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A square piece of frosted cake, inspired by depression era desserts, with colorful sprinkles sits on a white plate with a fork, next to more sprinkles and green leaves, on a tiled surface.

Depression Cake Recipe

This easy Depression Cake recipe is a classic vintage dessert made without eggs, butter, or milk using simple pantry staples. Soft, moist, and full of rich vanilla flavor with colorful sprinkles, it's an affordable old-fashioned cake that's perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or everyday baking.

Course desserts
Cuisine American
Keyword Depression Cake, depression cake recipe, how to make a depression cake
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 9
Author momma lew

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup cold tap water
  • ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles jimmies, plus extra for decoration
  • Frosting of choice

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Make a large well in the center of the dry ingredients and two small wells next to the large (the large well needs to hold at least 5 tablespoons and each small well should told at least a teaspoon).
  4. Pour the vegetable oil into the large well, pour vinegar into a small well, and the vanilla extract into the second small well.
  5. Note: it’s important to keep the wet ingredients separate until they’re stirred into the batter at the same time. 
  6. Add the water and stir the batter just until all ingredients are combined.
  7. Fold in the sprinkles, but do not over-stir.
  8. Be sure to stir the batter as little as possible once the sprinkles are added. The color will bleed fast.
  9. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  10. Cool the cake completely to room temperature.
  11. Frost the top of the cake with your favorite frosting recipe and add more sprinkles to the top.

Recipe Notes

The cake keeps well at room temperature. Store leftover cake covered well with plastic wrap or in an airtight container, for up to three days. It can also be frozen for up to three months.