You’ve probably indulged in your fair share of chocolate cakes, but have you ever sunk your fork into a mayonnaise cake? It sounds strange, we know, but mayo is the secret ingredient for the perfect chocolate cake (even Grandma knows it!).
Think about it: Mayonnaise is made of mostly eggs and oil, which are two essential ingredients in cake. Mayo also contains vinegar, and when that’s added to a chocolate cake, it sharpens the flavor of the ingredients for an even richer-tasting chocolate flavor.
Bakers started making chocolate cake using mayo during the Great Depression as a substitute for expensive ingredients like butter and milk. Now, you can still find this ingredient in chocolate cake recipes to this day. It’s even rumored to be in Portillo’s famous chocolate cake!
Here’s how to make your own beloved chocolate mayonnaise cake at home.
Ingredients for Mayonnaise Cake
- Mayonnaise: Be sure to use full-fat mayonnaise for the best mayo cake texture, or else the cake will turn out chewy.
- All-purpose flour: Avoid the temptation of sticking your measuring cup right in the bag. Instead, measure flour the right way. Baking is a science, after all!
- Baking cocoa: Our chocolate cake using mayo tastes so much richer, tangier and fuller than your typical chocolate cake recipe. Grab your favorite baking cocoa from the pantry, and dive in.
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds depth of flavor due to its molasses profile, and we love how its hint of smokiness complements the tangy richness from the mayo.
Directions
Step 1: Create the batter
Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the water, mayonnaise and vanilla until well blended and lump-free. In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa and baking soda.
Gradually whisk the flour mixture into the mayonnaise mixture until blended.
Editor’s Tip: Don’t overmix the batter trying to get every lump out, or your cake will turn out tough and dense.
Step 2: Bake
Grease a 9-inch square or an 11×7-inch baking pan, and pour in the batter. Use a mini offset spatula, butter knife or the back of a spoon to spread the batter evenly to all four corners.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool the cake completely to room temperature.
Step 3: Finish with frosting
In a small saucepan, cook and stir the brown sugar and the butter until the mixture is bubbly. Remove the saucepan from the heat, and stir in the milk. Gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar, and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Dollop the frosting onto the chocolate mayonnaise cake, and use a mini offset spatula, butter knife or the back of a spoon to spread the frosting.
Recipe Variations
- Spread with another frosting: While we love the brown sugar frosting in our mayonnaise cake recipe, a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting is unbeatable. You can try other homemade frosting recipes using confectioners’ sugar, like this easy vanilla buttercream. Or simply use prepared frosting as a shortcut.
- Decorate with garnishes: Zhuzh up your mayo cake with piping designs, edible flowers, chocolate curls and, of course, sprinkles, sprinkles and more sprinkles. Here’s some more cake decorating ideas to get you started.
- Double up for a layered cake: Build a layer cake by doubling the cake recipe and baking the batter in two 10-inch round cake pans. Then double up the frosting, and assemble the layer cake.
How to Store Mayonnaise Cake
With any cake, it’s important to make sure it’s covered and airtight when storing, as that helps retain moistness and freshness. A covered cake plate, cake box or storage wrap does the trick. Some may choose to refrigerate this cake, but it’s not necessary. This cake can last up to three days at room temp or five days in the fridge.
Can I freeze mayonnaise cake?
Yes, you can freeze cake. Once the cakes are out of the oven, let them cool to room temperature, then wrap them tightly in a few layers of storage wrap. An unfrosted mayo cake can last for up to two months in the freezer. Freeze the frosted chocolate mayonnaise cake by keeping the cake in the pan and wrapping the pan in storage wrap.
Thaw the cake for an hour at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
Mayonnaise Cake Tips
What does mayonnaise do to a cake?
Mayonnaise can be used in place of fat or oil in cake recipes. It adds moisture, richness and flavor. And don’t worry, you won’t taste the mayo!
Can I use Miracle Whip instead of mayo?
Miracle Whip and mayo cannot be used interchangeably in baking recipes. Miracle Whip has much less fat than mayo and can separate and become greasy when it’s exposed to heat. Stick to the full-fat mayonnaise for the best mayo cake texture results.
