This recipe comes from a cookbook compiled for the Sonberg family reunion held in 1999. I love recipes from these kinds of cookbooks for a few reasons. One being that people typically send their best and favorite recipes. Secondly, the stories behind them. The note with this recipe reads: “This is kinda interestin’ to fix, but a lot more interestin’ to eat.” This has become one my children’s favorite desserts partly because of the preparation method. This is a great cake to make if you’re out of milk, eggs, or butter. Let’s get started.
Put 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa, 2 tsp. soda, and 1/2 tsp. salt into an ungreased 13x9x2″ metal baking pan. I’ve always wondered what would happen if I used a glass baking dish. Would the cake stick to it? Hmmm …
Stir with a fork to mix. (I often use a wire whisk instead.) Form 3 wells in flour mixture. So I opened a new can of cocoa–a different brand than I usually buy. Those brown flecks are cocoa dots that didn’t mix. It turned out fine in the end; it just looks weird here.
Pour oil into one well, vinegar in one and vanilla in the last.
Pour cold water over all ingredients and stir with fork until well mixed. Do not beat.
Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over batter. Bake in 350° oven for 35 to 45 minutes. I baked mine at 325° in a convection oven for 30 minutes.
The cinnamon sugar makes a thin layer of crunchy topping.
Serve and enjoy! It tastes scrumptiously chocolatey with a hint of cinnamon. You don’t really need anything with this, but … when I skimmed the milk for dinner, the cream was so thick and perfect for whipping that …
it would have been a shame not to do this. You choose.
Stir Crazy Cake
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. cooking oil
2 T. vinegar
1 T. vanilla
2 c. cold water
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Put flour, 1 1/2 cup sugar, cocoa, soda, and salt into an ungreased 13x9x2″ metal baking pan. Stir with a fork to mix. Form 3 wells in flour mixture. Pour oil into one well, vinegar in one and vanilla in the last. Pour cold water over all ingredients and stir with fork until well mixed. Do not beat. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over batter. Bake in 350° oven for 35 to 45 minutes. Enjoy!
How is it you don’t weigh 300 pounds??? This looks SO good. I love the recipes you can prepare straight in the pan. I have a cobbler recipe like this.
Ooohh!! I like that it only uses one dish. I have all those ingredients already, Sounds like an ideal candidate for FHE treat tonight.
OH MY GOSH!!!! You found it!!! My mom used to have an OLD cookbook, that got lost somehow, and this was in it. It was called Krazy Cake! I used to make this cake all the time when I was growing up and it is SO GOOD!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for posting this one! I have wanted this for years! The vinager gives it a little bit of a twang don’t you think?
You’ll think this is crazy, but I make this cake all the time!! Except I’ve never put the cinnamon sugar on it and you can bet that I will the next time I make it! Have you seen my cookbook blog? It’s http://www.tasteofbluesky.blogspot.com
I love sharing recipes. I’m going to make this cake!
@M. Gray, I do have five children. It’s a race to see if I get any dessert.
@Jenni H, I love the one dish factor, especially when the children help.
@Annika, so glad to have helped. Maybe I should rename it.
@Krista, You definitely have to try the cinnamon sugar. Yes, I’ve seen your food blog. Your apple custard is on my list to try next fall. And those Bacon Maui poppers look delicious. Wish I’d known about them for Superbowl!
Yum! We have a winner for FHE treats and it’s something the kids can make! Bonus!
By the way….it works just fine in a glass pan.
Thanks! Good to know.
I don’t like it. I followed the recipe exactly as listed, but the cake comes out wet. Even tried baking it for an extra few minutes.. now it’s stuck in the baking pan. Tasted it, it tasted kinda bland. Decided to re-do everything and added a couple of eggs. Still waiting how it turns out. Now I’m just making a regular chocolate moist cake.
@deano-Sorry, I’ve never had that happen. I even went back and checked to see if I typed something in wrong. Nope. Sorry it didn’t work for you.