3-Ingredient Mayonnaise Cake Recipe
This 3-ingredient mayonnaise cake recipe is the ultimate old-fashioned baking hack—creating an unbelievably moist, fluffy cake using a surprising everyday ingredient! Make it today and discover why this budget-friendly classic from the Great Depression is still one of the easiest and most delicious cake recipes you’ll ever make!
Ingredients
1 (16.5 oz.) box yellow cake mix
1 cup real mayonnaise
1 cup water
3 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and lightly flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a large bowl, beat together the cake mix, mayonnaise, water, and eggs on low speed for 30 seconds.
- Increase to medium speed and beat for 2 more minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust with powdered sugar or frost as desired.
Notes
Tips for Best Results
- Don’t skip the mayonnaise—it replaces oil and adds incredible moisture without a mayo flavor.
- For easier slicing, let the cake cool completely before frosting.
- Use a serrated knife to level layers if needed.
- For a 9 x 13-inch baking pan, bake 40 minutes.
This old-fashioned cake uses mayonnaise as a shortcut for oil and eggs, creating a rich, moist crumb with minimal effort—a trick that’s been used since the Great Depression.
