Nostalgic for Crazy Cake

The phrase "piece of cake" surely fits this long time family favorite we called Crazy Cake.  It's so simple and most of the ingredients are what you may have in your pantry already.  There are no eggs, no dairy, and my dear (and much missed) Grandma Bahls told me one time as she was mixing this up, that this was a cake that many women sent overseas to Soldiers fighting at war.  It was perfect because not only being delicious, it stayed moist, and the ingredients traveled well during the long mail flight or boat trip over to our boys.

I was talking about this cake with one of the lieutenants in our office today.  It's tried and true and pretty much fail proof.  You mix it all in one pan, bake for a short time and all you need is a tub of Cool Whip and you've got yourself a delicious treat!

Crazy Cake

Makes one 9"x13" Cake and makes 12 servings

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda (be sure this is not too old)
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp salt

2 Tbls. white vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil (I like canola)
2 tsp. vanilla extract (growing up we always used imitation, but use real)
2 cups water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a 9"x13" pan add all of the dry ingredients and mix well with a fork.

Add to the dry mixture the oil, vanilla extract and white vinegar, and then pour the water over all and mix well.  DO NOT BEAT.  The batter will start to get slightly foamy.  Be sure to mix in all of the edges and incorporate all of the dry ingredients.  There will be lumps, but don't worry as these will bake out.

Slip pan into the hot oven and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Let cake cool thoroughly and cut and serve with whipped topping and enjoy!


Smelling this cake bake really brings back a lot of good memories.  We were always dessert people, enjoying cake or cookies or pudding or whatnot, and this cake really is comfort food to me.

I plan on taking this cake in to work along with some whipped topping and a recipe card to share.