The origin of the cake is a bit of a mystery. It's assumed to have become popular due to the rationing in the U.S. during World War II, when milk and eggs were scarce. You can use just about any kind of oil for this cake, but I used Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil from Tropical Traditions. Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil.
It's nice to have a cake in your repertoire that can be made entirely with ingredients you have in the pantry. Need a cake within 45 minutes? This is your go-to recipe. Grease the pan, dump and mix in one bowl, bake it off, and you're done.
This is a great cake. It's moist - we mainly prefer it without frosting - and a good keeper. So are the variations given - all tested by a select panel of tasters, including a very picky 4-year-old.
See? It's magic.
Magic Chocolate Cake - Master Recipe
by Maurita
makes 1 8-inch square cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar OR brown sugar (I've used both; they give nearly identical results)
3 Tablespoons natural cocoa powder (I use Hershey's cocoa powder)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar (I usually use cider vinegar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
Method (this is the same for all the cake variations):
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease an 8x8 square pan, either metal or Pyrex.
Put the dry ingredients in a large bowl, and whisk them well together. Combine the wet ingredients in a large measuring cup, and then quickly stir them into the dry and mix well, until very smooth. Work fast! Speed is important for this cake.
NOTE: You can put the mixed dry ingredients in a greased pan, make 3 wells, put oil, vinegar, and vanilla in each, then pour water over and mix rapidly with a fork - but I like mixing in the bowl, because it's faster.
Dump the batter in your prepared pan, and get it right into the oven. Bake 30-35 minutes for an 8x8 square pan. Test as usual with a toothpick; it should come out moist but with no streaks of raw batter. Let stand on a rack to cool.
Frost or not, as your whim decides.
Simple variations for chocolate cake:
- add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon to dry ingredients
- add 1 cup chopped crystallized ginger
- add a bit of orange oil to the liquids, or grated orange peel to the dry ingredients
More comprehensive variations:
Magic Applesauce Spice Cake with Raisins
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup raisins
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup applesauce
Use instructions for Master Recipe.
Magic Lemon Cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup PLUS 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon zest (it was 2 small lemons for me)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice Powder (optional)
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup water
Use instructions for Master Recipe. Really good with any fresh berries or rhubarb compote.
Magic Pumpkin Nut Cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
Use instructions for Master Recipe.
Magic Nutty Chocolate Chip Cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped nuts
This is a great cake. It's moist - we mainly prefer it without frosting - and a good keeper. So are the variations given - all tested by a select panel of tasters, including a very picky 4-year-old.
See? It's magic.
Magic Chocolate Cake - Master Recipe
by Maurita
makes 1 8-inch square cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar OR brown sugar (I've used both; they give nearly identical results)
3 Tablespoons natural cocoa powder (I use Hershey's cocoa powder)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar (I usually use cider vinegar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
Method (this is the same for all the cake variations):
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease an 8x8 square pan, either metal or Pyrex.
Put the dry ingredients in a large bowl, and whisk them well together. Combine the wet ingredients in a large measuring cup, and then quickly stir them into the dry and mix well, until very smooth. Work fast! Speed is important for this cake.
NOTE: You can put the mixed dry ingredients in a greased pan, make 3 wells, put oil, vinegar, and vanilla in each, then pour water over and mix rapidly with a fork - but I like mixing in the bowl, because it's faster.
Dump the batter in your prepared pan, and get it right into the oven. Bake 30-35 minutes for an 8x8 square pan. Test as usual with a toothpick; it should come out moist but with no streaks of raw batter. Let stand on a rack to cool.
Frost or not, as your whim decides.
Simple variations for chocolate cake:
- add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon to dry ingredients
- add 1 cup chopped crystallized ginger
- add a bit of orange oil to the liquids, or grated orange peel to the dry ingredients
More comprehensive variations:
Magic Applesauce Spice Cake with Raisins
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup raisins
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup applesauce
Use instructions for Master Recipe.
Magic Lemon Cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup PLUS 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon zest (it was 2 small lemons for me)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice Powder (optional)
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup water
Use instructions for Master Recipe. Really good with any fresh berries or rhubarb compote.
Magic Pumpkin Nut Cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
Use instructions for Master Recipe.
Magic Nutty Chocolate Chip Cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped nuts
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar (I usually use cider vinegar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
Use instructions for Master Recipe. When batter is in the pan, but before baking, sprinkle with 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar (I usually use cider vinegar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
Use instructions for Master Recipe. When batter is in the pan, but before baking, sprinkle with 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.
Magic Chocolate Mint Cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
3 Tablespoons natural cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 cup water
Use instructions for Master Recipe.
Magic Oatmeal Molasses Cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup quick oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground allspice
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar
2 Tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
3 Tablespoons natural cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 cup water
Use instructions for Master Recipe.
Magic Oatmeal Molasses Cake
Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup quick oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground allspice
Wet Ingredients:
5 Tablespoons coconut oil, in liquid form
1 Tablespoon vinegar
2 Tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
Use instructions for Master Recipe.
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