Alma's Depression Chocolate Cake

Alma bakes delicious things in her kitchen. That makes my dad very happy! Her "Depression Chocolate Cake" is moist and tasty. It is an easy recipe, simple to mix together and pop in the oven for a quick dessert. Its chemical formula is a bit different than a usual cake. It lacks eggs and dairy, which makes it economical, and vinegar is added to aid in leavening. Thus, it's called a "Depression" cake. It also incorporates a unique method of mixing. It is much like the popular "Dump Cakes" of the 1970's where everything goes into the baking pan, gets mixed together, and is baked. It doesn't get much more simple than that.

Alma's Depression Chocolate Cake

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
6 Tbsp. baking cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups cold water

Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, soda and salt in ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan. Make three indentations. Into one pour the oil, into the second pour the vinegar, and into the third our the vanilla. Pour the water over all and mix well with a fork until completely combined.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour.