Vanilla Wacky Cake or you may know it as vanilla depression cake is a super simple yellow cake recipe that does not use dairy or eggs. It's topped with a simple cream cheese frosting without the butter! Take a peek at all of the other cake recipes while you're here!
While this cake sounds wacky with ingredients, it does work nicely. A vanilla cake without eggs or milk, or butter but yet is moist, rich, and loaded with flavor.
Vanilla Wacky Cake
Vanilla depression cake is a recipe that doesn't require a ton of dirty dishes to make. You could whip up the cake batter all in one bowl.
How to Make a Cake Without Eggs or Milk
You will grab a bowl and add in your flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Then mix it up and create three wells.
Add in each liquid ingredient into one of the three wells. Then work over the cake dough and pour into your greased pan.
Bake until the cake is fully cooked. Once it is cooked allow the crazy cake to cool, and then feel free to dust with powdered sugar or frost. I have even eaten it plain before.
Variations to Vanilla Wacky Cake Recipe
- Add in lemon zest and 1 teaspoon extract. This will give it a lemon cake flavor.
- Add in 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon for ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ginger, ⅛ teaspoon cloves for a spice cake version.
- Top the cake with fresh fruit for a lighter side.
- Add whipped topping on top instead of frosting.
There are so many variations you can do, so feel free to play around with what works for you.
Craving More Cake Recipes
- Apple Fritter Cake | If you are a fan of apple fritters this fritter cake gives you all the flavors in a cake form.
- Vanilla Pound Cake | Want to try and make your pound cake? Here is a fantastic recipe that is just what you are looking for.
- Strawberry Shortcake Cake | Love strawberry shortcake? Here is one of my favorite recipes, especially for spring and summer months.
- Lemon Olive Oil Cake | Look at how gorgeous this cake is. Ultra moist and full of bright and light lemon flavor.
How To Store Depression Cake
Since the cake frosting is made with a lot of cream cheese you will need to store any cake in the refrigerator.
Just cover with a lid or wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Then store in the fridge for up to a week.
You can also freeze this cake. Just allow the cake to fully cool and then freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge the night before you plan to eat, or sit on the counter for about an hour for a quick thaw.
Vanilla Wacky Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 5 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x9 inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray.
- In a large bowl, add in the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until combined.
- Make 3 wells in the dry ingredients.
- Pour the vanilla in one of the wells, oil in another, and vinegar in the remaining well.
- Pour the water over all ingredients and whisk until combined
- Pour batter into the prepared baking pan.
- Place in the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until done. Insert a toothpick in the center of the cake and if it comes out clean or with moist crumbs, it's done. Bake longer if it still has batter on it.
- Once done, allow to cool completely
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a large bowl, add in the cream cheese. Beat with a hand mixer on medium until smooth.
- Add in the vanilla and powdered sugar. Continue to beat until the powdered sugar is worked into the frosting and the frosting is creamy.
- Spread with an offset spatula onto the cooled cake.
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
Lila Wiese says
Why Canola oil? I feel like, though I'm not sure, it wasn't used in cooking during the Depression. Could another oil be used instead?
Miranda says
Yes! Vegetable oil would work well.
S says
How much flour salt etc. What are the measurements
Miranda C. says
All the measurements are listed in the recipe at the bottom of the page!
Jeanne Zappia says
I make this cake in marble form. Made it per the directions and took about a cup of the batter and added 1/8 cup of cocoa and then dropped the chocolate batter on top of the vanilla batter and swirled it to marbleize it. Baked it as directed - it was delicious. Topped it with homemade chocolate buttercream frosting. One of my new favorite recipes. Definately a keeper !
Terri says
Made an almond poppyseed version by subbing in almond extract for 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and then just use a half a teaspoon of vanilla.. put another little splash of almond extract in the frosting and put poppyseeds, about a tablespoon, in the cake …turned out amazing
shareen says
Hi can i used cake flour instead
Miranda C. says
Cake Flour will work in place of all purpose flour for this recipe 🙂
Bernadette says
I was wanting something sweet but didn’t have eggs and didn’t want to run to the store. Decided to try this cake. Made with all the ingredients as listed… sorry to say, it was not good. Tried a small piece and tossed it. Thankfully it didn’t take long to make.
Miranda C. says
So sorry you didn't like this cake! I hope you try a few other recipes from my site because there are some definite winners here!
Phil says
I used it to make minicupcakes they were great everybody loved them , very hard to keep them from eating them all..😊
Phil says
And i made a cake by doubling the recipe..with brown sugar frosting ..it was consumed quickly..😊