Description
This Zebra Cake is a visually stunning and delicious dessert featuring alternating layers of vanilla and chocolate batter that create a striking striped pattern resembling a zebra. Moist and flavorful, it perfectly balances the rich cocoa flavor with vanilla sweetness, making it an impressive yet easy cake to make for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and well combined.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract thoroughly.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined without overmixing to keep the cake tender.
- Prepare Chocolate Batter: Divide the batter equally into two bowls. To one portion, mix in the unsweetened cocoa powder and boiling water until smooth to create the chocolate batter. Leave the other portion as the vanilla batter.
- Create Zebra Pattern: Spoon 1 tablespoon of vanilla batter into the center of the prepared cake pan. On top of that, spoon 1 tablespoon of chocolate batter. Continue alternating spoonfuls of each batter into the center until all batter is used, allowing the batter to spread out naturally forming the zebra stripes.
- Bake the Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Be careful not to overmix the batter to keep the cake light and tender.
- Use boiling water to dissolve the cocoa powder for a smooth chocolate batter without lumps.
- To enhance the zebra stripes effect, try to keep spoonfuls centered while layering the batter.
- Ensure the cake is fully cooled before cutting to maintain the striped pattern intact.
- For added flavor, consider dusting the cooled cake with powdered sugar or topping with a simple glaze.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
