Search This Blog

Friday, April 1, 2011

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

 
I searched and searched to try and find information about the exact origins of Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake, but could not find one real definite thing about it.  What I do know is this:  chocolate mayonnaise cake was created around WWII, at a time when eggs and oil were being rationed.  Using the mayonnaise in place of those two items was the perfect way to still be able to enjoy a wonderfully, moist chocolate cake.  And this cake is wonderful and it is unbelievably moist!

When Chris and I first started dating, he talked about this chocolate mayo cake that his mom would make.  Now, my mom made a chocolate zucchini cake, and for some reason I want to say she made a mayo cake too, but for some reason the zucchini cake stands out more.  (Mom, if you are reading this...did you ever make a chocolate mayo cake?  I think you did, but my memory is not what it used to be, so please help me out here!!)  Anyway, so I quickly did a search online and found this recipe.  I LOVE this cake.  This is one of the best chocolate cakes out there.  It's just really moist and luscious and very simple to make.  I've made this batter and used it for a layered cake before... I've made this batter and used it for cupcakes.  Both ways were delicious..and of course, this cake really does not need frosting...but come one.. it's cream cheese frosting, doesn't that go with just about any kind of cake???

Now I did do something a tad bit different this time.  This time I made it with a small amount of black onyx cocoa powder.  Although, the addition of the darker cocoa made the cake a little less moist (due to less fat in the cocoa), it was a wonderful way to give the cake an even richer, decadent look to it.  I was recently introduced to this wonderful product by Andrea the Kitchen Witch.  She posted an awesome Death By Chocolate Cookies.  OMG did they look amazing!  But what really interested me, was that she used black onyx cocoa powder.  Honestly, I had never even heard of it before.  So, after reading about it and seeing her cookies, I immediately got on the Savory Spice website and ordered some.  I would probably not use this again in this cake, but I would use it, believe me.  It's like a really dark unsweetened cocoa powder...and wonderful little change to the regular cocoa powder.  I'm thinking of using it in either cookies or brownies next.... unless someone has a better idea???

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Recipe courtesy About.com
Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Preheat the oven 350 degrees F.  Sift together the flour, cocoa, soda and salt.  Cream together the sugar, mayonnaise, water, and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture; stir until well blended.  Pour batter into 2 greased and floured layer cake pans  or 1 9x13-inch pan.  Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the middle of the cake comes out clean.  Enjoy!

(P.S...that's cream cheese frosting on top...4 oz of cream cheese mixed with about 1-2 cups powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.  If it's too thin, add more powdered sugar)

 

One Year Ago:  Strawberry Chicken

23 comments:

Unknown said...

I love a chocomayo cake... my American friends make one and it is amazingly moist but when I tell my UK friends about it they just go eurgh!!... so, anyway, now I have a good recipe of my own to use, thanks!

Debbie said...

I've had this cake before, years ago and I remember it was very good. I have wanted to bake it but just never got around to it. I've also heard of a tomato soup chocolate cake. Never had that one but that sounds interesting too!

Anna's kitchen table said...

Hi, I've just found your blog.
I've heard of cake made with Mayo before, but never seen one, it looks great!

Yenta Mary said...

That cake is a thing of true beauty ... :) It looks absolutely luscious!

Mom said...

Yes, I do make a chocolate mayonnaise cake! As a matter of fact, it is almost exactly like this recipe (some ingredients call for a little more). Probably the reason you don't remember me making it when you were a kid is because if I had told you it was a Chocolate Mayonnaise cake, you wouldn't have eaten it, so I just said it was a chocolate cake! My, my how things have changed! Love you!

StephenC said...

Cute comment from Mom! Never heard of this but I love the back story. Question: was mayo not rationed in any way given that it has eggs?

Unknown said...

Thanks mom! But honestly, I still would have eaten it.. if I ate zucchini cake (and yes, I know it was zucchini cake), I would have eaten mayo cake... I loved mayo!

Stephen...good question and I honestly think that this recipe just originated around the 1900's and the story has maybe now become about the rationing?? I'm not real sure..like I said, I could find nothing real concrete on its origins.

Unknown said...

UM...I am dying a little reading this post...this cake looks so moist and delicious! I remember Andrea's post w/ that cocoa powder...I may just have to pick some up now too!!!!!

Maris (In Good Taste) said...

Your mom is so cute! Now we know where you got your baking talent from!

Andrea the Kitchen Witch said...

Its beautiful! So dark & rich & luscious :) Great place to try out the onyx cocoa Jenn! I used to make mayo cake all the time when I was a kid, haven't made it in years! Thanks for the reminder, its such a good chocolate cake.

As far as your next onyx cocoa endeavor goes, I recommend brownies. Mmm brownies! I have a good one posted on my blog if you wanna check it out. Its actually the reason I buy the onyx cocoa!

Now I want mayo cake! If I make it I'll remember your dryness issue and add a tablespoon or 2 more mayo to combat that :)

Cranberry Morning said...

I've heard of this before, but have never made it. Looks wonderfully moist. No point eating cake if it's not dense and moise, IMHO. :-)

Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking said...

Jenn, this looks delicious and that's a really interesting bit of history about why mayonnaise was used around the time of WWII! Great job on the cake. It looks moist, perfectly crumbly and very yummy! :)

We Are Not Martha said...

Wow, I've never heard of such a thing, but it sounds and looks incredible!! :)

Sues

Pam said...

It looks fantastic! Moist, delicious, and decadent.

Roxan said...

Hmm,, chocolate mayonaise cake. That certainly sounds interesting! I bet the mayo keeps the cake super moist?

Unknown said...

I love the darkness, it does really add to it.

Unknown said...

Looks so darkly rich and moist. I don't think I had chocolate mayo cake or chocolate zucchini cake. Don't worry. It won't be for long though.
Have a nice weekend.

Katie said...

What? That's crazy! I've also heard of chocolate-saurkraut cake. The things people think of...

Cheeseboy said...

Uh, no way is this real. April Fools, right?

Speaking of April Fools, I did an April Fools prank on some of the 6th graders in my school. Video now on my blog.

ann@Apples and Twinkies said...

I remember chocolate mayo cake being so moist and wonderful! I'd love to have it again!

Mary Bergfeld said...

What a fantastic color. I have to search out that cocoa powder. I am intrigued. Have a great evening. Blessings...Mary

Bo said...

I saw a recipe for this in a Hellman's ad...I've always wanted to try it.

gamelovers said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.