Moms Mayonnaise Cake
*Update 8/2024 I still make my moms mayonnaise cake and I use two of her mixing bowls. She has been gone for a decade now; I still miss her. This year for my 49th birthday I made this recipe. Over the last decade I have made a change and switched to using miracle whip (only for this recipe) like she did and it came out so much better. I will always be a mayo users. I think miracle whip is gross however it does make the perfect mayo cake. For the updated photos I used a whipped ganache filling (equal parts heavy whipping cream and chocolate chips, cooled and then whipped) and a basic chocolate frosting (recipe below).
My Moms Mayonnaise Cake recipe is the best chocolate cake you will ever eat! Its so good you don’t even need to frost it! I have frosted it with every icing from mint to coffee and every kind in between.
I can’t remember my mom ever frosting this cake when we were kids. Next month will be 2 years since my mom passed away. I miss her very much and making these recipes of hers are always bittersweet. It always reminds me of her and that is marvelous but it also reminds me of how much I miss her. She lived over 1100 miles away but was an important part of my kids life. Either on the phone or jumping on a plane to see at least a concert or special day! So this mothers day I will have my moms mayonnaise cake and reminisce with my kids about her!
Don’t let the fact that there is mayonnaise in there scare you away from this cake. Think about what mayo is; eggs and oil. That is basically all the mayonnaise is replacing in this recipe. This cake will come out moist EVERY time. Mayo cake is marvelously moist!
What You Need:
- Cake pan (9×13 or 3 round)
- Measuring cups
- 2 mixing bowls
- rubber scrapper
- electric mixer
Mayonnaise Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
- 1 1/2 Cups Sugar
- 1 1/2 Tsps Vanilla
- 3 Cups Flour
- 2/3 Cup Cocoa powder
- 3 Tsps Baking soda
- 1 1/2 Tsps Salt
- 1 1/2-2 Cups Water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour your pan or pans. I added cocoa powder to my flour so I don't have one on my finished cakes
- In a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine mayonnaise, sugar, and vanilla.
- Using an electric mixer alternate adding dry ingredients and water into the mayonnaise mixture until all the dry is incorporated.
- You want the batter the flow nicely off the beater blade when you stop.
- Pour into prepared pans. I bang them on the counter a few times to get out any large bubbles.
- Bake for 22-27 minutes for 3 round cakes or 30-40 for a 9x13 pan. Cool, frost and enjoy!
Simple Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Butter, room temperature
- 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 4 Cups Powdered sugar
- 1/2 Cup Cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp Cornstarch
- 1/8 Tsp Salt
- 3 Tbsp Heavy whipping cream or milk
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer whip the butter until its light and fluffy and the color changes to a pale yellow or white color. Mix in the vanilla
- Sift together the dry ingredients.
- With the mixer on low add the dry ingredients to the butter until well combined.
- Slowly add the heavy whipping cream by the tablespoon until the frosting is complete.
I LOVE mayonnaise cake and I especially love cake without frosting. Just tear it up with your fingers cake is really all I need to make me happy. Nice post!
What a great classic recipe. Yes, mayo is just eggs and oil. How nice to remember your mom with this recipe.
This is a blast from the past! I remember this growing up – my neighbor made it and it was her job. I’m seeing Mom in a few weeks and we should make this.
This cake looks so moist, easy and delicious – I’ll have to keep the recipe on file for satisfying my husband’s chocolate cravings.
One of my favorite cakes… always moist. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hugs to you as you miss your Mom. I will be missing mine this year too.
Hope Mothers day was filled with great memories of your mom ((Hugs))
Hi!! How are you ? I am just bsking mine right now, but is it necessary to use all the water in the batter ? I think I committed a mistake I did not use all the water and my cake is growing just in the middle lol Thanks for the recipe coz it is curious for me Mayo cake !!!
Your mother’s cake sounds delicious! I love all of the older ‘family’ cherished recipes to make and make again! This is a keeper!