Wacky Cake

This is one of those timeless classic recipes from the American culinary world. This vegan chocolate cake is called so because of the absence of eggs, butter or milk in it; originated at a time when these ingredients were thought to be vital for a cake preparation but were scarcely available. This moist cake was borne out of necessity owing to the rationing of ingredients during the war period and when dessert was a luxury. People probably saved their sugar ration to bake this and I bet it is worth it. One cannot stop with one piece. This spongy chocolate cake has a rich dark hue and also goes by the names Crazy cake, World War II cake and Joe cake. (The images that I presented here were taken under different lighting conditions and the first image shows the real color of the cake.)


It takes 30 minutes to bake this cake and it uses a 8 inch square pan. It is is a beginner recipe and super easy to make. This cake uses only one pan where mixing, baking and serving happens; meaning less time spent in kitchen doing the clean-up. All the ingredients are mixed directly in the baking pan which is not even greased and is put in the oven. One adds all the dry ingredients to the baking pan that is going to be used and then three wells are made. Vinegar goes into one, oil into another and vanilla into the remaining one. Water is poured over and the ingredients are mixed to combine. One can follow the old method but I as usual, mixed the ingredients in one bowl and poured it into a greased baking pan and baked.

All wacky chocolate cake recipes use the same ingredients mentioned below but may use an additional ingredient, brewed coffee. The traditional versions use white vinegar but I used cider vinegar here. The cake was served with a plain dusting of icing sugar or with a frosting also made with 'ration' ingredients at the time. The cake is delicious as it is and my husband who never touches a baked dish that is sweet had 3 pieces yesterday without any prompting. If one has time and inclined to make this cake more special, it can be topped with a favorite frosting of one's preference.  

Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup oil
1 cup lukewarm water


Directions:
* Preheat the oven to 350 deg F. Grease a 8 inch square pan.
* Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix to combine.
* Pour the batter into the prepare pan. 
* Bake until a toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
* Allow it cool completely before frosting or dusting with icing sugar.

It goes to Blogging Marathon #95 under the theme 'Cake recipes'.

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