Depression Spice Cake

Celebrate simplicity with this Depression Spice Cake, a moist and aromatic dessert rich in history and flavor. This eggless, dairy-free recipe hails from the Great Depression era, where households relied on pantry staples to create comforting treats. Featuring warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, this cake bursts with cozy, nostalgic flavors. It comes together in just one bowl with no mixer required and uses ingenious ingredients like white vinegar and vegetable oil to achieve its tender crumb. Raisins can be folded in for a hint of sweetness, making it adaptable to your pantry and preferences. Perfect for tea-time or as a quick snack, this budget-friendly cake is easy to make, vegan-friendly, and ready in under 40 minutes, making it an irresistibly simple yet satisfying bake.

Nutriscore Rating: 52/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 0.25 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup raisins (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour an 8-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Stir until well blended.

Step 3

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Into the well, pour the water, vegetable oil, vinegar, and vanilla extract. Mix just until the batter is smooth and no dry spots remain. Do not overmix.

Step 4

If using raisins, gently fold them into the batter with a spatula.

Step 5

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Spread it evenly with a spatula if needed.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 7

Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 8

Serve as-is or dust the top with powdered sugar for presentation. This simple but delicious cake pairs well with a cup of tea or coffee.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(778.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2150.8

Total Fat 55.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 8.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 33.6g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2475.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 409.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 10.1g	0%
Total Sugars 251.8g
Protein 21.4g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 128.2mg	0%
Iron 10.3mg	0%
Potassium 867.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 22.3%

Protein: 3.9%

Carbs: 73.8%