Ohiofarmgirl's Adventures in The Good Land is largely a fish out of water tale about how I eventually found my footing on a small farm in an Amish town. We are a mostly organic, somewhat self sufficient, sustainable farm in Ohio. There's action and adventure and I'll always tell you the truth about farming.


Friday, July 1, 2011

Make Cake!

Does anyone have a potluck or picnic this holiday weekend? Don't know what to bring?  Put down that boxed cake mix and check this out - the world's easiest cake ever. Behold, cake:


This cake is a-maz-ing. Seriously - chocolaty, rich, and moist. And easy-peasy. Before I get to the secret ingredient I need to give a shout out to my pal B who shared this recipe. She said its an old family favorite and is their official birthday cake. This kind of easy recipe reminds me of what the older ladies in our church bring as part of a "carry in supper" - which is kinda like a potluck after the church service. This cake is delish.


And you'll never guess the secret ingredient! Ready? Its mayo. You heard me - this is a Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. Are you freaked out? Did you say "ick?" No way! Mayo is just eggs and oil and stuff - what you'd put in a cake anyway. But for heavens sakes use real mayo - and not Miracle Whip or low-fat, no-fat, whatever fakey stuff is next to the real mayo on the shelf. Or better yet - make your own!

Here are the super easy, super fast directions as told by B herself:

3 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 Tbsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups mayo
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups cold water
2 tsp vanilla

1. Mix dry
2. Mix sugar/mayo
3. Mix liquid
4. Combine

Bake at 350* for 40 minutes until done (makes 9x13). It's a VERY moist cake, a toothpick will come out clean.

And really its that easy. Use a big bowl and mix your dry ingredients...


...then use a smaller bowl to mix the sugar and mayo. Add water, then combine and pour into a pan (I greased mine). My oven is a little fast so I started checking about 35 minutes and that was perfect.


And there you have it. I swear you will never buy another box of chocolate mix once you try this cake. Its simple and foolproof.

I used a simple buttercream frosting but some folks don't even think it needs frosting. But hey - its cake and so why not?

And yes. I'm eating this for breakfast right now.

So what are you waiting for? Run right out and grab the mayo - cakey goodness is waiting!

10 comments:

Robin said...

The cake looks yummy! The mayo definitely makes the cake good and moist. I also have a recipe for sour cream chocolate cake...boy is that good!

Now have that second piece of cake!!

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Hi Robin! Yep - way ahead of you... cake does have all the food groups, you know.
;-)

Gingerbreadshouse7 said...

Ohiofarmgirl, You and Robin come up with the darnest excuses for me to make this cake...I'm so weak! :o)

Weekend Cowgirl said...

I have had a cake with mayo before and it really was the most moist cake ever! Looks yummy!

Anonymous said...

You make me blush!

I'm glad you like it.

I warned you that it was totally addictive while being totally easy to make.

Seriously our favorite and the easiest cake ever. Frosting does make the cake but you don't HAVE to have the frosting.

Oh, and thanks for adding the grease the pan instructions. It's one of those assumed instructions. Kind of like the baking instructions when my Mom sent me this recipe. I had to call her and ask her how hot to make the oven and how long to bake it. Her answer was, "cook everything at 350 unless I tell you otherwise and cook it until it's done." You know it's a family thing with instructions like that.

Summersweet Farm said...

Oh yeah! Cook's Illustrated did a piece on chocolate mayonnaise cake before - they said it dated back to the food shortages of WWII. It's called "Emergency Chocolate Cake" and it's so delicious I wrote it down and stored it in my "good" files!

Anonymous said...

I grew up with this cake. As a little MT girl I thought all chocolate cakes were mayo cakes. That was 60 years ago, so this cake has been around for a long time. It only gets better. Yum

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Hey B (as anon here)!!! THANKS for this great recipe!

SSF - thats what I thought! I was going to look up the history for it... I figured it was either a contest or because of rationing.

Hi Anon - a lot of folks seem to have great memories of this. Its delish!

Jo Griffith said...

This recipe gets 5 stars! Easy and so so good. My guys have requested it in their lunches and I keep "evening" the edges of it (because having a bunch of little pieces is less calories than one big piece, right?). Topped it with a vanilla buttercream frosting. This recipe is da bomb!

Thanks much for this winner!

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Jo - Isnt it amazing? And its consistently that good! I like to keep an "even edge" also - ha! I'll have to try a vanilla frosting - glad you love it!

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