Wacky cake

Wacky cake, also called crazy cake, lazy cake, Joe cake, wowie cake, and WW II cake, is a spongy, cocoa-based cake. It is unique in that unlike many pastries and desserts, no eggs, butter or milk are used to make the cake batter.

Active ingredients in wacky cake include flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, vegetable oil, white vinegar, salt and vanilla extract. The eggless batter means that the structure of the cake is entirely supported by gluten, which is strengthened by the acidic vinegar and salt.

Wacky cake is typically prepared by mixing dry ingredients in a baking pan and forming three hollows in the mixture, into which oil, vinegar, and vanilla are poured. Warm water is then poured over, and the ingredients mixed and baked.

Some recipes add brewed coffee as an additional ingredient. The cake may be topped with icing or confectioner's sugar, or even served plain.

The cake is a popular delicacy at bake sales in numerous rural regions of the United States. The dessert has also been included in 4-H competitions as well as home economics textbooks after World War II.

History
Wacky cake first gained prominence during the Great Depression, when ingredients such as dairy and eggs were harder to obtain. Wacky cake later also became popular during rationing during World War II, when milk and eggs were scarce.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, wacky cake again became a popular dessert to bake during quarantine.