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Chocolate Depression Cake (No Eggs, Butter, or Milk)

This unique Chocolate Cake recipe, popularized during the great depression, is rich and chocolatey without the using any eggs, butter, or milk!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Cooling Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 50 mins
Servings: 9 1 slice each
Calories: 31977 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour $0.23
  • 1 cup granulated sugar $0.80
  • 1/2 tsp salt $0.02
  • 1 tsp baking soda $0.02
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder $0.21
  • 1/3 cup cooking oil* $0.21
  • 1 Tbsp vinegar** $0.06
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract $0.30
  • 1 cup water $0.00
Chocolate Icing
  • 1.5 cups powdered sugar $0.10
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder $0.16
  • 3 Tbsp water $0.00
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract $0.30

Instructions

Chocolate Cake
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and cocoa powder until well combined.
  2. Add 1 cup water to a liquid measuring cup, then add the vanilla extract and vinegar to the water.
  3. Add the oil to the bowl of dry ingredients, followed by the water mixture. Stir until the chocolate cake batter is mostly smooth. Make sure no dry flour remains on the bottom of the bowl.
  4. Pour the cake batter into an 8x8" or 9x9" baking dish. Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake the cake for 35 minutes.
Chocolate Icing
  1. If using the chocolate icing, let the cake cool for at least an hour after baking before adding the icing.
  2. Wait until the cake is cool, then prepare the icing. Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract to a bowl. Begin adding water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it forms a thick but pourable icing (about 3 Tbsp total). If you let the icing sit, it may begin to dry, but you can add a splash more water to make it moist again.
  3. Pour the icing over the cooled cake and spread until the cake is evenly covered. Slice the cake into 9 pieces and serve.

Notes

  • *Use any neutral cooking oil of your choice, like canola, vegetable, grapeseed, safflower, corn, or avocado oil.
  • **Any light vinegar will work, like white vinegar, rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1slice Calories 319.77kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 59.44g (20%) Protein 3.09g (6%) Fat 9.07g (14%) Sodium 272.58mg (11%) Fiber 2.71g (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 91 slice each

Amount Per Serving

Calories 31977

% Daily Value*

Serving 1slice
Calories 319.77kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 59.44g 20%
Protein 3.09g 6%
Fat 9.07g 14%
Sodium 272.58mg 11%
Fiber 2.71g 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.