Zebra Cake Recipe

A tasty striped cake with cookies and cream frosting, this Zebra Cake Recipe is a fun layered cake that can be served at so many different functions.

I love a good layered cake, also I love a fun cake as well, and that is exactly what this Zebra Cake Recipe is. With swirls of chocolate and white in the cake, then covered in a delicious frosting, you really cannot go wrong.

And the zebra striping effect is so super cute and unbelievably easy! I could definitely see this cake at so many different parties: a fun birthday party, a bachelorette get-together, or even for a fun black-and-white theme. 

Not only is the cake delicious, but the frosting is also finger-licking good. I could eat it with a spoon, but I’m partial to anything that has Oreos in it, so I may be a little biased on that side.

But needless to say that if you are looking for a cake that will wow anyone, it has to be with this Zebra Cake Recipe. Absolutely easier than it looks, I promise, and I will show you below how we make it.

Some of our other favorite cake recipes that we have on our site include: Homemade Caramel Cake, Ding Dong Cake and Chocolate Poke Cake.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:

• Starting with a box cake mix, this is easy to put together.
• The frosting really makes this cake.
• Decorate this cake however you’d like.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED (FULL RECIPE BELOW):

• White cake mix
• Whole milk
• Vegetable oil
• Egg whites
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Oreos
• Unsalted butter
• Cream cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Heavy cream
• Vanilla extract
• Mini Oreos for garnish, optional

HOW TO MAKE A ZEBRA CAKE RECIPE:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray 2 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray. Add a circle of parchment paper to the bottom and spray the top with more cooking spray, set aside.
2. In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, stir the cake mix, milk, oil, and egg whites for 30 seconds until it comes together. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
3. Take half of the cake batter and put it into a medium-sized bowl.
4. To the remaining cake batter, add the cocoa powder and stir it in until just combined.
5. Working with both cake pans, add about ¼ cup of the white cake batter to the center of each pan. 
6. Add about ¼ cup of the chocolate batter into the center of the white batter in each pan. Keep doing this until all of the batters are used up and the cakes should have an even amount of cake batter in each pan.
7. If you find the batter isn’t spreading you can tilt the baking pan until it fills out the bottom of the pan, this will not mess up the zebra design. 
8. Bake for 22-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans.
9. While the cakes are cooling, make the frosting by placing the Oreos into a food processor and process into crumbs, set aside.
10. Place the softened butter and cream cheese into the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, and cream together until smooth. 
11. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time until fully combined, and scrape down the sides as needed. 
12. Add the heavy cream and vanilla, and stir it in until combined. Place the mixer on medium-high speed and whip for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. 
13. Add the cookie crumbs and stir them in until combined. I like to then use a spatula to mix it a little more by hand to make sure the cookie crumbs are evenly distributed. 
14. Cut any doming off the cakes so the tops are flat. Put one of the cakes bottom side down onto your serving platter. Add about 1 cup of the frosting and smooth it out to the edge. 
15. Place the second cake top side down onto the frosting. Add a thin layer of frosting over the whole cake. Place in the fridge for 1-2 hours to set up.
16. Add another layer of frosting around the whole cake. Take the remaining frosting and decorate as you wish, and add mini Oreos if desired. Cut and serve immediately. 

DO I HAVE TO USE A BOXED CAKE MIX?

If you have a homemade white cake that will make 2 9-inch cakes, then you can absolutely use a homemade recipe. Just remember to use half of it and add the cocoa powder.

WHAT OTHER FROSTINGS CAN I USE?

If you are not a fan of the cookies and cream flavor, you can try other frostings such as:

1. Vanilla buttercream
2. Chocolate buttercream
3. Cream cheese
4. Peanut butter

CAN THIS BE TOPPED WITH ANYTHING?

We love topping this Zebra Cake Recipe with mini Oreos, but if you want to change it up, you can top it with things like crushed Oreos, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate shavings, etc.

Whatever you think would think that would be a great topping for this cake, experiment and see if you like it.

HOW TO STORE:

Since this cake contains cream cheese in the frosting, it does need to be refrigerated. This will keep in the refrigerator covered for up to 7 days.

This cake can also be frozen, cover the cake with plastic wrap and foil, and it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then let it come to room temperature as it is best served that way.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

• This can be made ahead of time, just do not add the Oreos to the frosting until you are ready to assemble the cake, or they will get soft.
• This can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
• If you want to make your own homemade white cake, you can.
• Make sure you layer per directions, or you will not get that zebra effect.
• Other frostings and toppings can be used, see above on ideas.

Love a good, fun cake that is as tasty as it is show-stopping? Then this Zebra Cake Recipe is right up your alley, fun, delicious, and perfect for anything.

If you like this recipe you might also like:

• Oreo Cupcakes
• Marble Cake
• German Chocolate Layer Cake

If you’ve tried this ZEBRA CAKE RECIPE let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!

Rate this Recipe

Zebra Cake Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Course Baked Good, Dessert

Servings 12

A tasty striped cake with a cookies and cream frosting, this Zebra Cake Recipe is a fun layered cake that can be served at so many different functions.

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For the cake:

• ▢ 1 box white cake mix
• ▢ 1 cup whole milk
• ▢ ½ cup vegetable oil
• ▢ 4 large egg whites
• ▢ ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

For the frosting:

• ▢ 16 Oreos
• ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ▢ 8 cups sifted powdered sugar
• ▢ 6 tablespoons heavy cream
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ▢ Mini Oreos for garnish optional

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray 2 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray. Add a circle of parchment paper to the bottom and spray the top with more cooking spray, set aside.
• In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, stir the cake mix, milk, oil, and egg whites for 30 seconds until it comes together. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Take half of the cake batter and put it into a medium-sized bowl.
• To the remaining cake batter, add the cocoa powder and stir it in until just combined.
• Working with both cake pans, add about ¼ cup of the white cake batter to the center of each pan.
• Add about ¼ cup of the chocolate batter into the center of the white batter in each pan. Keep doing this until all of the batters are used up and the cakes should have an even amount of cake batter in each pan.
• If you find the batter isn’t spreading you can tilt the baking pan until it fills out the bottom of the pan, this will not mess up the zebra design.
• Bake for 22-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans.
• While the cakes are cooling, make the frosting by placing the Oreos into a food processor and process into crumbs, set aside.
• Place the softened butter and cream cheese into the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, and cream together until smooth.
• Add the powdered sugar a little at a time until fully combined, and scrape down the sides as needed.
• Add the heavy cream and vanilla, and stir it in until combined. Place the mixer on medium-high speed and whip for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
• Add the cookie crumbs and stir them in until combined. I like to then use a spatula to mix it a little more by hand to make sure the cookie crumbs are evenly distributed.
• Cut any doming off the cakes so the tops are flat. Put one of the cakes bottom side down onto your serving platter. Add about 1 cup of the frosting and smooth it out to the edge.
• Place the second cake top side down onto the frosting. Add a thin layer of frosting over the whole cake. Place in the fridge for 1-2 hours to set up.
• Add another layer of frosting around the whole cake. Take the remaining frosting and decorate as you wish, and add mini Oreos if desired. Cut and serve immediately.

Notes

• This can be made ahead of time, just do not add the Oreos to the frosting until you are ready to assemble the cake, or they will get soft.
• This can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
• If you want to make your own homemade white cake, you can.
• Make sure you layer per directions, or you will not get that zebra effect.
• Other frostings and toppings can be used, see above on ideas.

Nutrition

Calories: 565kcal | Carbohydrates: 133g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 449mg | Potassium: 176mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 870IU | Vitamin C: 0.05mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

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