Zebra Cakes
Vanilla cakes are sandwiched together with a marshmallow buttercream in the middle and dipped in white chocolate, with iconic zebra stripes on top. These are surprisingly easier to make than they look. Boxed cake mix makes it even easier, but you can always opt to make your own vanilla cake too. Baking it on a sheet tray allows for thinner layers so that you can avoid slicing cake in half, which will most likely end up slanted, making the cakes more difficult.
If your cakes are falling apart on you while dipping them or if they’re dropping too many crumbs, freeze the cakes for 20 minutes, and that will make them sturdier and easier to work with.
The coating is pretty forgiving and can be smoothed and thinned out with an offset spatula. You can also add more to the sides using an offset if you miss some while rolling the sides. I chose to use candy melts because they’re less temperamental than white chocolate and usually a bit thinner when melted. If you prefer white chocolate, feel free to use. You might want to add more coconut oil to help thin it out more so that it can go on the cakes in a smooth and thin layer.
If you melt the candy melts down in separate batches, you’ll end up with some cake crumbs in the candy melts. Not melting them all at once will let you use a clean batch for the tops to make sure you have a smooth coating.
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 18 minutes mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
- Cooking spray
- 1 13.25-oz. box vanilla cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box
- 1 c. 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1 c. 115 g. confectioners' sugar
- 1 c. Marshmallow Fluff
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 12 oz. candy melts or white chocolate chips divided
- 4 Tbsp. coconut oil divided
- 1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips
Step 3
In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Add Fluff and vanilla and beat until combined. Transfer to piping bag fitted with medium round tip.
Step 5
In a medium heatproof bowl, microwave 8 oz. candy melts and 2 Tbsp. oil in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute 30 seconds total.
Step 7
In a small heatproof bowl, microwave remaining 4 oz. candy melts and 2 Tbsp. oil in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute total.
Step 9
In another small heatproof bowl, microwave chips in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute total.
The cakes will stay good in an airtight container for up to 3 days.