Wacky Cake!

Wacky Cake has been around for almost seventy years; since the days of World War II. It was created by inventive housewives in response to food shortages, and the limitations brought about by rationing.

Rationing meant that each family could buy only strictly controlled amounts of meat, butter and other items. Homemakers had to be creative to provide nourishing meals for their families. Forced to make do with less meat, they relied on other sources of protein, and served eggs and meatless entrees like macaroni and cheese. To ensure that the troops had adequate food as the war continued, people at home were urged to cut back even more. Fish was served more often, and even cottage cheese began to show up in place of the roast beef enjoyed in better times.

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While women were proud to do their part for the war effort, they didn't like serving such humble meals; and they were worried that further rationing might even deprive their families of an occasional dessert. Somewhere in America, an unknown but inspired housewife rose to the challenge, devising a completely different cake recipe, and Wacky Cake was born! It could be made without using up precious commodities like eggs, butter and milk, and it tasted great, too!

As its popularity grew, Wacky Cake was known by several names; but whether it was called Crazy Cake, Wartime Cake, Rationing Cake or even Eggless, Butterless, Milkless Cake, one thing was true--Wacky Cake had become a bit of Americana. Today, with cake mixes readily available, Wacky Cake isn't as well known as it once was. It still has fans, though. Why? Well, it could be because it's easy and fun to make, but my guess is that people still like it because it's so good!