with the baking soda to cause the cake batter to rise as it bakes.
  • Make a vanilla cake instead by omitting the cocoa powder and adding 1/2 teaspoon more vanilla.
  • Double the using a 9 x 13 pan and increase the baking time to 35 minutes.
  • Use the batter to make “Wacky Cupcakes”. Watch them in the oven because the baking time will be reduced.
  • Try subbing brewed coffee for the water called for in the recipe to enhance the chocolate flavor. You can substitute the entire cup of water for coffee or do 1/2 cup coffee and 1/2 cup water.
Wacky Chocolate Cake

Recipe FAQ

Is crazy cake the same as wacky cake?

Yes, this World War II era cake goes by several names. I have heard it referred to as crazy cake, wacky cake, three-hole cake, chocolate depression cake, and war cake.

Does crazy cake freeze well?

Yes, this delicious cake freezes beautifully!

Can you skip the vinegar?

No. Vinegar is a necessary ingredient for making wacky cake. Without it the cake won’t rise or have the right texture. Don’t worry, the cake does not taste like vinegar at all!

Can I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil to make the cake?

While you could use olive oil I recommend against it as it will likely alter the taste of the cake. I know some of my readers swear by using olive oil in cake recipes so you can definitely give it a try if you would like.

Does crazy cake have to be mixed in the cake pan?

No. You can mix the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and then transfer the wet batter to your baking pan.

Crazy Chocolate Cake Recipe

More Easy Dessert Recipes

  • Chocolate cherry dump cake – 3 ingredients!
  • Snickers apple salad
  • OREO poke cake
  • Peanut butter fudge – 3 ingredients!
  • One-bowl brownies

Crazy Cake

This easy crazy cake recipe is made without eggs, milk, or butter. The result is a rich, fudgy, and moist chocolate cake with a tender crumb.
4.57 from 105 votes

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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 9
Calories: 234kcal
Author: Jaclyn Shimmel
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 5 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup cold water

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Add dry ingredients to an ungreased 8-inch round or square baking pan. Whisk to combine.
  • Make 3 wells in the mixture. One larger hole and 2 smaller (see image). Pour oil, vinegar, and vanilla into the wells.
  • Pour water over all of the ingredients. Mix well with a fork, making sure to get all the dry mix that gets stuck in the corners.
  • Before baking, give the pan a couple of taps on the counter to help release any bubbles. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
  • Serve plain, topped with powdered sugar, or topped with your favorite frosting. If frosting, allow the cake to cool to room temperate first.

Notes

To store, cover the cake with plastic wrap. Unfrosted cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. If frosted, store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The unfrosted cake also freezes well!
You can double the recipe using a 9 x 13 pan and upping the baking time to about 35 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 252mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by a third party and intended to serve as an estimate only. The accuracy of nutritional information is not guaranteed.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Please rate the recipe and leave a comment on the blog or share on social media and tag @crayonsandcravings!
Crazy Cake No Eggs Milk or Butter
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By Jaclyn Shimmel | 04/22/2020
Filed Under: Dessert, Recipes Tagged With: Cake

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Comments

  1. Marilyn says

    02/11/2023 at 12:02 am

    If you make cupcakes, approximately how many will this make?

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      02/11/2023 at 2:34 pm

      It should make about 12 cupcakes.

      Reply
  2. Barb says

    02/22/2023 at 8:35 pm

    5 stars
    I have made this cake for years because my son had so many allergies. He was allergic to eggs and dairy. It still is one of our all time favorites and still make this every year for his birthday and he is in his 30’s. I always made it in a 9/13 pan. So moist and good. Good with powdered sugar on top too.

    Reply
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