This wonderful cake is a work of baking alchemy. In place of butter and eggs we have a secret ingredient.. mayonnaise! Yes, you heard that right, mayonnaise. It might sound crazy but this chocolate mayonnaise cake is so moist, light and fluffy you’d never know it contains your favourite condiment.
Ok, I know, I know. Chocolate Mayonnaise and Cake aren’t three words you would ever imagine to go together, it just doesn’t make sense. Or does it?
In the scary times of Covid-19 lock down ingredients are getting harder and harder to get hold of. Like seriously, where is all the yeast?! If anyone sees yeast can you please hook a girl up, I have a serious cinnamon bun craving. Anyway, I digress. Eggs and butter are up there on the hens teeth stakes, we’ve turned into a nation of home bakers and while that is excellent, it’s not great for spur of the moment baking explorations.
This Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is a saviour when you have limited ingredients but a monstrous craving for cake. There’s only seven ingredients and one of those is water. Another bonus to this recipe is it’s unbelievably easy to make. Simply mix the ingredients together, pour into a prepared pan and bake. Perfect if you have little hands begging to get involved.
I know it sounds super weird, mayonnaise in a cake, who came up with that madness? I swear to you, it works. Mayonnaise is pretty much just eggs and oil so it makes sense that it would take the place of the same ingredients within a cake batter. Just make sure to use full fat mayonnaise, you want all that lovely fat in order to create that delicious and decedent texture.
A few tips when it comes to making this cake:
- Use full fat mayonnaise.
- Do not over mix the batter, mix until everything is just combined.
- Take care not to over bake, start checking your cake at around the 20 minute mark. An over baked cake is a dry cake. Nobody wants that.
- Top with whatever frosting you like. I’ve included a recipe for a simple chocolate buttercream but you can use any flavour you like, you can even use a tub of frosting from the supermarket. I ain’t judging.
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 portions 1x
Description
This wonderful cake is a work of baking alchemy. In place of butter and eggs we have a secret ingredient.. mayonnaise! Yes, you heard that right, mayonnaise. It might sound crazy but this chocolate mayonnaise cake is so moist, light and fluffy you’d never know it contains your favourite condiment.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 250g plain flour
- 50g cocoa powder
- 200g caster sugar
- 2tsp baking powder
- 1stp vanilla extract
- 250g full fat mayonnaise
- 230ml boiling water
For the frosting:
- 125g unsalted butter, room temperature
- 175g plain chocolate, melted
- 20g cocoa powder
- 250g icing sugar
- 2tbsp whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 175C and grease and line a 9×13″ baking tin.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer mix together the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, vanilla, mayonnaise and boiling water until combined.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking tin and smooth over with a spatular. Bake for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely before lifting the cake out of the tin.
- To make the frosting beat the softened butter in your electric mixer until smooth, pour in the melted chocolate and beat to combine. Add in the cocoa and icing sugar and mix, slowly add the milk until you reach a good spreading consistency.
- Spread the frosting over the chocolate cake and top with sprinkles if you like.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chocolate Cake, Baking, Mayonnaise, Easy
I agree that chocolate mayonnaise and cake do not go together, but if it should work if you look into it. I am going to have to try this as can not get eggs anywhere at the moment
Eggs are really hard to come by at the moment but the mayonnaise shelves are fully filled so this could be a lifesaver
★★★★★
Wow, that really does sound crazy. The mayo sounds like a great alternative for when you don’t have eggs in the house. That’s really clever and sounds delicious x
At the moment I could just eat so much homemade cake – I don’t know what’s wrong with me lol. This looks delicious I’ve never thought of using mayonnaise in a cake before.
In these times where flour, butter, yeast are scarce, using mayo is brilliant! I bet this cake is so moist!
★★★★★
Have to be honest…as someone who doesn’t like mayonnaise I thought NO! But it looks so delicious, I’m curious to give it a go now. The cake looks so tempting!
You can’t taste the mayo in the finished product, it’s just a deliciously moist chocolate cake. Give it a shot 🙂
I must say I am intrigued. We do have some mayonnaise in the house as Jack is obsessed so we may just have to give it a try!
★★★★★
This sounds quite unusual – but I’d love to try it! Is it similar to the cheesecake texture?
Hi Eva, it’s just exactly the same as a normal cake. Give it a try 🙂
Oh my this looks SO good, how did I not know about this magic. I literally love mayonnaise and always have it in but had no idea I could use it in a cake too! I am definitely going to have to give it a try, might not tell the kids and see if they can tell the difference lol!
I have never baked with mayonnaise before …in a cake but there is always a first time. The cake looks super yummy and as you said easy and I do have all the ingredients at home as well
★★★★★
Sebby wants to make chocolate cake today so will definitely be trying this
I’ve never made cake with mayonnaise before, but I can totally see why it works and this cake looks so delicious – especially with that buttercream frosting on top!
★★★★★
Such a great dessert for our kids and I’ll definitely know that they will surely love this and will crave for this. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe that is easily can be done.
★★★★★
I would never have thought to utilise mayonnaise within a cake recipe – it’s so bizarre that I need to try it
I’m very curious to give this a try. Never heard of this combination, I’m intrigued. Can you taste the mayo at all? Wow! Need to try this soon.
★★★★★
Hi Ramona, you can’t taste the mayo at all. It’s super delicious! xoxo
This is amazing! I love how inventive it is. I would never think of using mayonnaise as a substitution for eggs, but it makes so much sense! When eggs are hard to get hold of, mayonnaise is especially good because it stays in the fridge for so long.
★★★★★
I always laugh when someone who doesn’t like mayo raves over this cake. It just goes to show you that an open mind can reap big (sweet) rewards.
I love how creative you got with such limited ingredients! I agree it’s so hard to find ingredients for most things I want to make. This cake looks so moist and amazing – like the perfect chocolate cake!
★★★★★
Wow this is so interesting, I would’ve never thought to put mayo in my chocolate cake, but it looks great!
★★★★★
I never thought of putting mayo in a cake! The mayo makes this super-rich and moist. I love this recipe.
★★★★★
I have made chocolate mayonnaise cake before and it’s truly amazing. Just like your delicious version, it comes out so moist, fluffy, and tender! I need a slice right now!
★★★★★
Chocolate and mayonnaise, sounds odd but this cake is amazing. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
★★★★★
It looks beautiful but yes never ever would I have thought mayo would feature! Who knew!
★★★★★
So surprised by this secret ingredients!! Would have never guessed! Such a delicious cake recipe!
★★★★★
Love, Love and love this. How pretty with the colours and also the star details Two words Yes please! Looks yummy xx
I have been putting off making a mayonnaise cake, but I finally made one today!!! I am making it go for a dinner party, I just hope it turns out ok! The only thing I didn’t put in is the vanilla extract as I didn’t have any!! Just hope it looks and tastes good!!
Makes perfect sense! I shall be baking these with the children in my cookery classes, love throwing them a curveball ingredient!
★★★★★
Oh that sounds wonderful! Please let me know how it all turns out 🙂
Katie xoxo