Entertaining How to bake an emergency chocolate cake By Martin Zibauer Published: July 15, 2019 Updated: April 17, 2025 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Emergency chocolate cake Martin Zibauer In most emergencies, you should call 911. But unexpected vegans, forgotten birthdays, or a new lover you’ve just addressed by an old lover’s name—these are cake emergencies, and what you need is this fast, chocolatey, and slightly updated recipe for mix-in-the-pan Cockeyed Cake. It’s from Peg Bracken’s 1960 feminist emergency manual, The I Hate to Cook Book. No ratings yet Print Recipe Course DessertCuisine classic Ingredients 1½ cups flour1 cup sugar3 tbsp cocoa1 tsp baking soda½ tsp salt⅓ cup vegetable oil1 tbsp vinegar1 tsp vanilla1 cup cold water Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F.In a greased 9-inch-square cake pan, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.Over the dry ingredients, pour vegetable oil, vinegar, vanilla, and cold water. Mix until batter is nearly smooth. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean, about 30 minutes. NotesIf chocolate alone won’t heal injured feelings, you can replace the water with cold coffee or Earl Grey tea, or add ½ tsp cinnamon to the dry ingredients. Keyword baking, chocolate cake, dessert, emergency cake Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Related Story Spice up your picnic with this DIY condiment tote