Vanilla Crazy Cake Original Recipe (a.k.a. Wacky Cake) is a Depression Era cake that has no eggs, no milk, no butter and no bowls! One of the easiest, budget friendly vanilla cakes you can make! You won’t believe how delicious this cake is!
A Depression Era Cake
You’ll be so surprised how moist this cake is without eggs, milk and butter! I adapted this awesome vanilla cake back in 2013, from the Original Chocolate Crazy Cake. The original chocolate cake was created during the Great Depression, when eggs, milk and butter were very hard to come by. People were pretty resourceful during those hard times. It took some creativity and baking science to create a cake without eggs or butter – you don’t even need a bowl or mixer. Genius! And because this cake is egg and dairy free, it’s a great recipe for people with egg and dairy allergies.
Original Date For Recipe March 12, 2013 – Updated March, 7, 2023.
TIPS FOR MAKING CRAZY CAKE
- If you don’t want to mix this in the baking dish, you can combine all the ingredients in a bowl, then pour the batter in to a greased 8-inch square baking dish.
- Crazy Cake can be made with Gluten Free mixes! Many people have commented they have made this cake with Gluten Free mixes, and it’s wonderful.
- This can also be made into cupcakes!
- More cake flavors have been added since this post! Check out the whole list HERE! There are mug cake versions too!
- For a great dairy-free buttercream frosting, The Minimalist Baker has a great vegan recipe!
- For a fantastic quick and easy Buttercream Frosting, check out a great one from Sprinkles Cupcakes, a favorite go-to.
My sister made these adorable Vanilla Crazy Cake Cupcakes for her son’s class. Crazy Cake is a great go-to recipe for little ones with egg, milk and dairy allergies.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
It’s called Crazy Cake (aka, Wacky Cake, Depression Cake) because it doesn’t need any eggs, milk or butter, mixers or bowls, which is kinda crazy for cake making!
Vinegar is part of the leavening process! The vinegar reacts with the baking soda, which is what makes the cake rise. You don’t taste a hint of the vinegar in the finished cake!
Yes! Just use a 9×13 baking pan.
The cake’s moistness comes from the oil, and it becomes so fluffy because of the chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR FULL RECIPE)
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- baking soda
- salt
- white vinegar
- pure vanilla extract
- canola oil
- water
- plus your favorite frosting or dusting of powdered sugar
How To Make Crazy Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. then spray an 8″ square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Mix the first 4 dry ingredients in a greased 8″ square baking pan. 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 canola oil in the third larger depression. Pour water over all. Mix well until smooth.
NOTE – For a neater cake pan, you can mix the batter in a bowl, then pour it into a prepared baking pan.
When ready, place in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 35 minutes. Check with toothpick to make sure it comes out clean. Cool. When the cake is completely cooled, top with your favorite frosting, or simply dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy!
Note: Because oven baking times will vary, be sure to check your cake to make sure you do not over bake.
CRAVING MORE CRAZY CAKE RECIPES?
If you enjoy this Vanilla Crazy Cake, be sure to try my New Strawberry Crazy Cake, made with fresh strawberries!
Vanilla Crazy Cake (No Eggs, No Milk, No Butter!)
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract *see recipe notes below
- 5 Tablespoons canola oil or vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Mix first 4 dry ingredients in the prepared pan (flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.)
- Make 3 depressions in the dry ingredients – two small, one larger.
- Pour vinegar in one of the smaller depressions. Pour the vanilla extract in the other smaller depression and the canola oil in the third, larger depression.
- Pour water over all. Mix well until smooth.
- Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 35 minutes. Check with toothpick to make sure it comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting (if using). You can also just sprinkle with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Notes
- Adding a 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract in place of vanilla extract is a wonderful addition. Use 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla plus 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.
- This cake is wonderful with a simple dusting of powdered sugar, or top with your favorite frosting.
- The cake does not need to be kept refrigerated if it’s not frosted. Cover and it will last 3 days. If it is frosted, it will need to be kept refrigerated. Cover and refrigerate for up to 6 days.
- If you don’t want to mix this in the baking dish, you can combine all the ingredients in a bowl, then pour the batter in to a greased 8-inch square baking dish.
- You can sub canola oil with vegetable oil.
- You can sub white vinegar with apple cider vinegar.
- Use the batter to make Crazy Cake Cup Cakes!
- Double the recipe using a 9×13 baking dish or make a Two-Layer Crazy Cake.
Anonymous
Made the cake. It's a little dense, but not a bad flavor. Frosted with canned whipped frosting.
Anonymous
Seems very easy. Cake is in the oven. My fingers are crossed. I will post with the outcome.
Anonymous
My husband's birthdayis today. I'm home with a sick baby and a trip to the store isn't possible. We have no cake mix, no eggs, no butter. I just remembered sharing this recipe to my Facebook awhile back, and it's totally saved the day! When he gets home from work, we can eat a cake from scratch, and he will think mothers really ARE magic! Thank you!
wendy
Just found your website. It looks great. I've made the chocolate wacky cake for 40 years now. That is the one cake the people at my work request as I make with peanut butter icing. But I'm so excited to try the other flavors.
Anonymous
I usually substitute applesauce for the oil in my cakes to make them less fattening. Has anyone tried doing this with crazy cake? Do you think out would work?
Anonymous
I always use applesauce in place of oil to make my cakesless fattening. Has anyone tried doing that with this crazy cake?
Grower Jenn
Hi – I haven't read all the comments, but enough to convince me to try this for potluck. I'm thinking of using coconut oil, and adding coconut extract, lime powder and coconut flakes. I'll let you know how it turns out. Of course, a fluffy, cream cheese and coconut frosting.
Grower Jenn
the cake had great flavor — I followed the recipe adding only 1 t coconut extract, 1 T lime powder, and 2 T coconut milk powder, and using melted coconut oil for the oil. Next time I will substitute the milk powder for an equal amount of flour. It is a very heavy cake. It was very good.
Anonymous
Hi, thanks so much for this! Have you ever coloured the mixture? I wish to do a rainbow cake and just came across this recipe, which I have to say sounds awesome 🙂
Thanks!
Anonymous
i just want to say that this cake is the best! i have been using it for four years now for my kids b-day cakes. we sub some things out for allergies, but stay very true to recipe.
i just started a blog and am linking this recipe to my group! Hopefully you don't mind the extra traffic! ;O)
chiara
sewoldschool.com
Edie
Definitely going to try this… hopefully tomorrow. Thanks
Saida Graves
I made the vanilla wacky cake into cupcakes and they came out awesome! I might add I also used light soymilk instead of water in the recipe and I had to remove them from baking with 17 minutes remaining because they were done! So with cupcakes adjust time or watch them.
Anonymous
hey, I've had this recipe for over 40years, but everything is dumped in the dry pan. No grease in pan. Have never had the cake stick. Very moist cake. Very yummy. Thanks for variations. Will have to try all of them. Will try them all in ungreased pans and let you know how they turn out.
bambi Kitten
Hi, these recipes are beyond delicious and I was wondering if you had a recipe for peanut butter wacky cake?
Molly
I grew up calling it Atomic Bomb Cake, weird name but that's what the recipe book called it!
mora
Hi what flour do u use ? It says flour 5hen all purchase flour.what do I us3 please
Anonymous
Why not just pour the wet into the dry and start mixing? Why is it important to make the 3 wells for the liquid ingredients?
Anonymous
I just dump the liquids in.
Zoie C
These cakes look amazing, and interesting. I have an overabundance of apples this year, and would like to try making an apple cake. Any suggestions on how to make that work?
Anonymous
I dont hae white vinegar, can apple cider vinegar work?
marysweetlittlebluebird
Yes!
anna thomas
I'm from Britain is multi purpose flour the same as self rising?
marysweetlittlebluebird
Hi Anna, No, just regular flour – no self rising. Hope you love the cake…I just made one last night! Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Anonymous
If I make cake pops will they fall apart?
marysweetlittlebluebird
I've made cake pops with the Chocolate Crazy Cake recipe – a few fell apart – you can see them here: https://sweetlittlebluebird.com/2011/12/reindeer-crazy-cake-pops.html
TomKatz Vapor
I never make the indentations. just mix all the dry ingredients, then dump in the wet ingredients and mix. one note about this however…. dont dump in your wet ingredients then walk away to get the phone or something and leave it for a while. the rise happens with the chemical reaction between the baking soda and the vinegar. if you wait to mix and bake it… it may not rise.
Anonymous
Hi, I made the vanilla version with the addition of coconut extract, and just made a standard icing glaze. What a hit with the hubby! I think next time I would like to make a lemon version. So easy to make, and super moist! Thank you for the great recipe!
Ashley
thanks for these. We make wacky (chocolate) cake occasionally and tonight I measured out the flour and sugar into a pan and couldn't find cocoa (maybe I used it all?) So, to the internet I went for a variation. These are perfect! my spice cake is in the oven right now. The batter tasted great 😀
Sandra Perri
Depression cake is our family favorite recipe since we discovered my nephew is allergic to eggs and nuts! Now my sister is allergic to gluten, so I will try your spicy cake with a twist, add carrots! She requested this for her birthday! It's so great to find a recipe that everyone can eat with enjoyment! The first time my nephew ate the chocolate cake was a day to remember! His face said it all! I posted your recipe to my blog/post: "Bake me happy", http://www.wakeupandsmellthepetunias.blogspot.com
SUZIE YEE
Can't wait to try these…Please mention.
What flour is used in vagen vanilla cake?
Thank you;)