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Found my great-aunt's 'Depression Cake' recipe. No eggs, no butter, no milk. Tried it. Tastes like sweetened cardboard and regret.
Was cleaning out a box from my dad's garage. Found a handwritten card for 'Wartime Chocolate Cake'. Called my dad. He said his aunt made it during the 1930s. Recipe calls for vinegar, baking soda, oil, and water. That's it. Sounded wild. Had to try it. Baked it Tuesday. The texture was... dense. Flavor was just sugar and weak cocoa. My dog wouldn't even eat a piece. Threw the whole thing out. Has anyone else actually made one of these 'desperation' recipes from that era? Were they ever actually good, or was it just about not starving?
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reese_thompson745mo ago
My grandma's depression era spice cake used cold coffee instead of water. It was actually pretty decent, moist with a strong cinnamon flavor. I think the chocolate ones just suffer without real dairy or fat. Those recipes were pure survival, not meant for a modern sweet tooth.
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lisa8205mo ago
Survival baking sounds a bit dramatic for a cake recipe. It's just a different way to make dessert, not exactly hard times. Still, the coffee swap is a neat trick.
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