Skip to Content

EASY ONE PAN CHOCOLATE CRAZY CAKE

This easy chocolate crazy cake is made in one-pan, and honestly, it is the best chocolate cake I have ever had. Did I mention that my 10 year old daughter makes this cake all by herself.

crazy-chocolate-cake-pinterest

(Printable version of this EASY ONE-PAN CHOCOLATE CRAZY CAKE at the bottom of the post)

DEPRESSION CAKE

Have you heard of crazy cake? Or maybe a wacky cake as I knew it as? How about depression cake? (it’s been found to be dated back to the Great Depression… well, whether you have heard of it before or not, you will want to make it.

I can’t forget to tell you that it is EGG FREE and  DAIRY FREE too.

First, you will want to place all the dry ingredients in the greased pan.

crazy-cake-in-pan

Then you just mix the ingredients. (Ok, you could do this in a bowl, but why dirty another container!)

wacky-cake-in-pan

Then you dig 3 holes, 2 small, 1 large. You put the vinegar in one small hole, the vanilla in another small hole and the oil in the bigger hole. (It kinda looks like a face!)

one-pan-cake

Next, pour the water over it all.

one-pan-crazy-cake-egg-free

And then you mix until the flour mixture is all wet.

dairy-free-egg-free-cake

Now you put it in the over.

one-pan-chocolate-cake

35 minutes later you take it out.

easy-crazy-cake-recipe

Top with your favorite icing.

(Since I want to keep the cake dairy free and egg free, I just melt 1/2 a cup of dairy-free chocolate chips and add it to 3/4 cup of coconut cream and put it in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes while the cake is baking, then I put it in the fridge till the cake cools down a little – then I pour it on the cake and put the cake back in the fridge till we are ready to eat).

crazy-cake-icing

Now it is ready to eat….

dairy-free-egg-free-cake-recipe

A pan does not last long in our house – it is the best chocolate cake ever!

chocolate-crazy-cake-recipe

I often cut the cake into pieces and put on a pan. Then I freeze them like this.

best-chocolate-cake-for-kids

Once they are frozen I wrap them and they are ready for school lunches – and the best part – it is not sitting on the counter tempting me all day.

crazy-cake-for-school-lunches-allergies

Oh, man are they ever delicious.

What are you waiting for? Try making them yourself – or if you have children, let them bake this easy chocolate cake recipe.

one-pan-chocolate-crazy-cake

 

EASY ONE PAN CHOCOLATE CRAZY CAKE

EASY ONE PAN CHOCOLATE CRAZY CAKE

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

This crazy cake is the most delicious, easy to make cake all made in one pan. It uses regular everyday ingredients and does not have any dairy or eggs making it perfect for those with allergies. This recipe is sometimes called Depression Cake because it was made during the Great Depression.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar (I sometimes use coconut sugar)
  • 1/3 cup cocoa
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 2 tsp vinegar
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2/3 cup oil (plus a drizzle for greasing the pan. I use olive oil)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease your 9x13" pan with a drizzle of the oil.
  3. Place dry ingredients (first 5 ingredients) in order into the pan.
  4. Mix together and flatten out a little with your spoon.
  5. Dig 3 holes (2 smaller holes and one larger hole).
  6. Place vinegar in first hole, vanilla in the second hole and oil in the third larger hole.
  7. Pour the 2 cups warm water over the whole mixture.
  8. Stir again till flour mixture disappears.
  9. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes at 350 degrees F until a toothpick comes out clean.
  10. Let cool.
  11. Add icing if desired. (directions for a dairy free icing we use can be found in the blog post)

You may also like these WACKY CAKE CUPCAKES MADE FROM SCRATCH.

easy-wacky-cake-cupcakes-made-from-scratch

How about this crock pot white hot chocolate recipe.

white-crock-pot-hot-chocolate

You can sign-up to get an email update each day. You can also connect with us on:

Recipe adapted from “wacky cake with brown sugar icing recipe – cooking with flo cookbook – 1987 edition”

Nancy Radlinger

Saturday 21st of May 2022

Thanks for putting in this recipe as Grandma had showed me how to make this when she was alive but we never did have the recipe written down - I remember this is the most moist cake I have ever had and am making it now - thanks again

Wednesday 20th of April 2022

I'm going to make this cake for a social studies project about the 1920s and 1930s! This is going to be the cake that represents the 30s and i will make a strawberry ladyfinger icebox cake to represent the 20s. Thank you for this recipe.

Paula B

Sunday 8th of August 2021

I love this cake - it is my family’s go-to recipe for birthdays. I use two cups of sugar, six tablespoons of cocoa and two of the vinegar. (I know there are a lot of variations out there, one I saw called for apple cider vinegar.) And, as for baking time I have found thirty minutes in a glass baking pan to be perfect.

Kelly

Saturday 8th of October 2016

How do you grease the pan that everything is mixed in?

Jody @ Mommy Moment

Monday 10th of October 2016

Just some oil or butter to grease the pan before you begin.

Mpho

Friday 29th of April 2016

So, I tried the One Pan Chocolate Crazy Cake. I thought I had all the ingredients, turns out I didn't have Baking powder. (NB: This part of the world we have Baking Powder and Bicarbonate of Soda, We mostly use Baking Powder for baking and not the later.) So I used the Bicarbonate of Soda and added 2 tbs of desiccated coconut and used the mixture for cupcakes instead of cake. They turned out perfect. I love them, the kids love them too.

Skip to Recipe