As it is World Baking Day I baked a cake this evening after a busy day out. My favourite flavours are currently vanilla and chocolate, so I decided to try baking a chocolate and vanilla zebra-striped cake in the slow cooker.
You’ve probably seen zebra cakes before, they are everywhere, with videos showing how to make them doing the rounds on Facebook. A zebra cake is basically a spin on a marble cake, where you layer up two different colours of cake batter to make zebra stripes!
Why not see if they work in the slow cooker I thought?! I wasn’t sure it would work because cakes don’t rise as quickly in the slow cooker as in the oven, and I thought this might mean the stripes could lose definition.
Happily my slow cooker zebra cake worked well!
I was amazed to see that the stripe effect worked even in a slow cooker.
Simply spooning the different colours on top of each other creates this great marble-like pattern. You have to be fast!
I’ve adapted this recipe from a recipe from BBC Food for zebra cake. The key, from the videos I’ve seen, seems to be using a runny cake batter containing oil and milk so it can be spooned, piped or poured quickly into the case using the vanilla and chocolate mixture alternately.
I used my round, 3.5 litre slow cooker to make this cake. So if you are using a bigger one, you might want to amend the quantities.
Ingredients needed
For the quantities see the recipe card at the end of the post.
- eggs
- caster sugar
- milk
- sunflower oil
- vanilla bean paste/vanilla extract
- self-raising flour
- baking powder
- cocoa powder
Step by step instructions
- Place the eggs, sugar, oil and milk in a large bowl, and mix until smooth using a handheld mixer (I use a K-Mix).
- Fold in half the flour and mix until combined.
- Pour half the mixture into a second bowl. Add the vanilla bean paste or extract, half of the remaining flour and half the baking powder and stir it in.
- To the first bowl, add the cocoa powder, rest of the flour and the rest of the baking powder. Stir until combined.
- Line your slow cooker either with baking paper or a large cake case (I use two cakes cases to add an extra layer of protection for the sides of the cake).
- Using two dessert spoons, spoon in first a large spoonful of the vanilla cake mixture, followed by a large spoonful of the chocolate cake mixture directly on top of it. Keep repeating until you have used all the cake mixture from each bowl.
- Turn your slow cooker onto high, place a clean tea towel under the lid (fold up the sides so it doesn’t hang down) and put the lid on. Bake for approximately 1.5 hrs on high, or until a skewer or cake tester comes out clean from the deepest part of the cake. Watch out for burning, if you think it might be burning, rotate the bowl inside the slow cooker and/or turn to low for the rest of the time.
Slow cooker cake recipes
If you love this I think you’ll love my guide to baking cakes and puddings in your slow cooker which has recipes for giant cookies, giant scones, all kinds of cakes, saucy desserts and even more!
My most visited crockpot desserts are:
slow cooker mint aero bubble cake
slow cooker cream cheese brownies
slow cooker giant Nutella scone
slow cooker lemon and white chocolate cake
slow cooker chocolate chip scone
Recipe
Slow Cooker Zebra Cake
Ingredients
- 3 medium eggs
- 175 g golden caster sugar
- 100 ml milk
- 175 ml oil I used sunflower oil
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
- 350 g self-raising flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 25 g cocoa powder
Instructions
- Place the eggs, sugar, oil and milk in a large bowl, and mix until smooth using a handheld mixer (I use a K-Mix).
- Fold in half the flour and mix until combined.
- Pour half the mixture into a second bowl. Add the vanilla bean paste or extract, half of the remaining flour and half the baking powder and stir it in.
- To the first bowl, add the cocoa powder, rest of the flour and the rest of the baking powder. Stir until combined.
- Line your slow cooker either with baking paper or a large cake case (I use two cakes cases to add an extra layer of protection for the sides of the cake).
- Using two dessert spoons, spoon in first a large spoonful of the vanilla cake mixture, followed by a large spoonful of the chocolate cake mixture directly on top of it. Keep repeating until you have used all the cake mixture from each bowl.
- Turn your slow cooker onto high, place a clean tea towel under the lid (fold up the sides so it doesn't hang down) and put the lid on. Bake for approximately 1.5 hrs on high, or until a skewer or cake tester comes out clean from the deepest part of the cake. Watch out for burning, if you think it might be burning, rotate the bowl inside the slow cooker and/or turn to low for the rest of the time.
I’m linking this recipe up with #CookBlogShare which is guest-hosted by Angela from Patisserie Makes Perfect this fortnight on behalf of Lucy from Supergolden Bakes.
I’m also linking up with We Should Cocoa from Choclette from Tin and Thyme, which is hosted by Karen from Lavender and Lovage this month. The theme for May is vanilla and chocolate.
Jenny W Cole says
can butter be used instead of the oil ? thanks x
bakingqueen74 says
You want it to be runny really so you can make the stripes. I haven’t tried it but it should work if you get the proportions right. Try it and see!
choclette says
Gosh, I thought I’d commented on this already Lucy. I do apologise. This is such a fabulous looking cake. I guess the clue is in the name, but those stripes are quite striking and very clever. Thanks for joining in with #WeShouldCocoa this month
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Choclette! Not to worry. It was really good and I was pleasantly surprised it worked in the slow cooker.
abi says
Great blog enjoyed reading it will be back again soon 🙂
laura_howtocook says
I love this cake and even better that it’s possible in a slow cooker!
bakingqueen74 says
Anything is possible in the slow cooker in my view 😉
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
I really need to have a go at baking in my slow cooker! This looks so good x #cookblogshare
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks,Kirsty
Angela says
I’ve never made a cake in the slow cooker before, what a great idea. The cake looks fab.
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Angela, I was surprised how well it turned out.
patisseriemakesperfect says
This looks so good Lucy. You must be so pleased with how it turned out. Does cake in the slow cooker stay light and moist? Or does it get quite dense? Thanks for linking to #CookBlogShare
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Angela! They turn out really well, this one rose a lot and was light and moist. Others can be a bit denser but with the moistness it can be a good thing!
Culinary Flavors says
Delicious cake! Love it!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks, glad to have you visiting
Jo's Kitchen (@Jos_Kitchen) says
I must try this recipe. Sounds amazing!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Jo!
Sew White says
I can’t believe you made it in a slow cooker. That is seriously magic!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Sisley, it surprised me too!
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
LOVE the idea of a slow cooker cake this looks fab 🙂 simple yet effective. I’m sure it’s delicious.
bakingqueen74 says
It was very tasty, thanks Emma
Elizabeth says
Such a gorgeous looking cake! I really ought to give this slow cooking cake thing a try! 🙂
bakingqueen74 says
You must try it Elizabeth!
All That I'm Eating says
This looks delicious, how could anyone resist a slice?!
bakingqueen74 says
I certainly couldn’t 🙂
Margot⚓C&V (@coffeenvanilla) says
Lovely, we often make zebra cakes (used to) but never in a slow cooker…. sounds like a fabulous idea! 🙂
bakingqueen74 says
I love being able to do other stuff and bake at the same time 😉
Sarah says
Looks amazing. Good to see it worked to well in your slow cooker! 🙂
bakingqueen74 says
I was quite amazed too
Munchies and Munchkins says
As always this looks incredible! Yum.
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Becky