Striking Zebra Cake with Chocolate and Vanilla Layers

This Zebra Cake is not only delicious but also a showstopper with its beautiful, striped layers of chocolate and vanilla. The marbled effect creates a visually appealing cake that will impress guests with its look and flavor. Whether you’re a fan of classic vanilla or rich chocolate, this cake brings the best of both worlds in every bite.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This cake is buttery, moist, and delicately flavored with vanilla and chocolate. The contrasting layers give you a bite of both flavors in each forkful, making it the perfect treat for those who can’t decide between the two. The light, fluffy texture combined with the rich cocoa flavor makes it ideal for any occasion, from casual get-togethers to festive celebrations. Its stunning zebra stripe pattern also makes it feel like a creative twist on the usual layer cakes.

Perfect Occasion

This Zebra Cake is a great choice for birthdays, tea parties, or when you want to bring something special to a potluck. The unique layered design makes it ideal for occasions where you want to showcase a bit of extra creativity. It’s a conversation starter and looks impressive on the dessert table.

Decoration Tips

Once the cake is baked and cooled, you can keep it simple by dusting it with powdered sugar for a more classic look, or you can dress it up with a luscious chocolate ganache or vanilla glaze. For an added touch, you can sprinkle some chocolate shavings or edible gold dust on top to make the stripes pop even more.

Ingredients:

For the base batter:

• 180g unsalted butter, softened
• 50g vegetable oil
• 360g granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 240ml room-temperature milk
• 400g all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

For the chocolate batter:

• 35g cocoa powder
• 45ml milk

Instructions:

1. Prepare the baking pan:
   • Grease a 22cm bundt pan using a baking spray or by coating it with butter and flour. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Make the vanilla batter:
   • In a stand mixer, cream together the butter, oil, sugar, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
   • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
   • Alternate adding the flour and milk to the batter, starting and ending with the flour. Once the last portion of flour is added, stir in the baking powder and salt. Mix just until the batter is smooth and combined.
3. Prepare the chocolate batter:
   • Transfer half of the batter to another bowl (you can weigh the batter to ensure even portions if desired).
   • In one of the portions, mix in the cocoa powder and 45ml of milk to create the chocolate batter.
4. Layer the batters to create the zebra effect:
   • Fill two piping bags with each batter (one with vanilla and one with chocolate).
   • In the center of the prepared bundt pan, alternately pipe or spoon small amounts of vanilla batter, followed by chocolate batter, right on top of each other. The batter will spread, creating concentric rings and the “zebra” stripe effect.
5. Bake the cake:
   • Place the cake in the oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
   • Let the cake rest in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully turning it out onto a cooling rack.
6. Finishing touches:
   • Once the cake has cooled completely, dust with powdered sugar or drizzle your favorite chocolate glaze over the top. You can also add some sprinkles or chocolate shavings for a more decorative look.

Enjoy your beautiful, striped Zebra Cake, perfect for any occasion where you want to impress!