Banana Bread Crazy Cake

Name: Banana Bread Crazy Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar); 5 Tablespoons vegetable oil (or canola oil); 1/2 cup overripe bananas, mashed; 1 cup water; 1 teaspoon lemon juice for mashed bananas (optional) (*Please see Recipe Notes below)

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Banana Bread Crazy Cake (a.k.a. Wacky Cake), is an awesome Great Depression Era inspired cake made without eggs, milk or butter, you don’t even need a bowl or mixer. You are going to fall in love with this easy-to-make, budget friendly banana cake!

This is a photo of a square piece of Banana Bread Crazy Cake topped with vanilla frosting, chopped pecans and fresh sliced banana served on a white plate. — Banana Bread Crazy Cake topped with vanilla frosting, chopped toasted pecans and sliced banana.

A Great Depression Era Cake

You will be so surprised how wonderfully moist this banana cake is without eggs, milk and butter! This cake is also budget friendly and a fantastic recipe to have on hand for egg and dairy allergies. Even better, it’s a ridiculously easy to make, a favorite go-to snack cake made with ingredients right from the pantry.

Tips For Making Banana Bread Crazy Cake

You can mix everything right in the baking dish. For a neater cake, you can mix the batter in a bowl.
Make Crazy Cakes using Gluten Free mixes! Many people have commented they have made the original Chocolate Crazy Cake with Gluten Free mixes, and it’s wonderful.
Make into cupcakes!
Add 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips to the batter for an awesome Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Crazy Cake.
Check out my up-to-date list of Crazy Cake flavors HERE! There are mug cake versions too! Be sure to check back to see more cakes as I add them.
Wonderful served as is, with no frosting or topping. To take it to the next level, use your favorite vanilla, buttercream or cream cheese frosting, whipped cream or a simple dusting of powdered sugar. Chopped pecans, walnuts and sliced bananas are great additions too.
For a wonderful dairy-free frosting recipe, head over to the Minimalist Baker for an easy-to-make Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called Crazy Cake?

It’s called Crazy Cake (or Wacky Cake, Depression Cake) because it is a Depression Era cake without eggs, milk or butter.

Why do you add vinegar to the cake?

It is part of the leavening process! The vinegar reacts with the baking soda and baking powder, which is what makes the cake rise. You don’t taste the vinegar at all in the finished cake!

Can I double this recipe?

You can double this recipe, just use a 9×13 baking pan.

How can this wacky cake be moist?

The cake gets its moistness from the oil and bananas, and it becomes fluffy due to the chemical reaction between the vinegar, baking soda and baking powder.

Can you mix the batter in the baking pan?

Yes! You can mix everything right in the pan. Many people like to mix the batter in a bowl, then transfer it to the baking pan for easier mixing and a neat and clean pan.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR FULL RECIPE)

all-purpose flour
granulated sugar
baking soda
baking powder
ground cinnamon
salt
Overripe bananas, mashed
white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
pure vanilla extract
vegetable oil or canola oil
water
plus optional ingredients for toppings

How To Make Banana Bread Crazy Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Prepare an 8″ square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

First, mix the first 6 dry ingredients in your baking pan (or in a large bowl). Next, make 3 depressions in dry ingredients – two small, one larger. Pour vinegar in one of the smaller depressions, vanilla extract in the other small depression and the vegetable oil in the third larger depression. Add the mashed bananas and pour water over top, mix well until smooth.

This is a 4 photo collage showing pictures mixing the batter in a big silver mixing bowl.

Last, bake on the middle rack of the oven for 35–40 minutes. Check the center of cake with a toothpick to make sure it comes out clean. Cool.

This is a 4 photo collage showing the cake batter in the baking pan, the cake pan placed in the oven, the cake after balking and a piece of cake served on a white plate.

This cake is wonderful served plain or topped with your favorite vanilla, buttercream or cream cheese frosting, chopped pecans or walnuts and freshly sliced banana. It’s also terrific topped with a dusting of powdered sugar or a dollop of whipped cream.

This is a 4 photo collage showing the banana bread crazy cake without vanilla frosting and chopped pecans. Another photo shows the cake with vanilla frosting, chopped pecans and fresh sliced bananas. There is also a photo showing a piece of the cake on a place with a bite take from the cake.

LOOKING FOR MORE CRAZY CAKE RECIPES?

Chocolate Crazy Cake (No Eggs, Milk Or Butter)
Snickerdoodle Crazy Cake (No Eggs, Milk or Butter)
Coffee & Kahlua Crazy Cake (No Eggs, Milk or Butter)
Carrot Crazy Cake (No Eggs, Milk or Butter)
Lemon Crazy Cake (No Eggs, Milk or Butter)