Wacky Chocolate Cake

Sunday 30 May 2010



When I was about 14 years old I had a best best friend called Linda Wilson. She lived right across the back yard from me and was practically an only child.



She did have a younger brother, but she had her own room and didn't have to share any of her stuff with a younger sister like I did . . . She had her very own record player and a little record holder jammed to the brim with all the latest 45 records.



We spent many a Friday evening in her room, dancing and giggling and talking about boys and what we would do when, and if we ever managed to nab one!



Often her mom would bake us a special cake to enjoy called a Wacky Cake. It was a chocolate cake that was mixed and baked all in the same pan. She covered it with a hot chocolate icing that was something like a custard . . .

It was lovely eaten warm . . . with that chocolate ooze soaking into the warm cake . . . all gooey and scrummy.



Unfortunaely I lost the recipe for the topping a long time ago . . . sigh . . . these days I have to make do with buttercream.

Not a hardship, but still . . . I do think of it from time to time and remember how very good it was . . .



We were having the missionaries over for tea and I thought I would take advantage and bake a chocolate cake for them. (Todd had something else) I don't mind baking a chocolate cake when someone is here to share it with me. In fact I rather enjoy it.



Wacky Chocolate Cake . . . baked with no eggs or butter . . . spect that's why it's called Wacky Cake! Sure there are better chocolate cakes . . . but there's only one Wacky Cake, and in a pinch it does just fine!




*Wacky Chocolate Cake*
Makes one 8 inch square cake
Printable Recipe

Wacky because there's no eggs in it and it's mixed right in the pan. Don't let the title fool you though . . . there's nothing too wacky about this deliciously moist and chocolatey cake . . . there's only delicious.

210g plain flour (1 1/2 cups)
200g caster sugar (1 cup)
3 TBS cocoa powder (not chocolate drink mix)
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp good vanilla
1 tsp vinegar
5 TBS vegetable oil
250ml cold water (1 cup)

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ Gas mark 4.

Sift the flour and cocoa right into an 8 inch square baking pan. Stir in teh sugar, soda and salt, mixing it together well. Make three wells in the mixture. Into one put the vinegar, Into another put the vanilla. Into the third put the oil. Pour the water over top of all and mix together well with a fork, making sure you get into the corners and everything is evenly moistened and mixed together. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack in the pan.

Ice as preferred.

Here is an optional topping, which my friends mother always used to make to serve on this cake.  I had been looking for the recipe for it for years and couldn't find it.  My friend Jan found it and shared it with me today.  It will print out at the bottom of the above recipe. It's absolutely delicious. Just like chocolate pudding!

*Crazy cake Topping*
1 Cup Sugar 
dash if salt, 
3 TBS of cornflour ( corn starch) 
2 TBS of unsweetened cocoa, 
4 TBS. butter, 
1 tsp. Vanilla  
1 Cup boiling water. 

Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan, Bring to boil and cook till thickened. Pour over hot Crazy/ Wacky Cake can eat while still warm or just let cool.

20 comments

  1. I've seen this recipe titled "vegan chocolate cake", so it's also good to make if you have any vegan friends coming over!

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  2. Lovely memories Marie- I often think of the many hours spent with my childhood best friend. My kids would love this cake
    xoxo Pattie

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  3. Yummy yummy. I have heard of this cake but never tasted it. It looks delicious and so light and fluffy considering its eggless and butterless. One to try for sure

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  4. Another perfect creation. Thism one is earmarked as apossibilty for my upcoming birthday. Your recipes have been quite popular on our table.

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  5. Chocolate cake is always a winner! I love the ease of this recipe...delicious! Happy Weekend, dear friend--LOVE YA :o) ((BIG HUGS))

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  6. What you really need is to be in touch with Linda Wilson! Her mum might still be around and recall that original topping!

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  7. Another great name for a recipe - I just makes me want to bake it ;0)

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  8. Wacky cake is actually one of my very favourite cakes. I loooooove it!

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  9. I agree with Angie, you need to hunt - sorry, find Linda Wilson and see if she has the recipe for that lovely custardy topping.... sounds lovely! I love reading about your childhood memories, I don't have that many food memories from friends, it was the 70's and they were all dabbling in convenience food...blurgh, thankfully my Mam was a cook from scratch lady so have lots of memories there instead!

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  10. Love the name and the cake looks sinfully decadent! Reposting it to my chocolate blog today! Credits and links back to you of course!

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  11. Hi Marie, I´ve just find your page and I´m really happy with it, It´s fantastic, congratulations.

    Excuse my bad english, there is a lot of time I don´t write it, 20 years is too much time.

    Tankyou for this marvellous work.

    Kisses from Spain.
    Hilda

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  12. I'd love to make it. The white icing looks unbelievable. May I ask what type it is. Boiled perhaps?

    Thanks
    joseph

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  13. Joseph, that is just a vanilla buttercream icing. 2 TBS softened butter, about 2 cups sifted icing sugar and a touch of milk and vanilla!

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  14. I am making this cake right now! So easy and no hassle whatsoever. Can't wait to taste it! MMMM I tasted some batter already and it was yummy!

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  15. Hi there,
    My mum made this and we called it Crazy Chocolate cake :) Here's the oozy chocolate topping recipe that we make with it (I use an olive oil margarine to keep it "Crazy"):
    1 cup sugar
    1/4 cup cocoa
    3 tbsp cornflour
    3 tbsp butter
    1 cup hot water

    Cook over medium heat in saucepan until thick, stirring constantly. Pour
    over the top of warm cake.

    I hope this is something like what you remember :)

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  16. That is exactly what I remember Claire! Thanks so much! Will be giving this a go soon!!

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  17. This truly is one of the very best chocolate cakes I’ve ever made or eaten. It’s hard to convince people to try it… but it’s fabulous. I tend to mix the batter in a separate bowl just because it seems easier for me to incorporate everything evenly. Love, Love, Love this recipe and no one will ever guess that there’s no dairy or eggs in it. The icing that I use is melted chocolate chips (about 3/4 c) with a tablespoon of coconut oil mixed in and drizzled over the top. You must try it.

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    Replies
    1. I often mix it separately in a bowl as well Sally. I think this is my favorite of all the chocolate cakes. Your icing sounds really nice! Thank you!

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  18. This looks amazing but can you say what kind of vinegar you use please?

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