You can make it from scratch or with a cake mix shortcut (both versions included below).
🦓 Classic Zebra Cake (From Scratch)
Servings: 10–12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 35–40 minutes
Total Time: ~1 hour
🥄 Ingredients
Dry:
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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2 tsp baking powder
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½ tsp salt
Wet:
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4 large eggs
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1 cup granulated sugar
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1 cup milk
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¾ cup vegetable oil
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1 tsp vanilla extract
For Chocolate Batter:
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¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
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2–3 tbsp milk (to thin chocolate batter)
👩🍳 Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or springform pan.
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Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
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Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in milk, oil, and vanilla.
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Combine: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet and mix until smooth.
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Divide batter: Split batter evenly into two bowls.
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In one bowl, stir in cocoa powder and extra milk to make chocolate batter.
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Create zebra layers:
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Add 2 tablespoons of vanilla batter to the center of the pan.
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Add 2 tablespoons of chocolate batter directly on top of that.
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Keep alternating batters, one on top of the other, until all is used. The batter will spread outward into rings as you go.
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Bake 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove and cool fully on a rack. -
Optional glaze: Drizzle with a simple chocolate ganache or dust with powdered sugar.
🧁 Zebra Cake Shortcut (Using Cake Mix)
You’ll Need:
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1 box white or yellow cake mix
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1 box chocolate cake mix
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Ingredients called for on each box (eggs, oil, water)
How to use:
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Prepare both batters. Use the same layering technique as above. Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes in a greased round or 9×13 pan.
Would you like a version that matches Little Debbie Zebra Cakes (with frosting and marshmallow cream filling)? I can share that too!