I started making this cake during the pandemic, when a few friends and I began exchanging recipes to cheer ourselves up and vary our menus. While the idea for this recipe came from Epicurious, I’ve modified it and have since seen it referred to in The New York Times and elsewhere online as depression cake, wacky cake, and even war cake. Why? It’s made from very few ingredients — no milk, eggs, or butter — in a single pan. It’s a nice treat for friends and neighbors as well as for a special someone. My husband and daughter are fans.
Yield
Makes one 8-inch square cake, 8 to 12 servings.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon white or cider vinegar
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup water or coffee
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square pan.
2. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt directly into the baking pan, then add the sugar. Blend dry ingredients with a table fork. Poke two small holes and one large one in the dry ingredients. Into one small hole pour the vanilla, into the other one the vinegar, and into the larger one the oil.
3. Pour the water or coffee over the ingredients and stir everything together with a table fork, reaching into the corners, until the batter looks well blended.
4. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is springy and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack. It’s easiest to cut and serve it from the pan.
Notes
I use Hershey’s Cocoa and cold coffee instead of water. On occasion I’ve added chopped walnuts; one cook, Mollie Katzen, suggests adding chocolate chips. You can ice the cake (I never do), sprinkle it with confectioners sugar, or eat it as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a strawberry or cherry.
It’s frequently challenging to remove the cake from the pan, as it tends to stick. It’s easier with a glass or ceramic pan than a metal one. If you have a non-stick baking pan, try using it.
Enjoy!