Description
Zebra Cake is a visually stunning and delicious dessert featuring alternating layers of vanilla and chocolate batter, creating a striped pattern similar to a zebra’s coat. This cake is perfect for celebrations, birthdays, or simply as a fun baking project!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Vanilla Batter:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
For the Chocolate Batter:
- ½ of the vanilla batter
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp milk (to adjust consistency)
Instructions
Preheat & Prepare
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan.
Mix the Vanilla Batter
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
Prepare the Chocolate Batter
- Divide the vanilla batter in half.
- Mix cocoa powder and additional milk into one half to create the chocolate batter.
Create the Zebra Stripes
- Pour 2 tablespoons of vanilla batter into the center of the pan.
- Add 2 tablespoons of chocolate batter directly on top.
- Repeat the process, alternating the batters until all is used. The batter will naturally spread, forming a striped pattern.
Bake
- Bake for 35–40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool & Serve
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting or serving.
Notes
- For a richer cake, substitute half of the milk with sour cream.
- Store at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Freezes well for up to 3 months—wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: Zebra Cake, Chocolate Vanilla Cake, Striped Cake, Baking Recipes, Fun Desserts