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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!
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. But if I’m being real, I don’t always have time for a layer cake with a fancy frosting!
Enter this incredible Chocolate Wacky Cake (aka Chocolate Depression Cake) – a one-bowl, quick and easy cake with a moist, tender crumb. You’d never believe there’s no butter, eggs or milk in the recipe!!
Ingredients Needed
- All Purpose Flour
- White Sugar
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Hot Water – You can use coffee instead, too! It gives the chocolate a deeper flavor!
- Vegetable Oil
- Vinegar
- Vanilla Extract
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 the Great Depression (or some say during World War 2), 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!
How to make Chocolate Wacky Cake
As I’ve mentioned, Wacky Cake is truly easy to make. First, be sure to preheat the oven so it’s ready when the cake batter is!
Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl and give it a stir.
Add the wet ingredients and whisk until well-combined. I like to use a whisk to make sure there aren’t any clumps.
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?!
Pour the batter into a greased square pan and bake until a toothpick pressed into the center of the cake comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Once the cake is baked, you’ll let it cool before frosting and sprinkles, if you wish! And your options here are really endless. Here’s the simple recipe I typically use!
Easy Chocolate Frosting
I love this chocolate frosting because it’s just so simple yet perfectly delicious!
You’ll stir softened butter until smooth, then add cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla and a splash of milk.
Use a spoon or an electric mixer to mix until smooth. Add additional milk if needed to create the consistency you’re after.
Spread over the cake (once the cake is cool!) and enjoy!!!
I’d also recommend trying my glossy frosting (that I always use on my Matilda Cake), a simple Chocolate Ganache Frosting or even a light, fluffy Whipped Cream Frosting! And if you’re really pressed for time, open a tub of pre-made chocolate frosting – nobody will ever know!
Frequently Asked Questions
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 really like 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!
Cover the cake with plastic wrap or cover with an airtight lid. The cake will stay good at room temperature for a couple days or in the fridge for up to 5 days (though I like it served best at room temperature!)
Yes! Store leftovers in an airtight freezer bag or in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Other Easy Chocolate Recipes
- Chocolate Cobbler
- Moist Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Chocolate Dump Cake
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Dirt Pudding Cups
- Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
Wacky Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 cup hot coffee or hot water
Chocolate Frosting (or use a pre-made tub of chocolate frosting!) 🙂
- 1/3 cup salted butter
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoons vanilla
- 1-2 tablespoon(s) milk
Instructions
For the Cake
- Grease an 8×8" 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 tbsp milk.
- Mix until combined and smooth, adding additional milk if needed.
- Spread over the cooled cake.
Nutrition
Blog Post was updated in June 2025 to include more helpful Q&A and additional photos.
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!
We love this cake! Our family uses a large chocolate bar broken into pieces and placed onto the cake immediately after baking is finished. Return to hot oven for one minute. Remove and spread melted chocolate evenly over cake. (Baker’s Note: As chocolate bars become smaller, more chocolate than one bar may be needed to cover the cake.) Be sure to serve with a glass of milk!