Helene’s Crazy Chocolate Cake is just that — crazy! It’s crazy moist, crazy fragrant, and crazy delicious. Easy to make? Yes — insanely easy. All you need is a bowl and electric beaters. Here’s my family’s history with this not-too-sweet dessert, along with the step-by-step recipe:
Helene’s Crazy Chocolate Cake: Family History
Helene Willis is my grandmother’s sister’s daughter. When she sent me her Crazy Chocolate Cake recipe, she included this historical note:
“Family history on the Crazy Chocolate Cake is sketchy. Mom just always talked about this being a family staple, and I do remember Grandma Metzger making it at her boarding house in Portland a time or two when we visited her. I was probably 15 first time I remember her serving it which would have been about 1948. My mom, (Naomi, Nova’s oldest sister), always brought this cake to any gathering, and it has always been my husband Roe’s favorite birthday cake iced with Mocha Icing and decorated with walnuts. We now have a son and also a grandson who have taken up the Crazy Chocolate Cake mantle. Grandson lives in Phoenix, but he informs me often that he makes it frequently! Mom always cut a small bite out of every cake as soon as it came out of the oven. She loved it warm!”
Helene’s Crazy Chocolate Cake: The Batter
To start, select your baking pan! For a sheet cake, Helene recommends a greased 9×13 or 8×12 baking dish. For a round, layered cake, Helene suggests 2 8-inch-diameter cake pans. I lined my cake pans with parchment paper, and greased the sides of the pans with non-stick vegetable spray.
Onto the batter! Tip 1 1/2 cups flour into a large bowl.
Add 1 cup sugar…
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa…
1/2 teaspoon salt…
1 teaspoon baking soda…
1 large egg…
1/2 cup milk and 1/2 neutral-tasting vegetable oil, poured into a 1-cup measure (for easy clean up)…
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I used my own, homemade extract)…
And 1/2 cup boiling water. I used boiling coffee the second time I made the cake, just to enhance the chocolate flavor in the cake.
You can add butter, too, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon for flavor. Helene says to pour the boiling liquid (water or coffee) over the butter to melt it before adding to batter. (I omitted the butter.)
Next, beat the works with electric beaters for 2 minutes. The batter will be thin.
Baking the Cake
Divide the batter between the 2 cake pans (or pour all of it into a single baking dish, if that is what you’re using).
At this point, you can top the batter with 2 layers of sugar. The first layer will sink into the batter, while the second layer will float on top. The sugar will give the cake a crunchy-sweet top. (I omitted the sugar topping.)
Bake until the batter browns and puffs a little, and a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean — 20-25 minutes. (Oven times for other baking dishes are included in the printable recipe below.)
Let the cakes cool in their pans for about 15 minutes, then unmold, and cool completely on a wire rack.
When completely cool, you can glaze the cake or frost it. Or, you can take the easy route, as I did, and simply dust it with confectioners’ sugar! I slipped the second cake into a zip-lock bag, and froze it for later enjoyment.
This cake isn’t just delicious. It’s crazy delicious! I hope you’ll give it a try some day. Honestly, it may be the only chocolate cake recipe you’ll ever need.
A genealogy question for you: Helene Willis is my grandmother’s sister’s daughter. She’s also my great grandmother’s grandchild, and my father’s cousin. Is Helene my “grandaunt” — or a cousin who is once (or twice!) removed?
Breaking News: Gail Metzger Woodside (my father’s uncle’s daughter) has informed me that Helene Willis is in fact my first cousin once removed. Glad that’s settled!
Hungry for more? Get my email updates.
Here’s the printable:
Helene's Crazy Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened (baking) cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup neutral-tasting vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup boiling water (or coffee)
Instructions
- Center the oven rack; preheat oven to 375°F.
- Tip all ingredients into a large bowl, finishing with the boiling water (or coffee). Beat, with electric beaters, until smooth -- about 2 minutes.
- Divide the the batter between 2 greased 8-inch round cake pans. Alternatively, the batter can be poured into 1 greased 9x13- or 8x12-inch baking dish.
- Bake until the batter browns and puffs slightly, and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean -- 20-25 minutes for 2 8-inch cake pans or 1 9x13 baking dish; 25-30 minutes for 1 8x12-inch baking dish.
- Cool on a wire rack. When completely cool, the cake can be glazed or frosted. I simply dusted mine with confectioners' sugar. 'Twas delicious with coffee for breakfast.
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Gail says
She is your first cousin once removed as you are mine!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Ah. Thank you Gail!
Dee says
Going to make this tomorrow. Ive been craving chocolate cake! Love the pretty dis Kevin….the one the cake sits on 🙂
Mary Laiuppa says
Your cousin once removed.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Dee — Let me know how the cake turns out for you. Deliciously, I hope!
shirley welch says
Thank you for sharing ~
Phoebe says
This looks delicious. Do you ever frost this, or is it more like a Chocolate Decadence cake?
Thank you!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Shirley – enjoy the cake!
Hi Phoebe – You could definitely frost this cake.
Carole says
This sounds really simple and delicious ! Fits my bill perfectly.
Quick question : Metzger is a name of Germanic origin. Are your roots from Germany or Alsace ? could you make more posts about your family history please ? I find this very interesting, being from Alsace and having lived in many different European countries, and having relatives living in America as well (and being an English teacher interested in individual stories of people who emigrated to the “Promise Land”).
Thank you for your blog, which really is an inspiration.
Tiffany says
Love the continued postings of these elegant dishes, that are not overwhelming to prepare! They’ve definitely “upped my game” when cooking for family and friends.
Many thanks and happy weekend!
Mary W says
Have everything on hand and was going to heat up the oven for baking anyway. I can tell from the recipe that I will LOVE this – sounds super moist and flavorful – coffee substitute is good tip!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Carole – I’m a mutt! German (Metzger) on my father’s side, and French (DuVaul)/English (Spencer) on my mother’s side.
Hi Tiffany – Thanks so much for reading this site. Glad the recipes are useful to you!
Hi Mary – Let me know how the cake turns out for you!
Barbara says
Yum sounds wonderful..I like it’s heritage..and yes your plates r always so pretty..
badger gardener says
I love family recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Pam says
Just made this, the best chocolate cake recipe I have ever tried. I have not been a fan of chocolate cake as they always seem heavy and much too sweet, but made this for my partner who loves all things chocolate. This recipe totally changed my mind. Extremely light, moist and not too sweet, and quick and easy to make. This one’s a keeper for sure.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Barbara and Badger Gardener – If you try this cake, please let me know how it turns out for you.
Hi Pam – So pleased you tried — and liked — the cake!
Dorothy Fuller says
I just added this to my receipt box. Will make it very soon. Had a similar one years ago and loved it.Thanks. This is the week for making the blueberry loaf cake.
Elisa Burton says
I made this cake yesterday and it IS wonderful!! I added a pat of butter and 1/4 tsp baking powder for a little more rise. I love the stories that go along with your recipes. Thank you for sharing!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Dorothy – Enjoy the Blueberry Lemon Loaf Cake!
Hi Elisa – So happy you enjoyed this Crazy Chocolate Cake. Thanks for posting your review!
Grannie Lu says
My Grannie was great at explaining relationships to me, as I was the first Great Grandchild, and knew so many of my Great-Great Aunts and Uncles, who lived to their 90’s. The cousin of your parent is a 1st cousin once-removed, and their children are your 2nd cousins.
Christa Kirkey says
Hi Kevin, I love that this recipe is so easy to make. I’m going to bake it in a bundt pan for a family gathering, but also wondered about making cupcakes for a ladies group. Do you foresee any problems with cupcakes? Thanks, so much. I really enjoy your site!
Renée says
Mine turned out dry. Even hubby didn’t like. Wonder what I didn’t do? I’m not much of a baker…..but an excellent cook.
Ruthie says
Hi Kevin! Do you happen to have the mocha icing recipe? I think that sounds amazing! Thanks for all you do and share!
Barb says
My mom made ‘crazy cake’ years ago. It was a depression cake, so no eggs. It was a chocolate cake made in a 9×13 pan start to finish, using a fork to stir. There was vinegar in this cake. It was a delicious dark red chocolate cake. I have her recipe. Thank you for all your delicious recipes Kevin. Happy thanksgiving!