Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake has to be one of the most decadent, delicious and easy cakes I have ever made! Simply combine all ingredients together, pour into a pan and bake. That is it! You will never want to use a prepared cake mix again once you try this recipe!
I’m definitely not a cake snob, I’m happy to use a boxed cake mix in a pinch (or even to doctor them up like in my favorite Chocolate Banana Cake). But seriously, this Mayonnaise Cake makes even boxed cake mixes seem like work! Mix ingredients together, pour into a pan, bake…done!
If you believe you are not a baker at heart, you’ll love this Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe because it’s so easy – even you can bake it perfectly!
Don’t let the idea of mayonnaise in a cake scare you away. Mayonnaise is basically made of oil and eggs which are in pretty much every cake recipe and it truly makes this cake moist and decadent.
TIPS FOR A PERFECT CAKE
- Using full fat mayonnaise produces the best results. Light versions work but it will change the texture of the cake and make it chewier.
- Don’t overmix the batter. It may appear slightly lumpy but that is ok.
- When measuring flour it’s important to remember not to scoop it into the measuring cup directly from your flour container (this packs it down and measures too much flour). Simply spoon the flour into your dry measuring cup and level the excess off with a straight edge.
- Do not over bake your cake. Check it by inserting a toothpick into the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, your cake is good.
I can remember being a teenager and my friend’s mom made a mayonnaise cake. I have to admit that 30 years later, I still remember that moist tender cake and how amazing it was! When I got my hands on a pile of vintage recipe books and saw this recipe again, I knew I had to make it. There is a good reason this old fashioned mayonnaise cake recipe has been around for so long!
You can use any kind of frosting on this cake including my One Minute Easy Chocolate Frosting or my favorite Chocolate Ganache Frosting. This Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is so wonderfully simple and unbelievably delicious that your friends will be asking for the recipe!
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
- 1 cup water lukewarm
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Mix together all the ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pour into prepared baking dish.
- Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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I want the recipe for the icing too please
We love using this chocolate ganache frosting or this one minute chocolate icing on this cake Marilyn.
Help! Mine was so moist but it was very bitter. What did i do wrong?? I know this would have been amazing if not for the bitter taste. Thanks!
Hmm, I am not sure exactly what happened Beth. Was your cocoa powder still good? Did you add the full cup of sugar?
Mine was very bitter, too. I think I likely didnt put enough sugar or perhaps put too much cocoa? It was sweet at first taste but had a bitter finish. I freaked out because I thought maybe my mayo had spoiled.
Im going to try it again but use more sugar. I made brownies with the same cocoa and they werent bitter at all. So it cant be the coca.
Let us know how it turns out Farah!
Not like the Mayo cake mom used to make. Ick
I made this for a treat for my husband and myself and it truly is the best chocolate cake recipe I’ve ever tried. Dark, soft, decadent, full of flavor. We both kept going back for more, unabashedly. Loved it!
Excellent, quick and easy. Used Peanut Butter Frosting. So Yummy!
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The cake smelled and tasted delicious, however, when I cut into it, the cake crumbled and fell apart. Literally couldn’t get a slice. Followed the recipe exactly and used two 9 in round pans to make a layer cake. Help! What happened?
Hi Dorothy, I wonder if it is because you used a smaller pan, it may have overcooked which would cause the cake to be dry and crumble. So sorry this happened to you!
I made this for the first time early last month. Followed your recipe exactly and the result was PERFECT. Brought the cake to work and it was completely devoured in an hour. My boss couldn’t believe her ears when I told her it was made with mayonnaise. Thanks for sharing this easy recipe!
So happy to hear that!
Thank you! I made this for the first time today and I forgot to put the baking soda so it ended up like brownies instead. Still tastes good though. Gonna try to remember the baking soda the next time.
Yes, the flavor is great! Not such a bad “mistake!”
Hi, If i was to make this in a 16×11 cookie pan for a large crowd, would I double the recipe?
I haven’t tried doubling this recipe so I can’t say for sure how it would bake in a larger pan. I might suggest two 9×13 pans. Let us know how it goes.
I need to make a chocolate cake n I’m using the rectangular 1/2 sheet pan. Not sure what the measurements of the pan is but is this chocolate mayonnaise recipe about the same amount of 1 box of cake mix? Reason I’m asking is the pan takes 3 boxes. So if the single recipe is equivalent to 1 box I know I would need to triple the recipe.
Hi Cynthia, I think it would be approximately equal to one box of cake mix.
Why are there no eggs in the chocolate mayonnaise cake??
Hi Fanniel, mayonnaise is made of oil and eggs so use that in this recipe instead of eggs.
Love love love ur chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe..i did cupcakes instead of cake..they turned out perfectly..i tried a different way..instead of using cocoa powder I used Malted Milk Powder cuz I wanted to make white cupcakes..yeah they look like flat tops..not sure wat I did wrong but I’m going to keep trying to finger it out..lol…i followed ur recipe except I replaced the malted milk powder for the cocoa..they’re still good but just don’t look like a cupcake…thnx for sharing your recipes…imma try them all
That sounds like a delicious variation Karis! I have only made this as written so I am not certain if the malted milk powder would affect it.
This is a bad recipe left out the egg do not use this recipe it won’t turn out
This recipe works perfectly as written for us. Mayonnaise is made of oil and egg so there is no need for additional eggs.
Hi Holly
My gf just gave me this recipe and a piece of cake with it. Sooo good. I would suggest taking the “egg notes” out of your recipe as it seems some get confused and don’t understand this is just a tip. There are no eggs in the recipe. You keep having to repeat yourself. Thanks a bunch!
you CANNOT use miracle whip salad dressing!!!
I’ve been making this cake for over 50 years. It is definitely a favorite of this family’s. Also, I have always used Miracle Whip. The only difference in my recipe and yours is my first step is to stir the Mayo into boiling water and let cool before adding the rest of the ingredients. It has never failed to be anything but delicious. All 5 of my sons request this for their birthday.
Hi holly, I was wondering if using the mayo chocolate cake recipe for poke cake poke Carmel work?
I think it would work perfectly! Enjoy!
There are no eggs mentioned in the ingredients list? How many eggs?
This recipe actually doesn’t use eggs Patricia. Hope that helps!
I would love to make a descent cake. And be a better cook. I would appreciate if I could get the mayonnaise cake recipe please.
Hi Dana, you can find the recipe towards the bottom of the post. I hope this helps!
I would like the mayonnaise chocolate cake recipe
The recipe is above.
Its the same as what my mom made for me in the 50’s. Doesn’t fill the 9X13 so added added half again more on ingredients. Brought back memories of my mom making it for me as a kid, was my favorite
Those are the best kinds of memories!
i used full fat mayo and this recipe was fine, but had to double it to fill a 9 x 13 pan
I hope you enjoyed the cake Carrie!
In directions you say room temp eggs but the recipe has NO eggs. What’s up?
This recipe doesn’t include eggs. There is information on successful cake baking in general and if a cake has eggs, they’re best a room temp.