Here’s a classic old-fashioned war-time cake (also called Depression Cake or Wacky Cake). It was popular during WWII because it uses no eggs, butter, or milk, yet stays moist and flavorful 🍰
Old-Fashioned War-Time Cake
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder (optional, for chocolate version)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional, traditional spice)
- 1 cup water
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp vinegar (white or apple cider)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: ½ cup raisins or chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch square pan.
- Mix dry ingredients in a bowl (or directly in the pan, old-school style).
- Add wet ingredients: water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla.
- Stir until smooth. Fold in raisins or nuts if using.
- Bake 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool before slicing.
Optional Simple Icing (also war-time style)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2–3 tbsp water
Mix and drizzle over cooled cake.
Why This Cake Is Special
- 🕊️ Made during rationing when ingredients were scarce
- 🥣 Mixed in one bowl or pan
- 🕰️ Keeps well without refrigeration
If you’d like, I can share:
- A spice (non-chocolate) version
- A fruit-filled version
- Or the exact WWII-era wording of the recipe