- I tried a chocolate-cake recipe with no eggs or dairy that dates back to the Great Depression.
- Known as “Depression cake,” the penny-pinching recipe is useful now due to the high price of eggs.
- I didn’t miss the eggs or dairy at all and would definitely make Depression cake again.
During the Great Depression, ingredients like eggs and butter were expensive and scarce.
Amid the shortages and economic turmoil, bakers got creative with a recipe known as “Depression cake” or “wacky cake,” a chocolate cake made without eggs or dairy products.
With egg prices soaring due to the ongoing bird flu epidemic, it seemed like the perfect time to try Depression cake.
Similar versions of the recipe have been circulating for decades. I used one posted by food photographer and recipe developer Mark Beahm on Simply Recipes.
Not all vintage recipes hold up, but I’m pleased to report that this one does. I found Depression cake to be delicious, affordable, and simple to make. Take a look.
