I’ve got the craziest recipe for you guys today! But I suppose you already knew that from the title, didn’t you?
Vanilla Crazy Cake – also known as Wacky Cake or Depression Cake, doesn’t need dairy or eggs to make them.

Want more cake recipes? Check out:
- Bailey’s Mousse Cake
- Almond Bundt Cake
- The Best Icebox Cakes
- Rainbow Unicorn Cake
- Chocolate Crazy Cake
- Victoria Sponge Cake
In fact, you don’t even need to get a separate bowl dirty – you can make it right in the pan!
These cakes became popular during the Great Depression when eggs and dairy products were expensive and hard to come by. Nowadays, they’re great for people with food allergies, and everyone will love them!

All things aside, sometimes we just need a quick and delicious way to satisfy our sweet tooth and this is it!
The beauty is, you can change out ingredients or add to it as needed. Take the basis of this recipe and add sprinkles or a different flavored extract. Maybe you want to make it a fun color, you can add some food dye and truly make it fun and colorful.
Have fun making this cake and we cannot wait to see the look on your face when it’s made without those eggs and and dairy products!
What You’ll Need To Make Vanilla Crazy Cake:
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda
- Salt
- White vinegar
- Vegetable oil
- Water
- Pure vanilla extract

How To Make Vanilla Crazy Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a greased 8″ square (or round…I prefer the round, but I’ve made this in both) baking pan.

Make 3 depressions in the dry ingredients – two small and one large. Pour the vinegar and vanilla in each of the two smaller depressions, and the vegetable oil in the large one.

Pour water over the entire thing and mix until smooth.

Bake on the middle rack of the oven at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Let it cool, then top with your favorite frosting and enjoy!
If you’re more of a chocolate fan, check out our Chocolate Crazy Cake recipe!

Vanilla Crazy Cake
Crazy cake is made with no eggs, milk, or butter.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups All-purpose flour
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp White vinegar
- 5 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 1/2 tsp Pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a greased 8" square (or round...I prefer the round, but I've made this in both) baking pan.
Make 3 depressions in the dry ingredients - two small and one large. Pour the vinegar and vanilla in each of the two smaller depressions, and the vegetable oil in the large one.
Pour water over the entire thing and mix until smooth.
Bake on the middle rack of the oven at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Let it cool, then top with your favorite frosting and enjoy!
Eloise
Sunday 28th of February 2021
I found that the vanilla crazy cake tasted much much better on the second day.
Suga Mama
Wednesday 24th of February 2021
Since it was not obvious to viewers on this site . . . . . . . vinegar should *NEVER* be added to your cakes ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 🤨
Vinegar will leave an " acidy " taste to your cakes or ANY food you are baking. 🤢🤮
Teresa
Sunday 28th of February 2021
@Suga Mama, Vinegar is an acid that reacts with Baking Soda and creates a leaven to help the cake to rise. These two ingredients are often used together in many recipes.
Ana
Friday 26th of February 2021
@Suga Mama, I added the vinegar to mine and tastes sweet even though i only added 3/4 of sugar. Not sure if it cooked the acidity but i don’t taste it at all
Mary
Monday 1st of February 2021
Made this twice, nice recipe less sugar and oil than other recipes I worked with. Thank you
Barb
Monday 1st of February 2021
@Mary, I've often only used a half cup of sugar. Especially when I make it with fruit.
A
Tuesday 12th of January 2021
Are you able to use this for cupcakes?
Linda
Monday 11th of January 2021
It was very good but dense not like the picture