Home ยป Inspiring Recipes ยป Chocolate Depression Cake – No Eggs, Milk or Butter

Chocolate Depression Cake – No Eggs, Milk or Butter

โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ

This vintage chocolate depression cake recipe (wacky cake recipe) is quick and easy to make with simple ingredients in one bowl! It has no butter, no milk, no eggs.

Chocolate Depression Era Cake on White Plate - made without eggs, milk or butter

Chocolate Depression Cake – No Eggs, Milk or Butter

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time:
30 Minutes
Total Time:
40 Minutes
Servings:
1 Cake

Chocolate CAKE that is gluten-free and dairy-free! Yes, Ma’am! But you had me at chocolate!! I am sure you have noticed that it is entirely difficult to find a delicious chocolate cake that meets many restrictive diet checkpoints.

There aren’t many that fill the bill. Until NOW. This recipe contains no eggs, milk, or butter. A completely dairy-free cake and (uh em) gluten-free that is moist. I can guarantee that this recipe will meet all your criteria

  • Taste
  • Texture
  • Appearance
  • “MOM” Factor – Not a true rating, but I approve it.

This cake pairs well with our favorite Cookies and Cream Frosting.

Ingredients Needed

  • 1 ยฝ cups gluten-free baking flour or all-purpose flour (I have made with both)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Chocolate frosting for topping (optional)

What is a Depression Cake?

This cake was born out of an era when supplies were limited (the great depression). Many wanted good-tasting desserts, but without eggs, milk, and butter, how was that going to happen?

The women of the 1930s figured it out. And can you believe this they also drank their coffee black? They learned to do without the luxury of cream and sugar. It is also known as “Wacky Cake”. Because this cake gets its name from the alternate, mixing technique and atypical ingredients like vinegar.

Dry Ingredients depression cake gluten free in large white mixing bowl

About the Ingredients

Oil instead of butter

The substitution of oil for butter provides the balance this cake needs. Butter in any cake or cookie recipe functions to keep the cake soft and tender by coating the flour in fat.

Vinegar and baking soda

Just like the classic “volcano” science experiment, we know that the combination of vinegar and baking soda will cause a BIG rise. In this chocolate depression cake, we are doing away with eggs and causing a slight rise using a small amount of vinegar in combination with baking soda.

The results are light and fluffy cake. 

How to Make This Chocolate Cake

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare an 11×7 glass baking dish by greasing it with nonstick cooking spray.

STEP TWO: In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Making sure it is combined well.

STEP THREE: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.

STEP FOUR: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

STEP FIVE: Top with chocolate frosting when the cake has cooled completely. And then serve.

cut piece of chocolate cake on white plate. Delicious depression cake

Chocolate Depression Cake Printable Recipe

Did You Enjoy Making This Recipe?ย Please rate this recipe with five yellow stars for recipe rating on Inpspiring Savings or leave a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with our recipes.

Yield: 1 Cake

Chocolate Depression Cake Recipe - No Eggs, Milk or Butter (Gluten Free)

depression chocolate cake on white plate

This vintage depression cake recipe (wacky cake recipe) is quick and easy to make with simple ingredients in one bowl! It has no butter, no milk, no eggs.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ยฝ cups gluten-free baking flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Chocolate frosting for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare an 11x7
    baking dish by greasing with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free
    flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Make a well in the center of the dry
    ingredients. Pour in the water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla extract. Whisk to
    combine.
  4. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish
    and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the
    cake comes out clean.
  5. Top with chocolate frosting when the cake has
    cooled completely.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 179Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 200mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

If you made this Chocolate Depression Cake recipe, we would love to hear all about it. We get so excited when we learn that you have chosen to make one of our recipes featured on Inspiring Savings. Please leave us a comment.

Other Gluten-Free Recipes

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars Recipe – Gluten Free

Gluten-Free Homemade Belgian Waffles Recipe

Cranberry Almond Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies Recipe – Gluten Free

This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content.ย Disclosure Policy

Similar Posts

4 Comments

  1. May 22, 2022 this recipe is awesome, so so moist, delish, thank you, can i leave out the choco coco to make a white cake

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *