Make this cake when you're fresh out of fresh ingredients. Since this cake has so few ingredients, it is flour-forward. Meaning, you'll need to use your best vanilla extract to add the flavor -and don't skip the glaze! It is essential to the overall flavor of this cake. Without it the cake will be bland.
3tablespoonssprinkles and one maraschino cherryoptional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour one 8-inch round cake pan, or use a square 8-inch baking pan.
In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine. Add the vanilla, vinegar, oil, sugar and water. Whisk together until a smooth batter is achieved.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is slightly puffed and a toothpick tester comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan 5 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
For the glaze, sift the powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add the vanilla and one tablespoon of water. Whisk until the water is absorbed and some dry sugary crumbles form; add a second tablespoon of water. Whisk until the mixture is thick and stiff, and holds in the balloon of your whisk. It should slowly fall into a ribbon back into the bowl from the whisk. If the mixture is too thick to fall, add water a little at a time until the correct consistency is achieved. This glaze should be thick.
Pour the glaze over the cooled cake and spread with a spatula. Decorate with rainbow sprinkles and a cherry on top, if desired. Store the cake in an air-tight cake keeper or in Tupperware for freshness.
Notes
Variations:Lemon: Replace the vanilla extract in the cake with 2 teaspoons of lemon extract; replace the vanilla in the glaze with 1 teaspoon lemon extract.Spice Cake: To the cake batter, add 2-3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice. If you don’t have pie spice on hand, combine 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ginger in a bowl; add this mixture to the batter and blend well.Tea Cake: Replace the water in the cake recipe with your favorite brewed tea, such as Earl Grey. Brew it strongly, with 3-4 teabags instead of just one.
Keyword crazy cake, dairy-free, Depression era recipe, single layer cake, wacky cake