The EASIEST vanilla cake made with no eggs, no milk and no butter! Also known as Crazy Cake, Wacky Cake and Depression Cake, this super moist cake is budget friendly, made with ingredients right from the pantry. You won't believe how delicious this cake is! No Bowls, No Mixers, Dairy Free, Vegan. 45 minute cake! The Original Recipe.
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
PLEASE NOTE - For a neater cake pan, you can mix the batter in a bowl, then pour it into a prepared baking pan.
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.