Monday, July 30, 2012

Cook Like It's 1945: Wacky Cake

America's Test Kitchen has embarked on a ten week journey of Cooking Through The Decades where they are bringing retro recipes back to life.

This week was a visit to 1945 with a recipe for Wacky Cake, a really interesting recipe for chocolate cake that contains no butter or eggs due to the strict rationing in the 1940s. It was really moist and delicious. And I especially love that it's made in the pan in which it gets baked (no extra dishes to wash!)

Wacky Cake (from America's Test Kitchen)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup natural cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
confectioners sugar

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 8-inch-square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt together in pan. Make 1 large and 2 small craters in dry ingredients. Add oil to large crater and vinegar and vanilla separately to remaining small craters. Pour water into pan, and mix until just a few streaks of flour remain. Immediately put pan into oven.

Bake until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 30 minutes. Cool in pan, then dust with confectioners sugar.

this recipe is also shared at some of my favorite food blog hops




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18 comments:

  1. This is very neat! I hadn't really ever thought about cooking back when they were on rations. I think you just inspired some research! Thanks for linking up to Foodie Friday!

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  2. This looks fantastic which is weird because it was only invented to save on ingredients. I'd love to try a slice of this, it just sounds from your description simply amazing.

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  3. Very cool to see how things were done 'back in the day'! And only one pan to wash?? I'm in!

    I'd love to invite you to link your recipe to my new link party ~ Mom's Test Meal Mondays!

    Have a great Monday!

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  4. Wacky cake is a staple in my husband's family. It is made for every birthday, every holiday. It is cool to see other people sharing the recipe.

    *Erin

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  5. This sounds great. i can't wait to try it. I might even have all of the ingredients right now! thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. I made this cake for A copycat challenge with a link back to you.

      http://entirelyemily.blogspot.com/2012/07/wacky-cake-copy-cat.html

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  6. I love America's Test Kitchen. :) Thanks for sharing this.

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  7. oh my scrumptious!!! need to make this immediately!
    xo TJ

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  8. What a great looking cake!
    I would never have thought that a cake with no eggs could be that moist. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe

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  9. I totally remember my mom making this cake!!! Too funny. It was good, too.

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  10. I literally saw "no butter or eggs" and went "what?!" I have to try this cake out. It looks delicious!

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  11. I wish this was sitting in front of me right now. Yum!

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  12. wow - i'm definitely going to try this! I'm glad you gave it a good review! :)

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  13. YUM! I want a bite. Sounds delish!

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  14. I love how simple this is. Literally a one pan cake!

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  15. Thank you for participating in Show Your Stuff Blog Hop, You are invited to come back:
    http://juliejewels1.blogspot.com/2012/08/show-your-stuff-35.html

    ReplyDelete

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