It's true this recipe is completely Vegan (a Vegan diet usually excludes anything that comes from an animal including dairy products). I have replaced the oil with applesauce on occasion in order to improve the nutritional value and it still turns out crazy perfect every time.
My kids, Kylie and Isaac were born with a metabolic disorder called Phenylketonuria (PKU) which causes them to lack an enzyme that digests one of the amino acids (Phenylalanine) that make up a protein. This cake only contains approximately 1.5 grams of protein per serving.
From what I understood about the history of this recipe, (which was also referred to as "Wacky Cake"or "Depression Cake") this cake came about during The Great Depression when resources such as dairy products were either hard to come by or people just couldn't afford to purchase them.
I would like to wish my youngest son, Junior a happy 8th birthday today! We have been so blessed to have been given the opportunity to adopt him in 2013 and make him a permanent part of our family. Enjoy your crazy cake today, son!!
RECIPE:
Great Grandma Renken's Crazy Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir together in a 13x9 inch unprepared pan:
3 Cups sifted all purpose flour
2 Cups sugar
2 Teaspoons baking soda
1/2 Cup cocoa
1 Teaspoon salt
Make 3 wells with a spoon in the dry ingredients.
In the first well, put: 3/4 Cup vegetable oil. In the second well, put: 2 Teaspoons white vinegar. In the third well, put: 1 Teaspoon vanilla.
Pour 2 Cups of water all and mix well, but do not beat.
*optional (but will add protein depending on what kind & how many you add) Dot with chocolate chips!
Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, leave in pan. Cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, then serve!
