Zebra Layer Cake

Ingredients

• Eggs - 4 whole
• Butter - 1 cup
• Milk - 1 cup
• Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
• Flour - 3 cup
• Baking powder - 2 tsp
• Salt - 1/4 tsp
• Cocoa powder - 3 tbsp
• Milk - 1/4 cup
• Sugar - 1 tbsp

Instructions

1. 1Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare one 9-inch round pan by greasing it and either dusting it with flour or spraying it with non-stick cooking spray.
2. 2Have two 1/4-cup scoops ready, one designated for the chocolate batter and one for the white batter so assembly is quick and even.
3. 3Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl until evenly combined.
4. 4In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder with 1/4 cup milk and 1 tbsp sugar until smooth and free of lumps.
5. 5In a separate large bowl, beat the butter with the sugar until creamy, then add the eggs one at a time, beating until the mixture is smooth.
6. 6Stir the dry ingredients into the butter and egg mixture until just combined to form the white batter.
7. 7Remove two cups of the white batter and stir those two cups into the cocoa mixture to make the chocolate batter.
8. 8Begin the zebra pattern by dropping one 1/4-cup scoop of chocolate batter into the center of the prepared pan and let it spread on its own; do not touch it.
9. 9Add a 1/4-cup scoop of white batter directly into the center on top of the chocolate, then continue alternating chocolate and white, working quickly and allowing each scoop to spread before adding the next so concentric rings form.
10. 10Bake the cake for 50 minutes, until the top is set and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
11. 11Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert it onto a wire rack and remove the pan.
12. 12Optional: dust with powdered sugar or serve with a dollop of whipped cream for a simple finish.