Depression Cake
(Eggless, dairy-free cake from the Great Depression era)
Cake Ingredients:
1½ cups flour
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
5 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup cold water
Frosting Ingredients:
½ cup melted butter
½ cup cocoa
½ tsp vanilla
5 cups powdered sugar
¼ cup milk
Cake Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
- Make three wells in the dry mix; pour oil in one, vinegar in another, and vanilla in the third.
- Pour the cold water over everything and stir until smooth.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting Instructions:
- Mix melted butter, cocoa, vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk until smooth.
- Spread over cooled cake.
☕ Coffee Cookies
(Rich, chewy cookies with espresso flavor)
Ingredients:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup espresso powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp kosher salt
¾ cup salted sweet cream butter
⅔ cup dark brown sugar
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 extra-large egg
1 extra-large egg yolk
1½ tsp pure vanilla extract
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chunks
1 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.
- Gradually add the dry mixture until combined.
- Fold in chocolate chunks and chips.
- Scoop dough (about 2 tablespoons each) onto baking sheets.
- Bake 10–12 minutes or until edges are set but centers are soft.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
🥜 Peanut Butter Bread
(No yeast, moist quick bread)
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1½ cups flour
½ cup old-fashioned oats
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan.
- In a bowl, mix milk, sugar, peanut butter, and eggs until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, oats, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing until just combined.
- Pour into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
ENJOY