Zebra Cake for the Rajpals

I was so excited.... was to meet Deeba... my friend who blogs at http://passionateaboutbaking.blogspot.com. Had been drooling all over her blog from so long and called her at odd hours for SOS advice about something or the other while baking.... She's fabulous.... gave me all the encouragement I ever needed.

We were finally gonna meet. Thought of taking chocolates for her wonderful kids, Mehar and Rohan. Then at night, while driving back, was thinking... why not bake something new instead of buying chocolate off the shelf. It's just so much more personal.

There wasn't too much time to experiment or think at 9pm, as no shops would be open for new ingredients. Plain cake, Chocolate cake... toooooo boring. Then I though Marble cake.....AAAHHHAAAA.... Remembered seeing a Zebra Cake posted on Deeba's blog. Didn't follow the recipe, instead adapted the method of getting the zebra stripes.....

Then again..... why is it my disability to follow a recipe [LOL]..... I knew Deeba loves Chocolate n Coffee so instead of adding just Cocoa, added Chocolate shavings, generous amounts of Coffee and some Cinnamon to enhance the taste. [Am also a chocolate freak ;-) Check out a previous post Chocoholic]

There was madness in my kitchen cause mom was serving everyone dinner and here i was pottering around with my stuff.

The cake itself was simple to do, just had to be careful with the way it was poured into the baking tin. As Deeba says "The most important part is assembling the cake batter in a baking pan. This is what you do. Scoop 3 heaped tablespoons of plain batter (you can also use a ladle that would hold 3 tablespoons) into the middle of the baking pan. Then scoop 3 tablespoons of cocoa batter and pour it in the center on top of the plain batter."



The outcome was smelling so good that I wanted to cut it and eat it there n then...... Had to resist the temptation with all the will power i could muster, packed it in a box and was ready to go to bed. I kept the decoration part to be done at The Expert's place and what a good job of it she did. I was the kitchen helper.


It looks so amazing ... check it out.....


After taking pictures, we cut a slice n I was ready to drool........

The Zebra stripes didn't come out so well cause the chocolate part of the batter got much heavier in consistency compared to the vanilla part due to the chocolate, yet tasted yummy. The kids had seconds... :-)

Shared the cake with my brother[who was so skeptical about me having made it at all] and then took some to office n Nikhil had it.

Zebra Cake from Deeba @ passionate about baking

My Zebra Cake Recipe
Ingredients:

• Eggs - 4
• Sugar - 1 1/2 cup
• Oil - 1/2 cup
• Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
• Flour - 1 1/2 cups
• Vanilla Essence - 1/2 Teaspoon
• Baking powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
• Dark cocoa powder - 4 Tablespoon
• Cooking Chocolate - 150gms [grated]
• Coffee Powder - 2 Tablespoon
• Cinnamon - 1 Teaspoon

Method:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs and sugar until creamy and light in colour.
2. Add vanilla extract to the mixture.
3. Gradually add flour and oil in the Dry-Wet method[some oil, then some flour, some oil, then some flour,] and then mix the batter till it is smooth and the flour and oil are thoroughly incorporated.
4. Divide the mixture into 2 equal portions. Keep one portion plain. Add cocoa powder, coffee and cinnamon into another and mix well. The color of the cocoa batter should be quite dark.
5. Add the grated chocolate shavings.
6. Preheat the oven to 180C. Greased and floured the sides of the cake tin.
7. The most important part is assembling the cake batter in a baking pan. This is what you do. Scoop 3 heaped tablespoons of plain batter (you can also use a ladle that would hold 3 tablespoons) into the middle of the baking pan. Then scoop 3 tablespoons of cocoa batter and pour it in the center on top of the plain batter.
   NOTE: Do not spread the batter or tilt the pan to distribute the mixture. It will spread by itself and fill the pan gradually. Continue alternating the batters until you finish them.
8. Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes.

Decoration with Chocolate Ganache:

1. While the cake is baking, put 200ml cream with the dark chocolate on simmer & continue to stir till the chocolate has melted. Take off heat & allow to cool completely[NEVER the freezer]. This will thicken as it cools.
2. Spread the ganache over the top and sides of the cake evenly.
3. Slice a strawberry and place in the centre for colour.
4. Decorate the edges with chocolate flakes.
5. Chill well before serving.
   Note: If the ganache is too thin, add a little more chocolate and heat on low till melted; and then cool. And, if the ganache is too thick, add a little more cream & repeat procedure.

Coming up is the post about the yummy lunch at Deeba's.



[Updated] Check out Deeba's account of the fun we had TRIFLE TALES...OF VISITING BLOGGERS & SWEET THINGS!

Check out Deeba's account of the fun we had TRIFLE TALES...OF VISITING BLOGGERS & SWEET THINGS!

Also view Cups of Magic ~ Vanilla Cupcakes @ Deeba's and Lunch at Deeba's