If you have heard of Wacky Chocolate Cake this is its tasty Cousin, the vanilla version! Egg Free, Dairy Free and so delicious and easy. 

 

The chocolate version of this cake goes by many names! It is a lovely moist cake is often known as War Cake or Depression Cake, believed to have been created during times where eggs, milk and butter were either scarce or too expensive during the Great Depression in the 1930’s in the USA.

 

The change to a vanilla version is an easy one that I have found variations in many places online. The key to making this cake taste as good as the chocolate version is to use a REALLY tasty vanilla.

 

You can use extract or paste for a stronger flavour, or if like me you still prefer essence then use a dash more than you require. 

 

Another lovely addition would be a half teaspoon of almond essence, this would really elevate the flavors, reduce the vanilla by the same amount. 

 

This cake is dairy and egg free, and can easily be adapted to gluten free if you use your favorite gluten free flour that works well in cakes. You can then top it with a simple dusting of icing sugar or use your favorite dairy free icing, or adapt my simple vanilla icing in the recipe card below.

All you need to make this recipe is as follows

Please scroll down for the full printable recipe card below for the quantities and method

• Plain White Flour

• White Sugar

• Baking Soda

• White Vinegar (or Apple Cider)

• Vegetable Oil (I use Canola) 

• Salt

• Vanilla

 

The method could not be easier, in fact some people make this recipe in the actual baking tin! It can be called the 3 hole cake as you make 3 holes in the dry ingredients and pour in the different wet ingredients to this. 

 

I prefer to make mine in a bowl first then pour into a prepared cake tin. You can make this in a round or square tin, I use a 20cm cake tin as it is a smaller cake. 

The first step is to combine the dry ingredients, making sure the baking soda and flour is sifted together well is the first important step, the add the sugar and salt.

The rose gold whisk in this above image can be purchased in my online store! Check it out here

Then you add to this the wet ingredients, which is the oil, vinegar and a great quality vanilla, and finally the water. Choose the Vanilla you love the flavor of the most, you can also use a paste or add a little extra almond essence too. 

 

Line the cake tin well, I like to spray the sides with a little cooking oil so that the baking paper sticks to this. It makes getting the cake out at the other end so much easier. 

 

It takes around 30-35 minutes to cook, ensure the middle is cooked with a skewer or a knife so that no wet batter remains. Let the cake then sit for 20 more minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool. 

 

For the icing you can use your favorite dairy free icing or adapt my favorite simple vanilla icing in the recipe card below. This makes a lovely moist dense cake. I hope you love it! 

 

Try this and the Chocolate Wacky Cake for any of your friends and family that require dairy or egg free baking, or just to try something different at a time when butter and eggs are so pricey! 

 

Onto the recipe for Wacky Vanilla Cake

I hope you love this recipe! Be sure to let me know in the comments below what you thought.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out this recipe. If you are not already please do follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more delicious ideas.

Happy Baking!

Anna

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