Slice this showstopping Zebra Layer Cake to disclose chocolate and vanilla stripes inside. The marbling method is surprisingly straightforward to grasp, and I’ll present you ways!
It was round 2012 once I first noticed Zebra Truffles making the rounds on standard meals websites and baking blogs. (To not be confused with these well-known Zebra Truffles.) Slice the cake to disclose graphic stripes of chocolate marbled towards vanilla. The impact is so eye-popping, it appears to be like one thing akin to zebra stripes.
Greater than a decade later, I’m making an attempt it for myself. Again then, there have been so many iterations floating round, I simply didn’t see the necessity for yet one more. It wasn’t till not too long ago that I discovered acquainted inspiration for a brand new spin on this cake. A sprinkle-tastic, funfetti-fied model made with rainbow confetti sprinkles folded into the vanilla batter.
This was a suuu-uuper enjoyable cake to place collectively, and the marbling method shouldn’t be as advanced because it appears to be like. I used to be actually stunned that my first try turned out in addition to it did. I’m already planning to make one other! Be sure you take a look at the video on the finish of this weblog publish. It’s possible you’ll discover it to be a useful information for making and assembling your personal zebra layer cake.
Make the vanilla batter.
Replenish on eggs! As a result of this cake makes use of a complete bunch of egg whites. (Not solely within the cake batter, but additionally within the frosting!) This white-vanilla batter comes collectively shortly and simply. It makes a big quantity, so use a giant bowl!
Make the chocolate batter.
Whisk up a chocolate batter base with darkish cocoa powder, egg yolks, and milk. Then combine in 3 cups of the white vanilla batter. I used black cocoa powder to get the boldest stripe doable. It’s the identical cocoa I used for these Oreo Cupcakes, and the flavour is great. Common darkish cocoa powder will even work effectively.
Combine in some sprinkles!
Mini rainbow confetti sprinkles make this cake so cheerful! You possibly can depart them out of this recipe should you favor. Nevertheless, should you’re like me and can’t resist a pop of colour towards a daring graphic stripe – fold in about 1/2 cup.
Layer the batters collectively.
Utilizing 1/4 cup measures or set off ice cream scoops for every batter, portion the vanilla-sprinkle batter within the heart of the pan. Proceed with 1/4 cup of chocolate batter positioned instantly on high of the vanilla. Proceed, repeating this system, and infrequently tapping the underside of the pan on the counter to assist unfold the batters. The layers ought to seem as concentric rings. My first try is much from good, but it surely nonetheless turned out fairly cute on the finish. I believe my subsequent try will look even higher, now that I do know what to anticipate.
Bake and degree.
Place the pans in a preheated 350° F oven. Because the truffles rise they’ll type a dome within the heart. After they cool, degree the them flat. Doesn’t that look cool? Hypnotizing, even!
Swiss meringue buttercream.
Swiss meringue buttercream provides simply the correct amount of sweetness to the marbled sponge. For those who’re a novice at making this buttercream, then you possibly can view my how-to video on this weblog publish.
Ganache drip.
I’ll all the time love a drip cake! The chocolate ganache drip on vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream actually ties collectively the flavors of the cake layers.
Add a celebration mascot!
How cute is that this zebra topper? It’s only a small figurine that you will discover at most low cost shops within the toy division (or right here). We dressed it with a do-it-yourself mini pom-pom necklace and cardstock social gathering hat.
Throw on some further confetti sprinkles, and also you’ve acquired your self a nice social gathering cake!
One among my favourite issues about this zebra layer cake is that each slice is exclusive! No two the identical! Every serving is like an authentic piece of edible artwork.
The cake recipe is tailored from Martha Stewart’s Cake Perfection ebook (which I like). The cake’s crumb is tight but nonetheless moist. It jogs my memory just a little of pound cake, however barely lighter. Along with the Swiss meringue buttercream, it slices like a dream! The sponge is evenly chocolaty – the darkish chocolate effectively balanced with its vanilla counterpart. I hope you like it as a lot as I do!
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Zebra Layer Cake
Zebra cake layers
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 7 egg whites
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups entire milk divided
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1/3 cup sunflower oil or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsweet black cocoa powder
- ½ cup mini rainbow confetti sprinkles plus extra for garnish
Swiss meringue buttercream
- 5 egg whites
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 lb. unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Chocolate ganache drip
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon gentle corn syrup added for shine, that is elective
Zebra cake layers
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Preheat the oven to 350F. Coat two 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray, and line the bottoms with parchment circles.
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In a big bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder and salt.
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In a separate giant bowl, beat collectively the egg whites and granulated sugar. Combine on medium-high till foamy and effectively included, about 2 minutes. Beat in 1 1 /2 cups of the milk, melted butter, sunflower oil, and vanilla, till clean. Add the flour combination and beat till clean and lump-free, about 2 minutes.
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In one other giant bowl, beat collectively the egg yolks, remaining ½ cup milk, and the black cocoa powder. Add 3 ¼ cups of the vanilla batter to the cocoa combination and beat till clean and uniform in colour.
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Fold the rainbow sprinkles into the vanilla cake batter utilizing a rubber spatula.
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Utilizing ¼ cup measures, or set off ice cream scoops (2 oz. capability), portion ¼ cup of vanilla-sprinkle dough into the middle of the pans. Subsequent, spoon ¼ cup of chocolate batter into every heart, instantly on high of the vanilla-sprinkle batter. Proceed this course of, spooning the batter into the middle of the pans and infrequently rapping the underside of the pan on the countertop to degree the batters collectively. Do that till all of the batter is used they usually seem as concentric rings within the pans.
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Bake the truffles for 35-40 minutes (mine too barely longer, at 45 minutes) till the facilities are domed and puffy. A toothpick tester ought to come out largely clear (mine had some colour on it as a consequence of a melted confetti sprinkle.) Switch the pans to a wire rack to chill 10 minutes, then prove to chill fully on wire racks. After cooling the truffles, degree them with a serrated knife. They can be wrapped in plastic movie and transferred to the fridge to face in a single day. I discover that the crust softens and they’re simpler to degree after an evening within the fridge.
Swiss meringue buttercream
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Place a saucepan stuffed 1/3 stuffed with water over medium warmth. Convey to a simmer.
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In a big stainless-steel bowl, mix the egg white, sugar, and salt. Set the bowl over the simmering water and cook dinner whereas whisking intermittently. Prepare dinner till the combination is sizzling (110°F) and you may not really feel sugar granules when the combination is rubbed between your finger and thumb. Switch the recent combination to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on excessive pace for 5-7 minutes or till a thick, shiny meringue varieties that holds stiff peaks. The bowl ought to really feel cool to the contact. If it doesn’t, refrigerate the meringue within the bowl for 10 minutes. Return the bowl to the mixer and swap the whisk attachment for the paddle attachment.
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Beat the room temperature butter into the meringue one dice at a time on medium-low pace, ready so as to add the following dice when the earlier dice disappears. The batter will deflate with the butter addition, and will even look curdled (if the butter was the slightest bit chilly this occurs), however that is regular. When the entire butter is added, beat the combination on excessive pace till gentle in colour and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat within the vanilla extract.
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Place a cake layer on a cake board or serving plate. Fill the cake with about 1 ¼ cups of the buttercream. Prime with a second cake. Cowl the complete cake with the buttercream, and clean evenly over the tops and sides. Refrigerate the frosted cake till the buttercream corporations, about half-hour. In the meantime, make the ganache drip.
Ganache drip
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Place the chips and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and warmth at 100% energy for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Permit the combination to face 1 minute, then whisk collectively to create a clean ganache. Add the corn syrup, if utilizing. Permit the combination to chill barely. Take away the cake from the fridge and spoon a number of the ganache over the edges of the cake. Use the spoon to nudge the chocolate over the perimeters to drip down the edges. Pour the remaining ganache within the high heart of the cake and clean to cowl it fully.
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Garnish the highest fringe of the cake with extra rainbow confetti sprinkles. Prime with a cute zebra figurine, should you’re so inclined.
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Retailer the cake within the fridge. Convey to room temperature earlier than serving.