Zebra Cakes Recipe 425

Steps:

• Beat cream in a large glass or metal mixing bowl with an electric mixer. Gradually add confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract, continuing to beat until the cream holds stiff peaks. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the whipped cream should form a sharp peak that holds its shape.
• Spread a generous teaspoon of whipped cream on each cookie. Press cookies together to make 3-inch stacks.
• Spread a 1-inch wide line of whipped cream down center of a serving platter. Assemble cookie stacks into a log on platter following the line of whipped cream.
• Frost cookie log with remaining whipped cream and sprinkle with grated chocolate.
• Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
• To serve, slice diagonally to create striped pieces.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms and sides of 3 (8- or 9-inch) round pans with shortening. Line pan bottoms with waxed paper or cooking parchment paper; grease again and lightly flour. Make dark chocolate cake mix as directed on box using water, oil and eggs; set aside. Make white cake mix as directed on box using water, oil and egg whites.
• Place 1/4 cup of the chocolate cake batter into center of each pan. Do not spread batter. Place 1/4 cup white cake batter on top and in center of chocolate batter in each pan. Do not spread batter. Let batter in each pan spread on its own. Repeat placing remaining batters, 1/4 cup at a time, in center alternating between chocolate and white batter.
• Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Carefully remove waxed paper. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• If necessary, using serrated knife, cut rounded top off cakes to make a level surface. Place 1 cake layer on cake plate, top side up. Spread frosting over top. Top with another cake layer, top side down; spread with frosting. Top with remaining cake layer, top side down. Reserve about 1/2 cup remaining frosting for garnish. Frost side and top of cake with remaining frosting. Use metal spatula to smooth frosting. Using #9 writing tip, pipe reserved 1/2 cup frosting around bottom of cake.
• Knead fondant to soften. Lightly sprinkle smooth surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar. Roll out fondant to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut strips from fondant of various lengths and widths to make black stripes. Place strips on cake side and top forming striped pattern on cake, leaving about 1/2 inch of frosting between stripes. Store cake loosely covered.