• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Dessert
  • Main Dish
  • Breakfast
  • Appetizers/Snacks
  • Drinks
  • Salad
  • Bread

Dance Around the Kitchen

  • Recipes By Course
  • Recipes By Ingredient
  • Popular Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Recipes By Course
  • Recipes By Ingredient
  • Popular Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    June 23, 2021

    Wacky Cake

    • Share
    • Tweet

    Wacky cake is a moist chocolate cake made in one bowl without eggs or butter. Top with store-bought or homemade chocolate frosting for the ultimate easy dessert!

    Jump to Recipe
    A piece of wacky cake on a white plate with sprinkles.

    I'm a sucker for a good, moist chocolate cake. My Matilda Chocolate Cake will always and forever be my go-to chocolate cake recipe - super moist and has the most gorgeous glossy chocolate frosting. But if I'm being real, I don't always have time for a layer cake with a fancy frosting.

    I can perfectly remember the first time I tried this cake. My friends and I had set up a surprise party for our sweet friend Nikole - we had streamers, her favorite song on, gifts wrapped, and of course, her favorite cake sitting on the counter. She was SO surprised and this cake always reminds me of "the good ol days" with the best of friends - when life was simple, we had few responsibilities and all the time in the world!

    Well, nowadays, life isn't as simple. Spare time seems impossible to find. Responsibilities include kids, spouses and "big-kid jobs." But luckily, some things never change. This simple cake is still just as delicious (and EASY) and my best friends are still there, just a text or phone call away!

    Wacky cake in the pan with sprinkles on top.

    Why is it called Wacky Cake?

    This cake is unlike other cakes, due to the fact that it has no eggs, butter or milk in the batter. Wacky, right?! Wacky cake is said to have been created during World War II, when eggs and dairy were rationed and harder to come by!! Grab a slice of this cake and you'd never know it lacked such "staple" ingredients!

    chocolate frosting spread on top of chocolate cake
    a slice of chocolate cake on a white plate and a golden fork

    How to make a Wacky Cake

    As I've mentioned, Wacky Cake is truly easy to make. First, you'll mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and then stir in the wet ingredients. Though I like to mix it in a bowl (to keep my cake pan more clean-looking), you can actually mix it right in the baking pan to save on dishes. Cool, huh?!

    Once the cake is baked, you'll let it cool before frosting. And your options here are really endless. Try my glossy frosting (that I always use on my Matilda Cake), a simple Chocolate Ganache Frosting or even an easy Vanilla Buttercream! And if you're really pressed for time, open a tub of pre-made chocolate frosting - nobody will ever know! 😉

    dry ingredients dumped into a glass bowl
    dry ingredients whisked together in a glass bowl
    wet ingredients poured into the dry ingredients
    wet and dry ingredients whisked together in a glass bowl
    cake batter being poured into a square glass pan
    chocolate cake batter ready to go into the oven

    Why add coffee to a chocolate cake?

    When you add a hot liquid to cocoa powder, it helps it “bloom,” meaning it enhances the flavor of the chocolate. You can “bloom” the chocolate with any hot liquid (milk, water, coffee, etc). However, I always choose coffee for my chocolate cake.

    Why do I use coffee? Because coffee actually brings out even more chocolate flavor. Are you concerned you’ll taste the coffee? You won’t! I know it seems odd, but really it just helps deepen the flavor of the chocolate!

    A bite of chocolate wacky cake on a fork.

    Connect with Dance Around the Kitchen!

    Follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook so you never miss a recipe!! And as always, thank you for following along with my blog, making my recipes, liking and sharing on social media and any other way you support Dance Around the Kitchen!  -Kelsey

    Wacky Cake slice on a white plate

    Wacky Cake

    kelsey
    Wacky cake is a moist chocolate cake made in one bowl without eggs or butter. Top with chocolate frosting for the ultimate easy dessert!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep.
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Course Dessert
    Servings 16

    Ingredients
      

    Cake

    • 1 ½ c flour
    • 1 c sugar
    • ¼ c cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ c oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 tablespoon vinegar
    • 1 c hot coffee or hot water

    Chocolate Frosting (or use a pre-made tub of chocolate frosting!) 🙂

    • ⅓ c salted butter
    • 3 tablespoon cocoa powder
    • 2 c powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1-2 tablespoon milk

    Instructions
     

    For the Cake

    • Grease an 8x8" pan and preheat the oven to 350°F.
    • In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
    • Add the oil, vinegar, vanilla and hot water.
    • Whisk until well-combined and pour into prepared pan.
    • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick pressed into the center of the cake comes back mostly clean. Let cool.

    For the Frosting

    • Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until smooth.
    • Add the cocoa, powdered sugar, vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk.
    • Mix until combined and smooth, adding additional milk if needed.
    • Spread over the cooled cake.
    Keyword chocolate cake, wacky cake
    Tried this recipe?Follow me at @dancearoundthekitchen.kelsey and let me know how you liked it!

    More Dessert

    • Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares
    • Buttermilk Cookies
    • Chocolate Kiss Cookies
    • Almond Brownies
    • Share
    • Tweet
    about kelsey

    About Kelsey

    Combining my love for food and family is a pretty easy calculation. Almost all family gatherings include food… After all, a party without cake is just a meeting right? Read more...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Kelsey! I am a wife, mother and BFFs with my KitchenAid mixer, happy to bring you easy meals and decadent desserts! Welcome to my blog!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Crack Corn Dip
    • Gyro Dip
    • Walking Taco Casserole
    • Peanut Butter Dipped Oreos

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    SEEN ON

    as seen on promo graphic

    SEEN ON

    as seen on promo graphic

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Dance Around the Kitchen