Famous Chocolate Depression Cake

The Depression Cake began in the Depression era. The cake itself has no eggs or dairy in it. The plan for those times was to make food stretch as far as they could without using any of the ration coupons.

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The coupons allowed them to get so much sugar or other items that were needed. The women wanted to be able to feed their families and still give them cakes or desserts, they found ways to do so when money was scarce or non-existent.

This chocolate cake is moist, fluffy and very chocolatey. Very seldom would this cake have frosting on it back in those times. The Dairy, the powdered sugar were not items that were of importance when it came to feeding a hungry family in hard times.

You can make this cake plain and enjoy it just as much as you would with the frosting.

Frequently Asked Questions:

            How can a Cake have no eggs?

I seriously cannot explain it in a way that would make sense. However, I will tell you it has to do with the way the vinegar and baking soda react with each other. All I will say definitively is that this cake is the perfect cake! I seldom buy box mixes anymore.

            Could I leave the Cocoa Powder out of the recipe?

I imagine that would be okay, but you will need to replace at least some of the dry ingredients from the cocoa with flour.

            Do I need to refrigerate this cake?

There is no dairy in the cake, so it would be perfectly okay sitting covered on your counter. Remember, not all families had refrigerators or ice boxes back in the Depression times.

            Could I add nuts or chips to the cake?

You could definitely add nuts or cherries, or chocolate chips or whatever pleases you in this recipe. Share what you added so we all can try.

What do you need to make Famous Chocolate Depression Cake

            1 cup water

1 cup Granulated Sugar

⅓ cup Vegetable Oil

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 tsp White Vinegar

½ tsp Salt

1 tsp Baking Soda

¼ cup Cocoa Powder, unsweetened

1 ½ cups Flour

Frosting:

2 tbsp butter, softened

¼ cup Cocoa Powder, unsweetened

1 cup Powdered Sugar

½ tsp Vanilla Extract

1 tbsp Heavy cream(you can use milk if you have no cream)

How to make Famous Chocolate Depression Cake

Cake:

Preheat the oven to 350*

Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda in a bowl

a)

b)

In another bowl combine the water, vinegar, vanilla and oil

Slowly add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry mix

Mix until all lumps are removed

Grease a 9×9 baking pan

Spread the batter into the prepared pan evenly

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the center bounces back or a toothpick comes out clean

Remove from the oven and set aside to cool

Frosting:

Melt the butter in a saucepan

Stir in the cocoa powder, the mixture will be thick

Transfer the mixture to a medium sized bowl

Using an electric hand mixer, beat in the milk, vanilla and powdered sugar

a)

b)

c)

Once combined, beat on high until the frosting is light and fluffy, smooth and creamy

Spread over the cooled cake

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

Enjoy!