Old Fashioned Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Recipe

In my home, we don’t need a special occasion to fuel my desire to make a homemade chocolate cake.

Oh, no, no, no. Perhaps you’ve already noticed my chocolate addiction, and if you’re ready to go along for the ride, this old fashioned mayonnaise cake recipe is going to give you the most decadent cake you’ve ever had.

The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

Forget cake mixes; this easy recipe is the key to a moist cake loaded with rich chocolate flavor. And let me tell you–it is the best.

And while the secret ingredient may not surprise you (it’s in the title of the recipe), the one ingredient you usually use to make rich chocolate cake isn’t here. Guess which one it is!

An Easy Cake That Has Stood the Test of Time

The cake is straight from the Great Depression. Looking back, I wish I could ask more questions from those that lived during that era, including my grandmother.

But the thing that got my attention was when she baked a cake that she called “crazy cake.” That sounds a lot more fun than chocolate mayo cake, and being a kid, I thought the name was hilarious. 

I soon stopped giggling about the name when I got a taste of this dense cake. The moist texture of this rich chocolate cake was something I never forgot.

It was the taste of home for me. And, of course, it’s a delicious chocolate cake I love so dearly.

These days, I love making the old fashioned homemade cake recipe. My husband always says it’s a miracle any of it is left for him and the kids because it’s so good I could easily eat the entire cake. 

Ingredients For Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

• Mayonnaise
• Water
• Vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Unsweetened cocoa
• Baking soda
• Frosting

Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

How to Make an Old Fashioned Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Chocolate mayonnaise cake ingredients are simple indeed. Obviously, mayonnaise is that secret ingredient here.

1. Mix the water, mayonnaise, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl.
2. Next, add the flour, sugar, cocoa, and baking soda, and whisk.
3. Pour batter into a greased pan and bake.

Did you notice what is missing from the list? Eggs!

In the days of the Great Depression, money and supplies could be sparse, and families had to stretch their budgets.

Today with the price of eggs soaring, it may be handy to have a recipe you can use for birthday cakes that don’t require eggs. 

It’s super easy, and you get a guaranteed delicious cake too.

If you recall my chocolate pound cake in a Bundt pan, I also top this old fashioned chocolate mayonnaise cake with my same homemade chocolate frosting with only four easy ingredients.   

Step-By-Step Instructions

Start by adding the mayonnaise to a large bowl.

Next, add the water to the bowl.

Pour the vanilla extract into the bowl and mix the three ingredients.

Add the flour, baking soda, and sugar to the bowl.

Next, add the unsweetened cocoa powder to the bowl and the wet ingredients and dry ingredients together well.

You can use a whisk or an electric mixer.

Pour the cake batter into a square 9-inch by 9-inch baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean, at 350 degrees.

Allow the cake to cool to room temperature before adding any frosting.

More Delicious Dessert Recipes

• Old fashioned fudge with peanut butter
• Easy old fashioned chocolate peanut butter fudge
• Coffee cake without sour cream
• Coca-Cola Cake
• Buttermilk Texas sheet cake
• Easy vanilla mayonnaise cake from Margin Making Mom
• 3-ingredient deep dish chocolate chip cookie with caramel from Join Me In The Kitchen

Does The Cake Need To Be Refrigerated?

You do not need to refrigerate the cake. But it will last a few days longer in the refrigerator.

How To Store The Mayonnaise Cake

Store the cake in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap.

For the best chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe, look no further. Our grandmothers sure knew how to make something delicious even when times were tight.

No one will ever guess that it’s mayonnaise that leads to this moist and heavenly texture. This awesome cake is truly a keeper!