Zebra Cake

I’ve been taking advantage of the great weather this past week or so by having breakfast on the patio, which more often than not consists of nothing more than coffee and cake (not so healthy but I’ll live with my conscience).

Zebra Cake

Zebra Cake

Zebra Cake is this weeks cake of choice and a great one it is too. Simple things impress me and it turns out (courtesy of my wife) that the stripy effect is even easy enough for me to manage!

Its also time to tell you all about this month’s seasonal food blogging event “In The Bag”, being held over at A Slice of Cherry Pie. The ingredients are strawberries and white chocolate – absolutely delicious together in any form. Head on over there and take a look!

Zebra Cake Recipe – Ingredients

Note recipe originally found here after my Wife went on a search for the recipe. Slightly modified for our purposes but still delicious!

  • 2.5 Glasses of Plain Flour
  • 1 Glass of Olive Oil
  • 1 Glass of Sprite (or other fizzy drink)
  • 1 Glass of Caster Sugar
  • 5 Eggs
  • 2 Tablespoons of Cocoa
  • 2 heaped tsp Baking Powder
  • 15g Vanilla sugar (or, preferably, 1 scraped out vanilla pod)

Edited 22/07/2008: Magdalena has posted an excellent conversion in the comments below which I just had to include in the recipe due to popular request:

1 cup – 240 ml Sprite
1 cup – 240 ml olive oil
2.75 cup – 660 ml – 400 g white flour
1 cup – 240 ml – 250 g white sugar
5 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa
3 flat teaspoons Polish baking powder or 4 flat teaspoons US baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar

Bake until done, about 90 minutes, at 150C or 310F.

Zebra Cake Recipe – Method

  1. Zebra CakeWhisk eggs with sugar until mixed. In a seperate bowl sift flour and baking soda and mix together.
  2. Begin adding the ingredients to the sugar / egg mix. Start by adding a quarter of each of the others (flour, olive oil, sprite) at a time and whisking until combined. Repeat until all are added and then mix in the vanilla sugar.
  3. Seperate the entire mix into two equal bowls. In one bowl add two tablespoons extra of plain flour and mix. In the second add the cocoa and mix.
  4. Take a lined cake tin and pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of the white mixture into the centre, creating a small circle. Next take 2 to 3 tablespoons of the dark mixture and repeat. If you’re careful you should find concentric circles of alternating colours forming in the tin. Repeat until all the mixture is used.
  5. Bake in an oven at 180 degrees for 50 minutes and then check the cake; stab with a cocktail stick to see if it is cooked (if it comes out clean, its ready!). If not, leave alone for 5 minutes or so before re-checking.
  6. Remove from oven, allow to cool and enjoy with a cup of hot coffee. You could do worse than serve with some fresh, seasonal strawberries too. Enjoy!

Related posts:

  • http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com peabody

    I love Zebra cake…always looks impressive.

  • http://www.acatinthekitchen.com Dagmar

    It looks beautiful!

  • http://cherrapeno.blogspot.com Nicisme

    Looks amazing!

  • http://www.theperfectpantry Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)

    Thanks for explaining the technique — I’ve never made this because I’ve always been completely intimidated!

  • http://asoutherngrace.blogspot.com grace

    i’m extremely impressed–i’ve seen lots of zebra cakes on various blogs, but this is by far the most perfect one i’ve come across! nice work!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    peabody: If it gets your seal of approval then it must be OK – your cakes are always so perfect!

    Dagmar: Thanks. It tasted pretty good too.

    Nicisme: You’re too kind – but it’s really my Wife you should be thanking, I just stirred things around and generally made a mess.

    Lydia (The Perfect Pantry): Not a problem. I was learning as we went, too.

    grace: For me its not tried and tested, this was my first time…

  • http://skinnygourmet.blogspot.com Erin @ The Skinny Gourmet

    This is really stunning. I have only seen a swirl or two in the past, nothing like this perfect repeating swirl. Truly gorgeous.

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Erin @ The Skinny Gourmet: It’s probably luck rather than skill to be honest. Still, well worth a go in your own kitchen!

  • http://www.tankeduptaco.blogspot.com neil

    So you’re like the lion pouncing on the poor zebra! Great looking cake.

  • http://www.foodiewithfamily.com/blog Rebecca (Foodie With Family)

    That is gorgeous! It has been unusually cold here the past couple days. I’ve been trying to think of what yummy baked goods I can turn out in expectation that it’ll soon be too hot to bake again. I am making this tonight and I expect that it’ll go over gangbusters!

    Thanks for another way to impress my hungry audience.

  • Pingback: Foodie With Family » Blog Archive » Ze-bra-vo cake!

  • http://foodgloriousfood-toto.blogspot.com Antonia

    This is really stunning. I’ve never heard of zebra cake before. Quite certain that mine would not turn out like this – the stripes are just perfect!

  • http://www.lizzieeatslondon.blogspot.com/ Lizzie

    This looks incredible!

    (how big are your glasses?)

  • http://blog.lemonpi.net Y

    What a cool cake! I love how everything is measured in glasses.

  • http://www.bakingandbooks.com Ari (Baking and Books)

    That is such an awesome looking cake!

  • http://www.tartelette.blogspot.com Tartelette

    Now that is some cool cake :)

  • http://www.scrumptiousphotography.com kim

    wow!! that looks seriously impressive! sounds easy enough to make the layers… i’m bookmarking it ;)

  • http://foodblogga.blogspot.com Susan from Food Blogga

    I am truly impressed. That is one fabulous cake!

  • http://closetcooking.blogspot.com/ Kevin

    That looks amazing!

  • http://www.sugarlaws.com katy

    whoa — crazy!!! very cool — i will definitely attempt this at some point! yours looks awesome.

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    All: Thanks for the great comments! I’m in such a rush right now as I’m packing to go on holiday hence no individual replies but I still appreciate each and every comment…Thanks again!

  • http://www.mingcyn.blogspot.com cyn

    i know you’ve heard this so many times, but this looks freakin’ awesome!!! i’ve so gotta try this!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    cyn: I have heard it so many times but still consider it as just people being polite. Basically I’ll never say no to a compliment!

  • http://allthingsnice.typepad.com/ Syrie

    Amazing, Scott! Absolutely stunning!

    I will try this and, even if it turns out looking like a Hippo, I will eat it in your honour.

    Now, you have to tell me: how big is a glass?I’m guessing we’re not talking pints here. Is “glass” the pommy equivalent of “cup”?

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Syrie: Well if you look at the “original” recipe above, that’s where whole glasses thing comes from. I didn’t worry too much about the conversion and it worked out ok. My glasses at home are “can of coke” sized – so about 330ml.

  • http://www.melecotte.blogspot.com Chris

    This is the coolest cake!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Chris: It is a cool cake, in a kind of geeky way :)

  • http://www.formerbrokemom.com beverlyz

    Never seen a Zebra cake before! Very interesting!

  • http://thegrubhound.com The Grub Hound

    Looks like a tasty breakfast treat. So how long do you think it would take to make including prep time?

  • Buggie

    Just for info, an american cup is 8 fluid oz (227ml) and a british cup is 10 fluid oz (284ml), so from what you said scott it looks like the glass is close to a british cup.

    Did you really make this with *olive* oil ? Olive oil has a very strong taste, and I’m suprised to see olive oil used in a sweet cake (the french use it all the time in savoury cakes). Also, what kind of size cake tin did you use ?

    • zebrastripes4kewl

      Gross! Yeah, wherever a recipe calls for oil in cakes (and the oil usually used is salad oil, but if you must use oil use sweet or bitter almond, it’s much better!) I use melted butter, I made the mistake of using olive (and corn) oils in cakes hoping it would meet the requirement of “oil” but it’s just not worth it…I def. wouldn’t use olive oil at any rate..

      But I am looking forward to trying this, in the picture it looks so cute! I don’t understand what purpose the 1 cup of dopes serve, but I like sprite, so….I guess I’ll try it! :)

  • Barcabbas

    OK, don’t hate me as I didn’t shoot the Zebra, but I have a Zebra head mounted on my living room (aka the African Room) wall.
    The poor creature died some 75 yrs ago and I bought it from a British gentleman who was down on his luck. Lord knows where he got it!

    At any rate the cake sounds fantastic, but I can’t make sense of the measurments, is one glass one cup? So please let me know the american measurements.

    Thanks very much

  • http://medicinemantras.blogspot.com paresh

    it looks good.

  • http://tattoogourmet.blogspot.com/ Bryan taylor

    Looks amazing and time consuming! Will try it, my little girls would love it and just because it is cake.

  • Jordan

    Looks astounding. But, in the ingredients, it says baking powder, and meanwhile in the method it says baking soda. Which is it?

  • Mervi

    Love the looks of the cake but somewhat reminds me of the tiger cake :D which is made the same way using same ingredients, but the “stripes” aren’t that strict :D

    I have to try and make one :P

  • http://bunnygotblog.com BunnygotBlog

    That looks so yummy.

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    beverlyz: I agree – I hadn’t seen it myself until a couple of months ago.

    The Grub Hound: No more than a couple of hours, I promise. It isn’t as hard as it looks!

    Buggie: Yep, olive oil – it’s none the worse for it. The cake tin is, ummn, about 9 inches by 4 deep. I’m never very good with cake tin sizes!

    paresh: Thanks!

    Bryan Taylor: Don’t be put off, its not that time consuming honestly. Just pouring two lots of cake mix into a tin, that’s all!

    Jordan: Baking powder. I’ll fix the recipe – thanks for pointing that out.

    Mervi: Not seen tiger cake before but I’ll google it in a mo. You should give this one a try.

    BunnygotBlog: It is. Believe me!

  • Pingback: Zebra Cake Rocks!! « Greg’s Notes

  • http://wwww.greedygourmet.com Michelle

    I’m sure it tasted as good as it looks! ;-)

  • http://www.chocolatefreebies.co.uk Diane from chocolate freebies

    When we were kids we used to make marble cake using a plain and a chocolate cake mixture swirled together. This zebra cake is so much more grown up and elegants though.

    What about a twist of orange liqueur and rind grated in and call it tiger cake?

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Michelle: It did. Yum!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Diane from chocolate freebies: Sounds great. My wife tells me clear orangeade (I can’t find any of that here) works well in place of the sprite, so your suggestion would go down really well!

  • http://www.ficciondepulpa.blogspot.com Iz

    This comes at a great time, as I was planning to bake something for my co-workers this friday. thanks a lot! this will certainly beat plain ol’ chocolate chip cookies :)

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Iz: Nothing wrong with plain ol’ chocolate chip cookies. Hey, why don’t the chips melt when you bake ‘em? One of life’s little mysteries.

  • http://www.bluemoonlavender.com Magdalena

    Zebra cake is time consuming, but spectacular. No two are alike. Having translated many Polish recipes, I’d like to suggest the following, corrected list of ingredients and corrected baking temperature:

    1 cup – 240 ml Sprite
    1 cup – 240 ml olive oil
    2.75 cup – 660 ml – 400 g white flour
    1 cup – 240 ml – 250 g white sugar
    5 eggs
    2 tablespoons cocoa
    3 flat teaspoons Polish baking powder or 4 flat teaspoons US baking powder
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar

    Bake until done, about 90 minutes, at 150°C or 310°F.

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Magdalena: Thanks for that. I will add your conversion to the article – even my Polish wife didn’t know (she really measures everything out into glasses, too – is that a Polish thing?).

  • deb d

    stumbled on this recipe and after i read it, shook my head and said to myself, “how could that possibly work?”. well, then i preheated the oven, and got started. what fun! i loved watching the pattern appear and the cake was delish. i particularly enjoyed it spread with a little peanut butter. thanks for a new favorite.

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    deb d: I’ll have to try the peanut butter thing – it sounds delicious! Thanks for the compliments :)

  • http://www.catalystorganizing.com Monica Ricci

    OMG this looks amaaaaazing!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Monica Ricci: Thanks. It didn’t taste so bad, either ;)

  • http://www.geckogo.com Pokin

    Wow this cake looks sooooo good. And really pretty looking too!

  • http://www.figandcherry.com Christie @ fig&cherry

    That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen!!

  • http://www.foodjamaica.net Jamaica Bob

    Wow, that looks amazing. You have a great skill!

  • http://dinner-and-jam.blogspot.com Leah Q from the Dinner and Jam Food Blog

    Your techniques for making this wonderful cake are superbly described…I would love to know what size said ‘glasses’ are…. it would be very helpful – unless you are describing 1 cup as a glass…..

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Pokin: I agree. Thanks!

    Christie @ fig&cherry: You guys really need to stop. My wife baked this one and here head is now rapidly expanding!

    Jamaica Bob: Not me…The wife – I just helped, really!

    Leah Q from the Dinner and Jam Food Blog: Check out Magdalena’s comment above – it really helped out a lot of people (thanks Magda!)

  • http://www.prettyfastfood.blogspot.com Foodaholic

    Wow, that is very impressive looking.

  • http://hashim.110mb.com Hashim

    mmmm mouth watering cake :D will tell my mom to try making it at home.

  • http://hubpages.com/hub/Absinthe---The-New-Tequila- Absinthe

    That looks amazing. I love cooking, but have a real problem with presentation. Got to try this one. Thanks.

  • http://www.malibuisburning.com Marissa

    Yum! This looks positively delectable, and fairly easy to do!

  • Jessica

    My boyfriend is a type 1 diabetic and I made this cake for him with Splenda rather than sugar. I had to add 1 additional teaspoon of baking powder and 1 cup of non-fat dried milk powder to help it rise. It turned out great! (despite rising A LOT during the cooking process). I finished it off with a thin layer of peanut butter and fresh berries on top – delicious!

  • Sandra

    Do you think this would work with any cake recipe? It looks beautiful, I will definately try it. I was thinking of entering this in my local fair?

  • http://www.life-styl.com/index.php/category/kitchen-and-cooking/ cooking recipes

    I love cakes. Nice recipe. Can’t wait till this weekend to try this out ;)

  • http://www.deathclock.cc john

    Very cool cakes!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    All: Thanks for the great comments – sorry I didn’t reply to them all individually, I’m running around all over the place at the moment!

  • http://food-advisor.blogspot.com Amarnath

    nice cake!!

  • Russell

    it says 2 different baking times and temperatures. 90 minutes seems like a long time to bake a cake, but then again, 310F is lower than most recipes i see. i normally bake at 375F which i assume is what the 180C converts to? 50 minutes seems more reasonable, i’d kinda like to know which one it is, so i don’t risk messing it up

  • http://www.AkumuInk.com Aldora

    I’m going to try it once I have sprite & Olive oil!

    It’s going to be so awesome :D

    - http://www.AkumuInk.com -

  • Indygal

    What a great technique! I’m going to try this one!!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Amarnath: Thanks!

    Russell: Hmmn, well spotted. The temperature in the main body is what we baked it at (and it worked well). The temperature listed in the quote from Magdalena is her conversion of the original Polish recipe. Both will work well, I’m sure!

    Aldora: You’re right, it will. Feel free to substitute the Sprite for something else fizzy and sweet if you feel the need.

    Indygal: A nice and easy technique, too. Well worth an hour in the kitchen!

  • http://www.bentoism.com Bentoist

    That is beautiful, and I agree with Indygal on great technique. When I first saw it, the first thought that went thru my head was… this person’s got a neat gadget. I didn’t realize that it was such a simple trick. Best cake I’ve seen all day.

  • http://blog.keyingredient.com/ Haley

    We would like to feature your [recipe] on our blog. Please email haleyglasco@gmail.com if interested. Thanks :)

    Haley

    blog.keyingredient.com/

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Bentoist: All the greatest illusions are simple when you know how. Unfortunately I don’t, this is just a one off, heh ;)

    Haley: Always interested. Feel free to use so long as you quote the original source (here) and make mention of the original author (me). Basically just don’t use it in a spammy way :)

  • Vanessa

    I stumbled upon this page and the second i saw the picture, my mouth began to water. It looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing.

  • Lan

    this looks great! i’m going to make it tomorrow :)

  • http://www.andaluss.wordpress.com Lovefrom1stbite

    That’s quite impressive!!! Thanks for sharing..

    u r kindly invited to visited my blog :)

    http://www.andaluss.wordpress.com

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Lovefrom1stbite: Thanks, and I did check out your blog – tried the smoothie, it was delicious. Keep up the good work!

  • http://www.buycharcoalgrills.com Smokers Grills

    This looks so yummy! I think I will make it for my barbeque this weekend!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    You’re lucky to have the weather for a bbq – nothing but rain here all weekend :(

  • http://barandgrillman.com Grilling accessories

    I have seen a lot of zebra cakes, but none this fancy. It is my wife’s birthday. I know what I am making for her ;)

  • http://azcookbook.com farida

    Scott, I am so glad you tried my infamous zebra cake:)) Love yours! The stripes look perfect! And I like your idea to add a fuzzy drink in the batter. I’ve seen recipes with that addition before but never attempted to try it myself. Now that you’ve approved it, I may give it a try too:) Great work!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    Grilling accessories: You should buy a present! :p

    farida: It wasn’t actually your recipe that we got it from – turns out it is quite popular in Eastern Europe, such as Poland (where my wife is from). Still, following links after this recipe it seems most other Zebra Cakes lead back to your famous article – well done, you sure started a trend!

  • Pingback: More Zebra Cake Nonsense | RealEpicurean.com

  • http://BornClicker.com Born Clicker

    My sister sent this to me by way of Stumble Upon. We enjoy teasing each other with tasty things. Had a thought, what about Almond extract instead of vanilla? Could even frost with white and almond sliver to surprise the person eating it.

  • http://www.sophistimom.com Jaime

    Wow, that is very, very cool.

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    @Born Clicker – Any variation is possible. Almond with pecan I’m not so sure of but would love to try it!

    @Jaime – Thanks :)

  • kristina the creator

    so i tried this with white and raspberry preserves for something different and it was wonderful. love the design and it is wonderful for parties

  • http://play-with-food.blogspot.com Deborah Dowd

    This cake looks so impressive-counting down till this diet is over!!

  • Pingback: Zebra Cake…Great Success… « Chefsquire

  • http://chefsquire.wordpress.com/ chefsquire

    I tried this cake using a similar recipe. Mine didn’t look as good as yours, but I will try again using your method. http://chefsquire.wordpress.com/

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    @kristina the creator – I’d really like to see your version with the preserves; sounds original and delicious (perhaps send me a photo?).

    @Deborah Dowd – Ah, one small piece won’t hurt, will it?

    @chefsquire – Looks excellent to me! I’ve added it to my roundup of zebra cake recipes…

  • http://www.iosbakingco.co.uk liza

    will be trying this immediately – gorgeous looking. thanks

  • http://www.ukfoodies.co.uk UK Foodie

    That looks very impressive!

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    @liza – No worries. Let me know how it turns out!

    @UK Foodie – Ta. Tastes it too.

  • http://www.thehungrymouse.com Jessie

    Wow. Just wow. That’s just gorgeous. :D

    +Jessie
    a.k.a. The Hungry Mouse

  • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

    @Jessie – I agree. One of the most beautiful looking cakes I’ve seen.

  • Cincinnati_Dave

    I am going to use this technique to alternate green and red stripes goe a holiday party tonight and top with buttercream icing and crushed peppermint sticks!! Thanks for the technique!

  • mandie

    i tried this and made it it is delicious but a day l8er i got food popisioning.

  • mandie

    i made the last comment i ment food poisioning srry but yeah i wouldnt reccomend it to nebody

  • Jane Bates

    OMG!!!!!! this cake is my friends dream cake!, she loves zebra print and its her birthday this Thursday, so for the first time ever i am going to attempt this recipe for her but adding a little twist and that is its also going to be covered in zebra icing and moulded into a handbag too !!! and to compliment the cake and icing i am also attempting to make a pair of zebra print shoes to give it that finial touch. I will let you know how i get on thanks for the recipie too !!! i just need to tweak a little as from United kingdom and measures etc are slightly different and so too are the ingredients. Thanks again Best wishes Jane : )

    • http://www.realepicurean.com scott

      Hi Jane,
      I’m from the UK too actually; the reason I’ve kept the quantities pretty much “as is” is because my Polish wife had the recipe. Just above the “method” section in the recipe is a version converted into “normal” measurements though, millilitres etc (maybe you missed it?).

      Make sure to let me know how you got on, the zebra icing sounds like a great touch!

      • rude boy

        woops, if I had read this I’d know why your limey (or mick) ass is so rude! Probably your poelock wife doesn’t make it better either. They’re such slavic trash.

  • Jane

    Nervously waiting for the cake to bake in oven !!!!!!!! Really excited though at the thought of it, can’t wait to see finished result !! I have also had my very helpful friend Tracy helping me through the recipie as did not want to mess it up on my first go!!! :) Watch this space