Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting
If you are of a particular generation (cough, cough) this will not sound like an odd recipe at all. But, more recent generations may have never heard of it so I’d love to introduce you to this beauty of a cake. This cake should never, ever be forgotten or lost to recipe history. Basically because it is darn good. Darn good! It requires no eggs and no oil. Say what? Yup. That’s where the mayonnaise comes in. I mean, that’s what mayonnaise is; eggs and oil. It makes this cake SO incredible moist. If you need a go-to homemade chocolate cake, this is it! It is hands-down THE BEST chocolate cake you will make.
Also, just so you know, you don’t taste the coffee in this. It just accentuates and deepens the chocolate flavor. I learned that little trick from Ina Garten and it really does work. If you don’t keep coffee around, no worries, just leave it out. You’ll still have a moist and yummy chocolate cake!
Ingredients:
For the cake:
For the cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
4 tbsp. unsweetened baking cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup water
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tbsp. brewed coffee, black
For the frosting:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 tbsp. milk
2 cups (loosely packed) powdered sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 tbsp. milk
2 cups (loosely packed) powdered sugar
(frosting ingredients not pictured)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350f degrees. Spray a 9×9 square pan with nonstick baking spray. I like the kind of nonstick spray that has flour in it. It makes removal so much easier.
In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking cocoa and baking soda.)
In a separate bowl, whisk together water, mayonnaise, vanilla extract and coffee.
You just want to use plain, brewed coffee – no additional milk or sugar added. If you don’t have coffee, just skip this step.
Now, slowly add the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients.
Stir just until combined. It may be a little lumpy but that’s okay. You don’t want to over-stir (it makes the cake tough.)
Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for about 30-35 minutes (until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.)
Once the cake is finished, start preparing the frosting.
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine brown sugar and butter and cook until bubbly. Be sure to whisk constantly so it doesn’t burn.
Take off the heat and stir in the milk. Then gradually add in powdered sugar.
Whisk until smooth.
Now, frost the cake! Note: The cake doesn’t have to be cooled completely to top with this frosting. Work quickly. The frosting hardens fast as it cools.
Slice and serve.
I just added some chocolate and caramel chips to each serving just to make it pretty.
Enjoy!
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting
Print Pin RatePrep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 420kcal
Ingredients
- For the cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 tbsp unsweetened baking cocoa
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp brewed coffee black
- For the frosting:
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 tbsp milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar loosely packed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350f degrees.
- Spray a 9 x 9 square pan with nonstick baking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking cocoa and baking soda)
- In a separate bowl, whisk together water, mayonnaise, vanilla extract and coffee.
- You just want to use plain, brewed coffee - no additional milk or sugar added.
- Slowly add the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients.
- Stir just until combined.
- Pour into prepared baking dish.
- Bake for about 30-35 minutes (until a toothpick inserted comes out clean).
- Once the cake is finished, start preparing the frosting.
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine brown sugar and butter and cook until bubbly. Be sure to whisk constantly so it doesn't burn.
- Take off the heat and stir in the milk.
- Then gradually add in powdered sugar.
- Whisk until smooth.
- Frost the cake!
Notes
The cake doesn't have to be cooled completely to top with this frosting. Work quickly. The frosting hardens fast as it cools.
Nutrition
Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 368mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 2.6% | Calcium: 1.8% | Iron: 7.3%
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Recipe slightly adapted from Taste of Home
Tonya says
I have made this cake all my life. Made it in Home Ec class way back in 1974. It is amazing.
Margie says
My Mother (god rest her soul) made this cake for me for my birthday every year since I was 3-4 yrs. old!
My FAVORITE cake!!!
Super Moist & Indescribably Delicious!!!!!
No other cake in this world can compare to the beautiful taste and moistness of this cake!!
Sometimes Mom would use a homemade buttercream frosting. Either way – DELICIOUS!!!
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Margie – what a precious memory! And what an amazing Momma!!!
Kaye D says
I have a question. Can you use “Light” Mayonnaise to make this cake?? I am dying to try this and all I have in the house is the light mayo.
If someone can email me the answer that would be great.
I am pleased that you use coffee in this cake, coffee really brings out the chocolate flavor!!
Thanks!!
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
I would not use light mayo. You actually need the oils in regular mayo to make this moist 🙂
Jane says
I will admit – I had my doubts. Let’s face it, mayo isn’t exactly the first thing you think of when making something sweet but …it just works! I whipped up this cake in no time – big plus – and it tastes heavenly! Great recipe to have for those times you need something quick! I can see myself making this many more times to come lol
Isaiah Miller says
Good, but the frosting was practically unreadable. I had to double the amount of milk to make it spreadable. Most people who tried the cake said it was delicious.
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Isaiah, thanks for commenting. It’s definitely one of those frostings that you have to put on the cake while it is still warm so it will spread easier.
Sharon D Johnson says
I would like to make a 9 x 13. How would the ingredients differ. Would I double them
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Hi Sharon! Yes, I would just double the ingredients. You’ll just have to play with the baking time a bit. I’ve never done it myself so I can’t give you an exact time on that. 🙂
Misa DeHart says
I made this cake day for the first time as cupcakes. Same temp for about 28 min. They turned out great! The frosting not so much! We only had dark brown sugar tho -and it was not smooth at all. Tasted great though. Any ideas why?
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Hey Lisa! Glad you enjoyed the flavor! I am thinking it was the extra molasses in the dark brown sugar. Light brown isn’t as heavy on the molasses. The frosting is supposed to set up and have almost a toffee-like texture but it should be smooth and not clumpy. 🙂
Monica says
I make this with either Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, educed I have the most of. My husband loves Miracle Whip & I prefer Mayo in everyday foods. I must admit I prefer Miracle Whip in the cake! Either way, this cane is THE BEST!
Phyllis Volz says
I make this cake at least once a month we love it. I made a change and instead of using the water I use a cup of black brewed coffee and it’s so moist and brings out the taste of the chocolate even more. It’s a great recipe and i’m glad that I found a smaller recipe for it because the full 2 8 inch cake recipe is just too much for just the two of us all at one time.