3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cocoa
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups cold water
In a 9x13 inch cake pan sift together dry ingredients, then add the oil, apple cider vinegar, vanilla, and water. Mix with a fork until smooth. Bake for 40-50 minutes at 350 degrees. (You test it like you would any other cake)
You did read that right - mix everything in the pan. No bowls required.
This is the original recipe, completely unmodified. It's been in my family for years - my mom got it from a great-aunt of mine, I believe, though I have no idea where she got it. It sounds weird (you're probably thinking 'apple cider vinegar? O_o') but it really does taste very good.