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Zebra Cakes

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
Cook Time 18 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • 1 A piping bag, a medium round tip, a 3" hexagon cookie cutter

Ingredients
  

  • 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

Instructions
 

Step 1

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line an 18" x 13" baking sheet with parchment and grease with cooking spray. In a large bowl, prepare cake mix according to box directions. Spread batter into an even layer on prepared sheet.

Step 2

  • Bake cake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool.

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 4

  • Using hexagon cookie cutter, cut out 24 pieces of cake and place on a wire rack. Pipe a thin layer of buttercream on each piece of cake. Place one piece of cake frosting side down on top of another. Repeat to make 12 total. Freeze for 15 minutes.

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 6

  • Working one at a time, roll sides of cakes in melted candy to coat. (You can remove any excess by running the cake on the side of the bowl.) Return to wire rack.

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 8

  • Spoon melted candy over top of each cake. Using an offset spatula, smooth top and push excess candy down sides of cakes. Smooth sides with offset spatula.

Step 9

  • In another small heatproof bowl, microwave chips in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute total.

Step 10

  • Transfer to a small plastic bag and cut off a small corner. Pipe squiggly lines over top to look like zebra stripes. Refrigerate until chocolate is hardened, at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days.

Step 11

  • Using a paring knife or offset spatula, transfer cakes to a platter.

Notes

The cakes will stay good in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Keyword Cake, Zebra