Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Have you tried a mayonnaise cake? I know, it sounds suspicious at first. When I was a kid, and my best friend’s mom made this cake, I just blinked at her in disbelief. Mayonnaise in cake? That can’t be right.

Well, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is actually a very old-fashioned recipe that was likely in your grandmother’s recipe box. And, fortunately, it has stood the test of time quite well. This is one fantastic cake.

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

When I grew up and learned that mayo is simply oil and egg, the idea of a chocolate mayonnaise cake seemed a lot less crazy. Since those are typically ingredients we would have to add, this just simplifies the ingredient list.

What you end up with is a deeply moist, velvety cake. If you’ve ever had a dry chocolate cake and wondered what went wrong, this recipe can fix that problem forever. I don’t know if it’s the fact that the oil and egg are emulsified together, or what. But, this cake stayed tender and moist for a long time.

I stumbled upon this recipe in an old church cookbook recently, and decided to give it a whirl. Because it’s a relatively simple chocolate cake, I like to serve it topped with a whipped cream frosting. The topping is perfect for using along with sweet and tart strawberry slices.

Mayonnaise Cake

As hard as it was for me to believe it as a kid, I can tell you that mayo really does work like magic in baked goods like this chocolate mayonnaise cake. In fact, if you’re ever in a pinch and run out of eggs, you can substitute 3 tablespoons of mayo for an egg in most recipes without any trouble.

If you’ve never considered mayo and cake before, then don’t worry. This is the perfect recipe to start with. It’s very forgiving, borderline foolproof. And, once you take that first bite and experience the soft crumb, the chocolate flavor, and creamy topping, I think you’ll understand why this recipe has stuck around.

Mayonnaise Cake Recipe

I wonder sometimes if my grandma ever made something like this mayonnaise cake recipe. I wouldn’t be surprised if my mom has made one. My siblings and I lovingly crowned her the Queen of Substitutions. She frequently calls to ask why the recipe didn’t quite turn out, and more than likely, it’s the result of a rather creative substitution choice.

But, cake with mayonnaise is something that I could see my grandmother making in her kitchen. It reminds me of her perfectly coiffed hair, done up with bobby pins, and her polyester slacks. It reminds me of the days when someone else was in charge of dessert, and baking felt more like an interminable wait to watch magical goodies come out of the oven. That kind of nostalgia makes this kind of cake taste all the richer.

Old Fashioned Recipes

I really do enjoy the nostalgia of old fashioned recipes. Whether they’ve been handed down through family generations or from old church cookbooks, it feels good to be trusted with the kind of recipe that belonged to someone. Like my grandma’s waffle sauce or my aunt Judy’s almond bars.

Rhubarb pie is about as old-fashioned as it gets. Tangy-sweet with a classic custard-style base, this pie is based on a recipe passed down for generations.

Then there is the recipe for Colorado peach cream pie that I picked up in one of our church cookbooks. And, these Amish sugar cookies are another classic recipe that shows up in a lot of cookbooks.

I will never get tired of old-fashioned peanut butter cookies. And, who can say no to layers of sweet vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and vanilla wafers in a classic banana pudding?

{originally published 11/1/22 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/30/25}