Zebra cake is a fun and visually striking cake that gets its name from the alternating light and dark stripes that resemble a zebra's coat. It’s typically a vanilla and chocolate cake combined in a simple yet impressive way. Here’s a straightforward recipe to make your own zebra cake:
Ingredients:
- For the Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- 1/4 cup boiling water
Instructions:
-
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
-
Prepare the Cake Batter:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
-
Prepare the Chocolate Batter:
- Divide the cake batter in half. To one half, add the cocoa powder and boiling water, mixing until well combined.
-
Create the Zebra Pattern:
- Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the vanilla batter into the center of the prepared pan.
- Next, spoon 2 tablespoons of the chocolate batter on top of the vanilla batter in the center.
- Continue alternating spoonfuls of batter in the center of the pan. As you add each new spoonful, it will spread out and create a concentric pattern.
- The batter will naturally spread out and create the zebra stripes as it bakes.
-
Bake the Cake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Frost and Decorate (Optional):
- You can frost the zebra cake with your favorite frosting, like vanilla or chocolate, or simply dust it with powdered sugar.
Enjoy your zebra cake! Its striking pattern makes it perfect for special occasions or just a fun treat to brighten up your day.
