High Altitude Chocolate Depression Cake
This easy chocolate depression cake is a moist, dairy free chocolate cake, made without butter, eggs or milk.
All recipes on Curly Girl Kitchen are developed for high altitude at 5,280 feet. See FAQs for adjusting to higher or lower elevations.
Equipment
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, fluffed, spooned and leveled
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder
- ½ tsp coarse Kosher salt (if using table salt, use half the amount)
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 ¼ cups hot coffee (or water)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white distilled vinegar
Frosting
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp coarse Kosher salt (if using table salt, use half the amount)
- 2 tbsp hot coffee or water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 F, and position a rack in the center of the oven. Lightly spray a 9x9 inch baking pan with non-stick baking spray.
- In a bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda.
- Add the coffee, oil, vanilla and vinegar, and whisk until smooth.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake the cake for about 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, or with moist crumbs clinging to it.
- Set the pan on a cooling rack and cool for 30 minutes. Turn the cake out of the pan onto a serving plate before adding the icing (or just keep the cake in the pan to serve it from the pan).
Frosting
- In a bowl, combine the powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Add the coffee and vanilla, and stir until smooth.
- Spread the frosting over the top of the cake while it's warm.
- The frosting will set quickly, so sprinkle the top with chocolate chips or sprinkles before it crusts over.
- Serve the cake warm, or at room temperature.
Notes
Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days.
If using chocolate chips on top, be sure they are also dairy free/vegan, if this is a dietary need.
Water can be used instead of coffee in this recipe. However, the coffee adds more flavor, which is needed without the flavor and richness from dairy ingredients.
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