My firstborn had a birthday this week.
In our family there was one cake that was the most requested recipe for birthdays.
It’s my firstborn’s favorite chocolate cake.
It certainly isn’t a gourmet recipe.
It’s one of those unusual, homestyle cakes that, rumor has it, was “invented” during the depression.
It is called CRAZY CAKE because it contains NO eggs, but does contain VINEGAR!
It produces a dense, moist, dark chocolate cake that never fails.
Crazy Cake
In a bowl whisk together the dry ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 heaping Tablespoons cocoa powder
Add:
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 Tablespoons vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil (back in the day they used melted shortening)
2 cups cold water
(This time I used 1/2 cup cold coffee and 1 1/2 cups water because the Barefoot Contessa says to add coffee to anything chocolate because it boosts the chocolate-y-ness)
Whisk until all is well combined.
Bake at 350 degrees in a 9x13 cake pan, (greased or sprayed with non-stick spray), for 20-25 minutes until cake tester or toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Can also be made into 2-8 or 9 inch rounds, or 24 standard size cupcakes. (adjust baking time accordingly)
Once the cake, or cupcakes, are completely cool frost with Chocolate, Peanut Butter Frosting.
(This is one of those made-up, no precise measurements recipes)
One heaping wooden cooking spoon full of creamy peanut butter
One heaping wooden cooking spoon full of cocoa powder
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Blend on low speed with a mixer. Gradually add small amounts of milk,
(or cold coffee if you want to try out the Barefoot Contessa’s theory…that’s what I did),
until frosting is right consistency for spreading or piping.
(I piped mine onto the cupcakes and ended up having to make more frosting because I applied it pretty generously. You may want to save yourself the trouble and just start out making a double batch. The leftover frosting is great on graham crackers…not that I would know anything about that.)
Happy baking!
Elizabeth
Oh my! This sounds delicious! You had me at "chocolate peanut butter frosting." Could there possibly be a better combination?? :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful day!
Thank you for sharing. I will have to try this recipe! I love chocolate and peanut butter together. Have a blessed day friend!
ReplyDeleteI'm adding this to my favorites to give it a try. My family loves chocolate fudge cake, but I'm so ready for something else! My boys are peanut butter fanatics so this should fit the bill. Have you ever tried filling the cupcakes with something peanut buttery, too? Thanks for sharing. Happy Birthday to your oldest!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love, love, love crazy cake! Wondering how to take the calories and the sugar effects away!
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
I made my first Crazy Cake (without peanut butter, though!) when I was living on a tiny island in the Western Caroline Islands of Micronesia in the early 70's. I'm eager to try your version, including the Barefoot Contessa's suggestion!
ReplyDeleteI have a similar recipe that i was able to swap out the flour for whole wheat pastry flour!
ReplyDeleteum, how do your cupcakes end up so good-looking? mine are always rather on the homely side (which luckily tends not to be a big deal to the kids since their main criteria for a decent cupcake is the presence of sprinkles. preferably in large quantities. :)) still, your cupcakes would not want to be seen in public with the likes of mine.
ReplyDeletehappy birthday to your firstborn!
I have a similar recipe. I like to use flavored coffee (hazelnut is great) in it. I wish that I had seen THIS ONE earlier. I had to bring cupcakes for my last day of teaching. My students had read a story about chocolate peanut butter fudge. That would have been a cute way to celebrate the story and the last day of class at the same time.
ReplyDeleteit looks delicious.. thank you for the recipe and
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday to your Firstborn.
Sonny
Hi Elizabeth...I'm right under you at Wow Us Wednesday. These look incredible. My daughter(another Elizabeth!) is a cupcake baker. I'm going to definitely have her try this Crazy Cake. Follow me back to my blog if you have time. Have a great week! ~Ann
ReplyDeleteWAAAAAA Can I come over for a cupcake now?? Craving peanut butter and chocolate after seeing this amazing post!! YUMMY! I will have to try these.
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
Not only do these look and sound delicious, the photos are gorgeous! Great job! I can almost taste one. Yum!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog from Savvy Southern Style, and I'm so glad! These cupcakes look yummy! I adore baking and may have to try this recipe! I like the name of your blog, too. I'm looking forward to following you as we follow Jesus;)
ReplyDeleteMemories...I remember Crazy Chocolate Cake form years ago...it was one of my favorites! Thanks for sharing...and I love chocolate peanut butter anything...what a perfect choice for frosting! Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm .....now....I'll be thinking about it all night!
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful evening~
;-D Kathleen
It is so luck to see the article today, great article, great author. I learn something new on different post everyday. It is always refreshing to read posts of other forums and learn something from them.
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