Copycat Zebra Cakes Trounce Original

Copycat Zebra Cakes Trounce Original

Copycat Zebra Cakes completely trounce the original in this easy dessert recipe made with (oh no!) boxed cake mix.

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When I showed an interest in cooking, my Mom suggested I try my hand at dessert in order to get my feet wet. It was undoubtedly a better idea than throwing me in at the deep end making dinner for ten. I still adore baking, especially because of the accolades that go with it. You can prepare a 5 course dinner, but if dessert is meh, the entire meal is a bust.


We don’t eat dessert at every meal.

Sunday dinner (and Celebrations and Birthdays) are the only day that get a shout out with a sweet ending. These cakes are perfect for both of those things – they can be made exactly as described or they can be fancied up with a variety of sprinkles or candies. You get to decide!

Zebra Cakes make celebrating a breeze!

You can absolutely make this with a scratch cake. Here’s a link to the self purported Best Yellow Cake Recipe. I don’t feel the need though, as the boxed cake is easy, cheap and fool proof. But you be you.

Prepare the cake as directed and spread it evenly in a heavily sprayed sheet pan (affiliate link). Cook it for 15 – 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prep the filling.

Cream the shortening and butter:

Butter and vegetable shortening mixed together to make filling in a silver bowl with beaters

Add the sugar and milk:

Filling mid-mix

And buzz it all together. You can do this by hand, but it’s much easier using a Hand Mixer (affiliate link).

Filling in a silver bowl with a white spatula

Cut out the cake. I used a biscuit cutter (affiliate link) but a glass in the right size works just as well. If you are going for a Christmas Tree Cake use this Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter (affiliate link). Valentine’s Day? Use this Heart Cookie Cutter (affiliate link). Use this Easter Egg (affiliate link) at Easter time. Pick your favorite!

Cake cut out with a biscuit cutter before forming Zebra Cakes

There is going to be wasted cake.

Unless you gather it up and pop it in a freezer bag. Use it the next time you’re craving Trifle.

Fill the cakes and assemble.

Zebra Cake filling on one piece of cake
Stuffed Zebra Cake ready for white chocolate coating

Coating these babies via dunking does not work. Instead, hold the Zebra Cake over the melted white chocolate with a spatula or big fork, and spoon melted chocolate over.

Coating Zebra Cake over bowl
Coating Zebra Cake over bowl
Coating Zebra Cake over bowl
Action photos courtesy of Baby Boy.

Place on a baking rack (affiliate link) or on wax paper to set up. Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate and put in a small plastic bag to drizzle.

Small glass holding a ziploc bag ready for chocolate coating for Zebra Cake
Chocolate in bag ready to drizzle on Zebra Cake

Drizzle away. Can you tell which one I started with?

Platter of ready to eat Zebra Cake

They’re ALL tasty.

Close up of four Zebra Cake

Zebra Cake

Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Cooling Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8 cake
Homemade Copycat Zebra Cakes are an easy, fun dessert the whole family can help make! Modify recipe easily for Christmas Tree Cakes and Easter Basket Cakes!
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • Cooking Spray
  • 1 box Yellow Cake Mix, prepared as directed
  • 1- 1/2 sticks Butter (3/4 cups), at room temp
  • 1 cup Vegetable Shortening – Divided
  • 1/4 cup Milk
  • 3 cups Confectioners Sugar
  • 1 pound White Chocolate Melting Chips
  • 2 ounces Dark Chocolate Melting Chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray half size sheet pan (13″ x 18″) very well with cooking spray. (Conversely, line sheet pan with parchment paper.) Pour prepared yellow cake mix in pan and spread evenly.
  • Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, or until cake springs back when pressed lightly. Place cake on rack to cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, cream together butter and 1/2 cup of the shortening until smooth, using a hand mixer if available. When creamed, add milk and confectioners sugar to bowl and mix well.
  • Using a cookie cutter or biscuit cutter, cut cooked and cooled cake into desired shape.
  • Spread filling on bottom of one shape and sandwich on a duplicate. Bottom of each piece of cake should be towards the middle of the cake sandwich. Refrigerate for at least half an hour to set the filling.
  • Combine white chocolate melting chips and remaining 1/2 cup of vegetable shortening in microwave safe bowl, and heat on high in microwave for one minute. Stir mixture, and continue heating in 20-30 second intervals, stirring after each interval. When smooth, coat cake sandwiches.
  • Using spatula or large (serving) fork, hold cake over bowl and spoon coating over top and sides. Continue, letting excess drain, until cake is completely coated on top and sides. Place on baking rack or wax paper to set. Continue until all sandwiches are coated.
  • Melt dark chocolate melting chips and place in small plastic bag. Snip off corner of bag, leaving a tiny hole. Drizzle the chocolate in waves over cakes.
  • Allow cakes to set completely at room temperature before enjoying.

Use different toppings for Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Easter. These Candyfetti Easter Rainbow Colors (affiliate link) scream Easter to me and they taste awesome too. Does your little Princess love mermaids? Candyfetti Under the Sea (affiliate link) are perfect!

The possibilities are endless!

Giddyup!




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