Depression cake facts for kids
A modern chocolate depression-style cake.
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| Alternative names | Milkless Eggless Butterless Cake, Boiled Raisin Cake, War Cake |
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| Type | Cake |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Main ingredients | Flour, apples or pears, raisins or prunes, spices (cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg), nuts (walnuts, almonds, or pecans) |
Depression cake is a type of cake that became popular during the Great Depression. This was a tough time when many people had very little money. The cake was special because it used very few or no expensive ingredients. Things like milk, sugar, butter, or eggs were either costly or hard to find.
Similar cakes were also called "War Cake." They were made during wartime when certain ingredients were saved for soldiers. A common depression cake is also known as "Boiled Raisin Cake" or "Milkless, Eggless, Butterless Cake." The "boiled" part means raisins, sugar, and spices were boiled together. This made a sweet syrup base for the cake. Some bakers did use butter, but many did not. Cakes like these have been around since at least the American Civil War.
History of Depression Cake
Depression cake was called "War Cake" even before the Great Depression. Texts from World War I mention it. In 1918, the United States Food Administration shared a pamphlet. It was called "War Economy in Food." This pamphlet listed "War Cake" under "Recipes for Conservation Sweets." The Food Administration wanted people to use less sugar during the war. They suggested using molasses, corn syrup, and raisins instead.
The Great Depression started in America after the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Families had to be very careful with their money. They needed to "make do" with cheap ingredients for cooking. Some families fed everyone on just $5 a week. Desserts became a luxury for most people. Depression cake was a much cheaper choice than other cakes. Those cakes used milk, eggs, and butter.
People made depression cake affordable by swapping ingredients. For example, they used shortening instead of butter. Water took the place of milk. Baking powder was used instead of eggs. Depression cake was just one example of this clever swapping. Some women even made "mock foods." These included mock apple pie and mock fish.
Radio shows and women's magazines helped share depression cake recipes. Betty Crocker's Cooking Hour was a radio show that gave budget-friendly recipes. General Mills, which owned Betty Crocker, hired experts. These experts found ways to bake cakes with fewer ingredients.
Ladies' Home Journal, a magazine, also gave baking tips. It suggested using baking powder instead of eggs. It also recommended cheap grains and produce. A recipe called "War Cake" was in M.F.K. Fisher's book How to Cook a Wolf. This recipe used different fats, like bacon grease. Spices helped to hide the taste.
Depression Cake Today
People still bake depression cake in modern America. It is praised for being practical. Some have even called it "the most worthwhile cake ever made." Recipes for it have appeared in many newspapers. These include The Telegraph-Herald, The Pittsburgh Press, and The Modesto Bee.
Ingredients and Recipe
Here are some ingredients often used in depression cake:
- white sugar
- brown sugar
- molasses
- corn syrup
- strong coffee, water, or apple juice
- shortening or lard
- dark raisins or diced pitted prunes
- apple
- unsifted all-purpose flour
- rye flour
- salt
- baking soda
- baking powder
- cinnamon
- allspice
- clove
- nutmeg
- chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans
Sometimes, pears were used instead of apples.
Here is an example of a depression cake recipe:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (about 175°C). Grease a 13 by 9 inch baking pan. In a large saucepan, mix 1 cup white sugar, 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar, 2 cups water, 1 cup shortening, 4 cups seedless raisins, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, and 2 teaspoons salt. Boil this mixture for 3 minutes, then let it cool down.
- Sift together 4 cups flour, 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 2 teaspoons baking soda. Add this dry mix to the saucepan. You can also add 2 cups of chopped nuts if you like. Mix everything well. Pour the batter into your greased baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes.
- Take the cake out of the oven. Let it cool for 10 minutes. Then, carefully turn it onto a cake plate. Once it is completely cool, you can sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top. Or, mix lemon juice and grated lemon rind into powdered sugar for a simple frosting.
This is just one example of a depression cake recipe. Other versions might use corn syrup, molasses, or different fruits. Sometimes, bakers left the cake plain. Or they just sprinkled powdered sugar on top instead of icing. The ability to swap ingredients makes the depression cake recipe very flexible.
