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    Home » Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

    July 19, 2021 by Faith 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake has a soft, tender, and velvety smooth crumb and is perfectly accented with chocolate frosting! This cake strikes a delicate balance of being sweet but not overly sweet, and has just the right amount of chocolate flavor.

    forkful of chocolate mayo cake

    I know this recipe sounds bizarre, but trust me for a minute and I’ll explain to you why you need this cake in your life!

    For starters, Mayonnaise Cake is tender and soft. And by soft, I mean it has a super-soft and light crumb that somehow manages to almost feel velvety at the same time. It’s divine.

    eating slice of chocolate mayo cake

    And if the texture doesn’t sell you, let’s talk about the flavor. It has nice chocolate flavor without being overly rich or too sweet. It strikes just the right balance.

    As a bonus, it’s quick and easy to whip up in one bowl and doesn’t require any special equipment.

    piece of chocolate mayo cake on white plate

    But the really cool thing about this cake is its history and origin.

    Chocolate Mayo Cake was invented during the Great Depression when things like eggs and oil were hard to come by. What do you do when you don’t have the things you need to make the recipes you love?

    You make new recipes with what you have, and create new dishes to pass on.

    That’s the spirit behind this heirloom recipe. Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake shows that there’s truly more than one way to get a delicious result – at least in terms of cake!

    Jump To
    • The Best Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Recipe
    • Tips for Making Mayo Cake
    • Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake FAQs
    • More Decadent Chocolate Desserts to Make
    • Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
    chocolate mayo cake with description

    The Best Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Recipe

    Ingredients in Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

    Chocolate Mayo Cake:

    chocolate mayo cake ingredients
    • All-purpose flour
    • Unsweetened cocoa powder
    • Light brown sugar
    • Baking powder
    • Baking soda
    • Salt
    • Mayonnaise
    • Water
    • Vanilla extract

    Mayonnaise Cake Frosting:

    chocolate frosting ingredients
    • Unsalted butter
    • Vanilla
    • Salt
    • Unsweetened cocoa powder
    • Powdered sugar
    • Milk

    How to Make an Old Fashioned Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

    how to make a chocolate mayonnaise cake collage
    1. Add the dry ingredients to a bowl.
    2. Whisk to combine.
    3. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients.
    4. Whisk again!
    5. It should be fairly smooth, but don't over-whisk.
    6. Pour the batter into a 9-inch cake pan that's greased and floured. I also like to line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper that's been trimmed to fit inside.
    7. Smooth out the batter evenly.
    8. Bake! Be sure to let the cake cool completely before frosting it.
    how to make chocolate frosting collage
    1. For the frosting, beat together the butter, vanilla, salt, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar.
    2. The mixture will look dry. Add milk a little at a time and continue beating until it turns into frosting.
    3. It will be lusciously thick and creamy!
    mayo cake on glass cake stand

    Equipment for This Recipe

    • 9-inch Round Cake Pan
    • Handheld Electric Mixer

    How to Store Mayonnaise Cake

    Wrap this cake well and store it at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, store it wrapped in the fridge for up to 3 days longer.

    chocolate mayonnaise cake

    Tips for Making Mayo Cake

    • Make sure to only use regular (not flavored) mayo in this cake! I can only imagine the horror of accidentally using a garlic (or other savory flavored) mayonnaise to make it. I like to use regular Hellman’s Mayonnaise to make this cake.
    • The classic version of Chocolate Mayo Cake uses water. However, for a little richer cake you can use whole milk instead. Personally, I think this cake turns out great with water and doesn’t need the added richness from milk.
    • This cake is also delicious with a Cream Cheese Frosting or Mocha Frosting! Feel free to use whatever suits your taste preference.
    chocolate mayo cake graphic

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake FAQs

    Why Put Mayonnaise in a Cake?!

    Lol! I understand the sentiments behind this question. At first glance, it seems like mayo is better placed in a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich than in a chocolate cake, right?

    But let me explain the reasoning behind mayonnaise in cake.

    This cake came about during the Great Depression. It was a time when oil and eggs were scarce. Mayo has both eggs and oil, and so it acted as a good replacement for those ingredients in cake.

    Additionally, mayonnaise has vinegar in it, and baking a cake with mayo yields an ultra-soft, tender crumb. If I’m being completely honest, the first time I had this cake I was shocked at how soft, moist, and delicious it was.

    What Does Mayo Replace in a Cake?

    In this cake recipe, mayo replaces eggs, oil, and acid (in the form of vinegar).

    Does Mayonnaise Cake Taste Like Mayonnaise?

    Nope! I’m happy to report that Chocolate Mayo Cake doesn’t taste like mayonnaise. It has a well-balanced flavor profile, meaning it’s sweet enough without being overly sweet and chocolaty without being overpowering.

    Does Mayonnaise Cake Need to be Refrigerated?

    No, this cake doesn’t need to be refrigerated unless your house is very hot. Wrap this cake well and store it at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, store it wrapped in the fridge for up to 3 days longer.

    slice of chocolate mayonnaise cake being eating

    More Decadent Chocolate Desserts to Make

    • Oreo Milkshake
    • Brownie in a Mug
    old fashioned chocolate mayo cake
    daily desserting logo

    Did You Make This?

    Please rate this recipe and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you!

    You can also tag my handle @dailydesserting or use the hashtag #dailydesserting on social media.

    To enjoy your daily dessert FOLLOW ME on Instagram!

    Xoxo, Faith

    chocolate mayonnaise cake featured image

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

    By: Faith
    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake has a soft, tender, and velvety smooth crumb and is perfectly accented with chocolate frosting! This cake strikes a delicate balance of being sweet but not overly sweet, and has just the right amount of chocolate flavor.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Time for the Cake to Cool 2 hours hrs
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 588 kcal

    Equipment

    • 9-inch Round Cake Pan
    • Handheld Electric Mixer

    Ingredients
     
     

    Chocolate Mayo Cake:

    • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
    • 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar lightly packed
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1/16 teaspoon salt
    • 3/4 cup mayo
    • 3/4 cup water
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Chocolate Frosting:

    • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1/16 teaspoon salt
    • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoons milk plus more as needed

    Other:

    • Butter at room temperature, for the cake pan
    • All-purpose flour for the cake pan

    Instructions
     

    For the Chocolate Mayo Cake:

    • Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
    • Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
    • Add the mayo, water, and vanilla extract and stir until combined.
    • Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 to 45 minutes.
    • Cool completely before frosting.

    For the Chocolate Frosting:

    • Once the cake is cooled, make the frosting.
    • Use a handheld electric mixer to beat together the butter, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl.
    • Beat in the cocoa powder and powdered sugar, and then the milk.
    • Continue beating until the frosting is smooth and creamy, adding additional milk 1 teaspoon at a time if needed to achieve the right consistency.

    To Assemble:

    • Turn the cooled cake out onto a cake platter.
    • Spread the frosting on the top and sides.
    • Serve.

    Faith's Tips

    • Storage: Wrap this cake well and store it at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, store it wrapped in the fridge for up to 3 days longer.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 588 Calories from Fat 279
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 31g48%
    Saturated Fat 12g75%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 10g
    Monounsaturated Fat 8g
    Cholesterol 47mg16%
    Sodium 299mg13%
    Potassium 127mg4%
    Carbohydrates 78g26%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 59g66%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 457IU9%
    Calcium 54mg5%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword Chocolate Mayo Cake, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Recipe
    Tried this recipe?Please rate it and let us know how it was!
    chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe pin

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Betsy says

      February 27, 2023 at 11:51 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love this cake - moist & flavorful!

      Reply

    Welcome

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    Hi, I'm Faith! Daily Desserting was born out of a love for the people in my life who enjoy dessert! And it's dedicated to those of you who believe that a sweet treat isn't only for a holiday, birthday, or other special occasion. Sometimes you just want dessert on a random Tuesday night.

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