You can prepare the official chocolate cake recipe used by the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier during World War II. Word is, these sailors—most notably the US Navy ranks—love sweets like cakes, cookies and breads. 

Guaranteed to feed a crowd of hungry mates, Easy Chocolate Cake was a staple onboard the USS Intrepid. The recipe yields 100 portions; Intrepid commissarymen, AKA culinary specialists, had to multiply the cake recipe by 30 to keep an entire crew content. The baking and sweets cadre worked night and day to satiate all. According to Navy Cakes: A Slice of History, “In the bake shop, groups of three or four sailors worked 12-hour shifts. The night shift baked as many as 800 loaves of bread. The day shift prepared desserts, including about 60 cakes for an average dinner.”

Official Chocolate Cake is a Tradition

Servicemen certainly significantly savored sweets. Cakes boosted morale and brought all hands on deck. Marking a birthday with a cake was routine, but some some cake cutting instances demanded protocol. “…the Navy’s official chocolate cake for a birthday is cut by the most senior and the most junior sailor at the same time. The tradition is said to represent passing knowledge and experience from one generation to the next.”

Information provided by Navy Cakes: A Slice of History, made possible by a grant from the Navy Supply Corps. Foundation

Want more official chocolate cake of the US Navy? Explore the Google Arts and Culture presentation, Navy Cakes: A Slice of History

Tradition prevails with the passing of knowledge and experience from one generation to the next. During a traditional cake cutting ceremony of US Navy, the most senior and most junior sailor will slice the confection.