Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Yes, you read that right, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake.  Now before you turn away in disgust hear me out.  Think about it, what is mayonnaise made out of?  Oil and eggs.  What ingredients are normally found in a moist cake?  Oil and eggs.  Whoever thought to put mayonnaise in a cake is a true genius!

Apparently it was commonly used in baking during WWII when ingredients were scarce and it feels very appropriate to resurrect it during the COVID-19 pandemic.  These days certain staples are harder to come by than others, e.g., eggs and milk, so this cake is the perfect solution.  I'd wager that you probably have most (or all) of the ingredients already in your pantry. 

If you're lacking confidence in the baking department I highly encourage you to give this recipe a try.  Everything is mixed by hand and no electric appliances are needed.  For any parents out there looking for a relatively easy activity to do with their kids give this recipe a try.  It couldn't be simpler and is practically foolproof.   Seriously, you can't mess it up!

To decorate the cake you can go with a light dusting of powdered sugar but I had some leftover ermine frosting so I ended using that.  And don't forget the sprinkles if you have any, they're always a good idea regardless of your age.

This easy-to-make cake is packed with so much chocolate flavor I bet you won't look at that jar of Best Foods or Hellmann's the same way again.  

Stay healthy and safe!

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake (adapted slightly from Cook's Illustrated)

Makes one 8-inch square cake 

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (7 ½ ounces or 215g)

1 cup sugar (7 ounces or 200g) 

½ teaspoon baking soda (3g) 

¼ teaspoon table salt (1g)

½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder (2 ounces or 60g)

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60g) [I used chocolate chips]

1 cup fresh black coffee, hot (8 ounces)

⅔ cup mayonnaise (140g)

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Confectioners' sugar or frosting of your choice (for serving; optional)

 

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350F or 175C degrees. Lightly spray 8-inch-square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt together in large bowl. In separate bowl, combine cocoa and chocolate; pour hot coffee over cocoa mixture and whisk until smooth; let cool slightly. Whisk in mayonnaise, egg, and vanilla. Stir mayonnaise mixture into flour mixture until combined.

Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake until wooden skewer inserted into center of cake comes out with few crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes.

Let cake cool in pan on wire rack, 1 to 2 hours. Dust with confectioners’ sugar or frosting of your choice and cut into squares.