How to Make Bakery-Style Zebra Cake | Soft & Moist Marble Cake Recipe

If you are looking for the perfect teatime treat that looks stunning and tastes incredible, this Bakery-Style Zebra Cake (also known as Marble Cake) is the ultimate choice. It features beautiful alternating layers of chocolate and vanilla, creating an eye-catching pattern. The best part? It requires just 10 minutes of preparation!

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour (Maida): 2 cups
• Sugar: 1 cup (powdered)
• Eggs: 3 large (at room temperature)
• Milk: 1 cup (at room temperature)
• Cooking oil or melted butter: ¾ cup
• Baking powder: 2 teaspoons
• Vanilla essence: 1 teaspoon
• Cocoa powder: 3 tablespoons

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Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Whisk the Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and powdered sugar together until the mixture becomes pale, thick, and fluffy. Pour in the cooking oil, milk, and vanilla essence. Whisk thoroughly until well combined.
2. Sift the Dry Ingredients: Sift the all-purpose flour and baking powder directly into the wet mixture. Gently fold the ingredients using a spatula or hand whisk. Mix just until the batter is smooth and free of lumps. Do not overmix.
3. Divide the Batter: Separate the cake batter equally into two different bowls. Keep one bowl as plain vanilla batter. In the second bowl, sift in the cocoa powder and fold gently. If the chocolate batter feels too thick, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of extra milk to match the consistency of the vanilla batter.
4. Create the Zebra Pattern: Grease a baking pan with oil and line it with parchment paper. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the vanilla batter directly into the exact center of the pan. Next, spoon 2 tablespoons of the chocolate batter directly on top of the vanilla center. Continue alternating between the two batters until both bowls are empty. The layers will naturally push outward to create rings.
5. Draw the Pattern: Take a clean toothpick or skewer. Gently draw lines on the surface starting from the outer edge of the pan moving toward the exact center. Repeat this around the pan to create a beautiful web or flower design.
6. Bake the Cake:
   • In an Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the cake for 35 to 40 minutes.
   • In a Stovetop Pot (Pateela): Preheat a large pot with a stand inside on high heat for 10 minutes. Place the cake pan on the stand, cover the pot tightly with a lid, and bake on low heat for 40 to 45 minutes.
7. Cool and Serve: Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, your cake is fully baked. Let it cool completely in the pan before slicing.

Serve your gorgeous Zebra Cake with a hot cup of tea or coffee!

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