How to Make Gluten-Free Wacky Depression Era Chocolate Cake - A Step-by-Step Guide

During the Great Depression, many households had to get creative with their baking due to limited resources and rationed ingredients. This led to the creation of unique and often surprisingly delicious recipes, including the famous Wacky Depression Era Chocolate Cake. This cake became popular because it doesn't require any eggs or dairy, making it an excellent option for those with dietary restrictions. And today, we're putting a modern twist on this classic recipe by making it gluten-free.

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Ingredients

  • cooking spray
  • 1 ½ cups rice flour
  • 2 cups dark brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ⅔ cup olive oil
  • 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, with liquid
  • 1 ¾ cups water
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar

Information

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Additional Time: 1 hr
  • Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 1 9x12-inch cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x12-inch baking pan with cooking spray and dust with rice flour.
  • Combine rice flour, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, and cocoa powder in a food processor; pulse until well mixed. Mix in olive oil. Pour in garbanzo beans with liquid; puree until smooth. Blend in water gradually. Mix in vinegar; batter will be thin. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until edges pull away from the pan, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool for 1 hour before serving, otherwise it will be crumbly.
  • Nutrition

    357 cal.

    • Total Fat: 13g
    • Saturated Fat: 2g
    • Sodium: 473mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 60g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 36g
    • Protein: 3g
    • Vitamin C: 1mg
    • Calcium: 47mg
    • Iron: 1mg
    • Potassium: 177mg