# Little Debbie Zebra Cake Recipe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008 "2011-01-26T02:35:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Faelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c77e96/32.png) [@Faelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faelyn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/1 "2011-01-26T02:35:59Z")
Has there ever been a tried and true recipe for homemade zebra cakes? These things are… Well if I were religious I’d think that this is what Heaven’s air must taste like. I love them, and dream that my wedding cake will be made of them! I’d like to make a small cake that tastes the same at home, but my google-fu is failing me. Has anyone else come across a recipe? Not to put any pressure, but everything that I’ve ever asked the Dope for has brought forth amazing results, so I have full confidence 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/2 "2011-01-26T03:25:15Z")
Not sure if this helps, but over the holidays I was discussing petits fours with my friends and we went out and bought some. Someone else asked what they taste like and I said “You know what? They taste like Zebra Cakes.” Maybe you just need a good petit four recipe? (Those things are hard to make, tho!) ---
**Author:** ![Faelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c77e96/32.png) [@Faelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faelyn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/3 "2011-01-27T16:17:01Z")
Hm, don’t think I’ve ever had a petit four! A friend suggested I try french vanilla cake mix, but I’ve been studying (:D) the cream in the middle of the zebra cakes, and can’t figure out what I would need to make it. It tastes slightly like vanilla, but is so rich, I’m perplexed! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/4 "2011-01-27T16:59:16Z")
I think the secret ingredient is a hint of citrus. No joke. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/5 "2011-01-27T20:04:13Z")
Around here we call them ‘wax cakes’ because of the texture of the, uh, coating? Fondant?. So be sure to melt a candle into whatever frosting you were planning to use. ---
**Author:** ![Faelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c77e96/32.png) [@Faelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faelyn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/6 "2011-01-27T20:45:02Z")
I found a recipe for a french vanilla filling, gonna try that. Zipper, if this doesn’t work we’ll add citrus. Brossa, I was just planning on using a thin white chocolate coating… ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/7 "2011-01-27T21:28:44Z")
> [@brossa](#): > > Around here we call them ‘wax cakes’ because of the texture of the, uh, coating? Fondant?. So be sure to melt a candle into whatever frosting you were planning to use. Seriously. I just had some zebra cakes recently after not eating them for years, and 1) the outer coating is way way thinner than it was when I was a kid, and 2) it has the absolute consistency of candle wax. Of course tastes change over the years, but those things were ambrosia when I was a kid. Now I’d rather chew on a corner of my towel than eat one. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/8 "2011-01-28T00:12:40Z")
> [@Meagan](#): > > I found a recipe for a french vanilla filling, gonna try that. Zipper, if this doesn’t work we’ll add citrus. > > Brossa, I was just planning on using a thin white chocolate coating… One of the common commercial flavors is a vanilla citrus, you can get it at King Arthur Flour dot com. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/9 "2011-01-28T23:04:18Z")
I will never tell. ---
**Author:** ![Faelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c77e96/32.png) [@Faelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faelyn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/10 "2011-01-29T21:02:04Z")
Ok, I’m back with test results! I used french vanilla cake mix, a martha stuart creme filling recipe, and used white chocolate as a glaze. The cake is amazing, the creme could probably use the citrus syrap, and the glaze is completely all wrong and in my opinion is too bitter. Oh well, test #1 still came out pretty good! My fiance’s brother is over tonight so hopefully between the two of them they can finish off the experiment! Zebra, you just made my day! Ha! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/11 "2011-01-30T05:08:56Z")
Yeah straight up white chocolate is definitely not the glaze. Royal icing (powdered sugar, water, meringue powder) is closer to the taste but sets way too hard. Petit fours use a marshmallow fondant. I think you need something very sugary and slightly fat-y. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/12 "2011-01-30T05:49:48Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I will never tell. Are zebra cakes made of real zebra, or do we have a lawsuit on our hands…:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/13 "2011-01-30T06:58:18Z")
You could try [white candy coating](http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_CC0105-SWT). I can’t stand the stuff, but it sort of sounds like what you’re describing for the icing. Most snack cakes use the good ol’ partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in their “creme” - if you substitute half the butter in your filling with Crisco, you’ll probably get a similar mouthfeel to the zebra cakes. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/14 "2011-01-30T08:10:52Z")
I LOVE Zebra Cakes. They’ve always reminded me of petit fours too. ---
**Author:** ![Faelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c77e96/32.png) [@Faelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faelyn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/15 "2011-01-30T16:05:30Z")
Thanks Jelly, I’m gonna order some of that coating today! And the creme recipe I have already calls for a huge amount of crisco. It has the right texture, but still a little off on taste. Might have to get more zebra cakes and continue the tasting experiment! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/16 "2011-01-31T18:59:55Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Are zebra cakes made of real zebra, or do we have a lawsuit on our hands…:dubious: No, they are made _by_ zebras. You really have to have hooves to do it right. But wearing zebra print undies, and nothing else, helps. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-debbie-zebra-cake-recipe/569008/17 "2011-01-31T20:01:25Z")
Why are you trying to mess with perfection? Zebra cakes are delicious, cheap, and plentiful. There is no need to make your own.