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    Home » All Desserts » Cakes

    Published: Sep 30, 2020 · Modified: Dec 14, 2021 by Anthea

    Vegan Zebra Bundt Cake (Vegan Marble Cake)

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    4.93 from 66 votes

    Fluffy and decadent vegan zebra bundt cake with swirls of chocolate and vanilla cake topped with an easy chocolate ganache! This is an impressive but easy and versatile vegan marble cake recipe.

    Vegan Zebra Bundt cake cut open revealing vanilla and chocolate layers.

    Why you'll love this vegan marble cake

    FLAVOR: If you like chocolate but don't want something too rich, this vegan cake recipe is perfect for you! The alternating layers of vegan chocolate cake and vegan vanilla cake make this a well-balanced dessert. But it's decadent enough for a special celebration!

    APPEARANCE: Vegan bundt cakes are shaped so beautifully that they don't need anything extra. If you don't have a bundt pan, you can use a round or loaf pan and your cake will still be beautiful.

    DIFFICULTY: The cake uses only common pantry ingredients and comes together in just two bowls! If you can mix dry and wet ingredients together, you can make this cake.

    CROWD-PLEASER: I've served this cake to non-vegan guests at parties and it was loved by everyone! You need to try it!

    Ingredients you'll need

    Flatlay of ingredients for bundt cake.

    Notes about the ingredients

    Sugar, preferably regular white sugar or cane sugar. I'd recommend a light-colored sugar for this cake to keep the vanilla cake layers light in color.

    Dairy-free milk such as soy milk, almond milk or oat milk. However, any non-dairy milk will work!

    Oil which keeps the cake moister compared to butter! According to Bon Appetit, it also keeps a cake tender!

    Cocoa powder or raw cacao powder. I prefer the taste of classic cocoa powder for cakes as it's less bitter and provides a more nostalgic chocolate flavor.

    Baking powder and soda. We're using double baking agents to give the cake a lovely light crumb with no dense spots!

    Vinegar (either apple cider or regular) which reacts with the milk to make buttermilk. This makes the cake fluffier and more tender.

    Even though this is an eggless cake, we don't need any egg replacers or flax eggs. I've tested this recipe with egg substitutes and it doesn't make a difference.

    A complete list of ingredients, quantities and instructions are in the gray recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Vegan Zebra Bundt cake with chocolate ganache on top.

    Easy way to prepare a bundt pan to prevent sticking

    You can use a couple of pantry ingredients to make any bundt pan non-stick. It even worked for my intricate Nordicware bundt pan (10-cup)!

    To prepare a bundt pan, I'd suggest you:

    1. Throughly brush inside of the pan with melted vegan butter. Make sure you reach all the nooks and crannies! I prefer using butter rather than oil as the latter sometimes leaves 'puddles' when used for greasing. Alternatively, you can use an oil spray to coat your bundt pan.
    2. Lightly dust some cocoa powder on top.
    3. Invert the bundt pan and tap it on your kitchen bench or side of your sink a few times. This forces the excess cocoa powder to fall out.

    If you don't have a bundt pan, you can use a loaf tin or 2 x round cake pans for this vegan marble cake!

    Two image collage of brushing a bundt tin with melted butter and with a thin dusting of cocoa powder.

    Preparing the cake batters

    First you need to prepare an unflavored cake batter for your vegan bundt cake. You may use a whisk or spatula for this step.

    Add the flour, sugar, raising agents and salt to a large bowl and mix until there are no lumps. Then add dairy-free milk, oil and vinegar and mix until JUST combined (or just before it's combined).

    Some lumps in the cake batter are fine! Please avoid over mixing the cake batter at this stage as we're mixing it more later.

    Evenly divide the batter into two bowls. The batter should weigh about 780g in each bowl.

    Four image collage of preparing the unflavored cake batter.

    Add your vanilla to one bowl of cake batter and gently stir in it. Set this aside.

    To the remaining second bowl, add some cocoa powder and plant-based milk. If your cocoa powder is lumpy, I'd recommend sifting it in! Then gently fold the ingredients together.

    To make the pattern for the vegan marble cake, both cake batters need to be the same consistency in order for the marble pattern to work.

    However, cocoa powder makes the chocolate batter slightly thicker. To counteract this, I added in a little extra dairy-free milk to the chocolate batter so it's the same consistency as the vanilla batter.

    Two image collage of vanilla and chocolate cake batter.

    How to assemble vegan marble cake

    Once you've prepared your cake pan and cake batters, you can assemble your vegan zebra cake!

    It's much easier than it looks. All you have to do is:

    1. Spoon ½ cup chocolate cake batter in one spot in your cake tin. I started with the chocolate batter as we dusted the tin with cocoa powder.
    2. Then spoon ½ cup vanilla cake batter right on top of the chocolate batter. The weight of the vanilla batter will force the chocolate batter underneath to spread out and so on.
    3. Repeat until you have used up all the cake batter!
    Four image collage of bundt tin filled with chocolate and vanilla cake batter in zebra pattern.

    The two-toned appearance of zebra cakes or marble cakes is automatically created when you layer and alternate the two batters.

    The batters will not mix together IF the batters are the same consistency/thickness (see my tips above on preparing the cake batters).

    After you've assembled the marble cake, you don't need to use a knife to swirl the chocolate and vanilla layers together. There are enough layers in the cake for a stunning visual effect!

    It takes about 50-60 minutes to bake the vegan bundt cake. However, the baking time will depend on your cake tin and whether your oven runs hot or cold.

    Close up of slice of the vegan zebra bundt cake.

    Tips: How to customize this cake

    How can I decorate this vegan marble cake for different occasions?

    - VALENTINE'S DAY: Make a smaller version of this cake in a smaller cake tin. Or make the cake its full size and share it with loved ones!
    - EASTER: Top the cake with Easter eggs (like below) to make it the perfect table centerpiece for an Easter buffet.
    - BIRTHDAYS: Top the cake with sparklers and/or sprinkles.

    Can I make this cake refined sugar-free?

    I do not recommend using coconut sugar in the cake batter as it'll make the vanilla layer brown. If you really want to use coconut sugar, it will only work for the chocolate layer.

    I haven't tried this vegan bundt cake with sugar replacers like stevia and monk fruit. However, I imagine it would work!

    Also, using less sugar will result in a denser cake.

    Can I make this cake gluten-free?

    Yes, check out the notes of the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

    Can I make this vegan marble cake oil-free?

    I haven't tried substituting the oil for apple sauce or a similar ingredient. If you try it, let me know!

    Vegan Zebra Bundt cake with Easter Eggs on top.

    More easy vegan chocolate desserts

    • Vegan Oreo Cookies and Cream Cake
    • Flourless Vegan Chocolate Cake (oil free)
    • Vegan Chocolate Babka (simple and easy)
    • Vegan Chocolate Mousse Tart

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    Print Recipe
    4.93 from 66 votes

    Vegan Zebra Bundt Cake (Vegan Marble Cake)

    Fluffy vegan zebra bundt cake with swirls of chocolate and vanilla cake. The cake is amazing served with an easy chocolate ganache!
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time50 mins
    Cuisine: American, Vegan
    Servings: 14
    Author: Anthea

    Ingredients

    Zebra Marble Cake

    • 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose plain flour, note 1 for gluten free
    • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
    • 3 teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • Pinch of salt
    • 2 cups (500g) dairy-free milk, room temperature
    • ¾ cup (190g) neutral flavored oil, or melted vegan butter
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ cup (25g) cocoa or raw cacao powder, + 2 tablespoons plant-based milk
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • Melted vegan butter, as needed

    Chocolate Ganache

    • ¾ cup (130g) roughly chopped vegan chocolate or chocolate chips
    • ½ cup (120g) thick scoopable canned coconut cream

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Brush a bundt tin with melted vegan butter or oil then lightly dust it with cocoa powder.

    To make the cake:

    • Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt to a large bowl. Mix until combined. Add the milk, oil and apple cider vinegar and mix until just combined (some lumps are fine). Do not overmix the batter as you'll need to mix it again.
    • Pour half of the cake mixture (around 780g) into another bowl. You will have two bowls of the unflavored cake mixture.
    • Add the vanilla to one bowl of cake batter. Mix until just combined. Add the cocoa powder and milk to the other bowl of cake batter. Mix until just combined. (note 2)

    Assembling the cake:

    • Use 2 x ½ cup measures for these next steps (or 2 ladles of the same size).
    • Pour ½ cup of the chocolate batter in one spot in the bundt tin. Pour ½ cup of the vanilla batter directly on top. Both cake batters will naturally spread. Keep alternating until there is no more cake batter.
    • Bake the cake in the oven for 50-60 minutes or until you can insert a skewer or toothpick into the cake and it comes out clean.
    • Allow the cake to cool in the bundt tin for 10 minutes. Turn the bundt tin upside down on and leave it on a cooling rack for another 10 minutes. Gently tap the tin on to encourage it to come out. Allow the cake to completely cool on your wire rack.

    To make the ganache:

    • Add all ingredients to a small saucepan over low heat. Mix while allowing the chocolate to melt then turn off the heat. Mix until smooth and fully emulsified. Set aside to slightly cool.
    • Drizzle the chocolate ganache over the bundt cake and serve immediately.
    • The cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 day, in the fridge for 5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    Notes

    1. To make this bundt cake gluten free, I'd recommend using 2 ¼ cups (225g) almond flour and 1 ½ cups (220g) gluten free all-purpose flour. Alternatively, substitute all the flour with a good quality 1:1 gluten free flour such as Bob Red Mills.
    2. Both the vanilla and chocolate cake batters should have the same consistency/thickness (the zebra pattern will not work if they aren't the same consistency). Add and mix in more flour or milk to ensure this.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 slice without ganache | Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Sodium: 180mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you Make this Recipe?Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @rainbownourishments on Instagram and hashtag #rainbownourishments!

    This post was first published in July 2019 and updated a few times since then with more useful information.

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

    Vegan Zebra Bundt Cake (Vegan Marble Cake)
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    1. Mils says

      February 24, 2023 at 3:34 am

      What size bunt pan is this please!!

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        February 24, 2023 at 8:55 am

        Hi Mils, I used a 10-cup NordicWare bundt pan (it's linked in the blog post above). However, any standard-sized bundt pan should work!

        Reply
    2. Ronnie says

      January 08, 2023 at 9:39 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this amazing recipe. I swapped strawberry Emulsion instead of vanilla and added magenta food gel for Strawberry Chocolate bundtettes with vanilla glaze. I used the Nordic ware quad bundtette pan and will continue to use your recipe.

      It's moist, fun looking and flavoursome. Thank you for the recipe!!

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        January 26, 2023 at 4:01 pm

        That sounds absolutely incredible!!!! Strawberry would complement the chocolate so perfectly. Thanks so much for letting us know how this cake is adaptable and for your feedback!

        Reply
    3. Sue says

      October 26, 2022 at 12:10 am

      I have been requested to make a marble wedding cake, and they want it decorated in the style of a naked cake. This means a good amount of the icing is scraped off and portions of the cake show thru. I am worried how that will look with the two tones of cake batter.
      Do you think there is any way I can layer and swirl the two batters so that I achieve mostly white batter around the outer edges, keeping the chocolate away from the outer edges?

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        October 26, 2022 at 9:00 am

        Hi Sue, that sounds like a project! If you would like your cake to have mostly white batter outside, it's best if you make extra of the white batter, spread it along the edges of the cake pan then freeze the cake pans until the batter is completely solid. When you pour the two batters inside, the outside will remain white. If you don't freeze your cake pans, the outside will still be white but the chocolate cake batter may seep through. I've made this cake a few times and the outside is different every time as it's hard to control how the cake batter flows. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    4. Natalie says

      August 08, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      I really enjoyed this recipe! I made a half batch and used 2 mini loaf pans. I reduced the baking time to 28 minutes and the cakes turned out perfect! I am still new to vegan baking, so it was really nice to find a fun recipe that used ingredients that I had on hand.

      Reply
    5. Hannah says

      June 06, 2022 at 9:17 pm

      How long do you recommend baking this recipe in cupcake form?

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        June 07, 2022 at 8:52 am

        It depends how much you fill each cupcake and your oven but I'd say around 15-20 minutes.

        Reply
    6. Reiko says

      April 18, 2022 at 12:49 pm

      5 stars
      My cake turned out amazing! The directions were easy to follow. It has the right amount of sweetness, and the cake was absolutely delicious!! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. I will definitely make it again. https://sideb.culinarytribune.com/2022/03/31/zebra-bundt-cake-with-orange

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        April 23, 2022 at 11:56 am

        Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures of your cake on your blog! I love your little modifications and I'm so glad you enjoyed this cake :).

        Reply
    7. Sara says

      April 18, 2022 at 3:58 am

      5 stars
      Second time making this, and it turned out even better than the first. It was a birthday cake - my husband loved the first one and requested this for his birthday. I substituted the 2 tbsp milk for the chocolate batter with 2 tbsp of extremely strong coffee, and then had to add a bit more milk to get the density correct, but despite the modifications it worked out great! (I'm a very new baker and am extremely anxious about making my own modifications.)

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        April 23, 2022 at 11:55 am

        I'm so glad you had a great experience with this cake as a new baker! Your little modifications sound absolutely reasonable :). Thanks so much for your feedback!

        Reply
    8. Nicky says

      March 21, 2022 at 11:32 pm

      5 stars
      Made this twice and came out great both times. Super moist and utterly delicious. I put a little less sugar that recipe suggested and it was still plenty sweet.

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        March 23, 2022 at 11:53 am

        That's wonderful to hear Nicky! Glad it worked with a little less sugar too 🙂

        Reply
    9. Nat says

      March 16, 2022 at 8:55 pm

      Hi Anthea
      Will this still cook as well in a round cake tin?
      Nat

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        March 17, 2022 at 12:18 pm

        Hi Nat, yes this cake bakes just as well in a round cake tin!

        Reply
    10. Molly Henning says

      March 13, 2022 at 7:56 am

      5 stars
      Amazing cake. Tender, not gummy. Nailed it on the first try. I usually have to make tweaks.

      & then I realized you were the author of my favorite cookbook, Incredible Plant-based Desserts

      You are an amazing person that creates delicious recipes for those of us that don’t have your talent or knowledge. Thank you for this!

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        March 17, 2022 at 2:19 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed this cake and that you didn't have to do any extra experimentation with it!

        Aw you're so kind and sweet Molly! Thank you so much for your ongoing support and for buying my cookbook! I appreciate it a lot! xx

        Reply
    11. Sara says

      March 03, 2022 at 6:08 pm

      5 stars
      My first attempt at this cake turned out beautifully! I'm planning on making it as a birthday cake for someone, and I thought I would need a few tries to get it right, but thanks to Anthea's extremely clear instructions, it was a huge success. I gave out slices to the neighbours (all of whom are non-vegan) and they raved about it. I'm new to baking, and this was the first cake I've ever tried, so I was so surprised and pleased about how well it went.

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        March 17, 2022 at 2:18 pm

        Aw, that's amazing Sara! So glad that my instructions helped :). And it's WONDERFUL that this is the first cake you've ever baked!! Go you!

        Reply
    12. Oriana says

      March 01, 2022 at 11:29 am

      5 stars
      Pretty good recipe, I have made it twice and it tasted amazing. Vegan and non-vegan family members loved it!

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        March 17, 2022 at 2:17 pm

        Aw I'm so glad you and your family loved this! Thanks so much Oriana!

        Reply
    13. Brianna says

      February 12, 2022 at 6:40 am

      How long would you need to bake for a mini Bundt cake pan?

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        February 12, 2022 at 8:10 am

        I'm not sure as I haven't tried it. It will depend if you're using a 6 or 12 mini bundt pan too! Try maybe 15-20 minutes and use the skewer test. Or use the skewer test when you can see the cake is starting to change colour on top.

        Reply
    14. Biljana aka OneGiantLeek says

      January 31, 2022 at 9:29 pm

      5 stars
      So far one of the best and easiest cake recipes by far!!

      Don’t let me even start on this: not even my grandma was able to obtain such perfection with the stripes !

      I’m obsessed!!

      The small changes I’ve made:
      - cut the sugar by half
      - put half chocolate and half instant coffee
      - put some rum as well: why not

      It lasts quite a long, I mean it could but we just can get enough.. no wonder I’m not losing any weight

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        February 02, 2022 at 11:59 am

        What a lovely complement! I'm glad the cake still worked with your modifications (and I love the sound of the rum too). Thanks so much for your feedback - I appreciate it a lot!

        Reply
    15. joseph says

      January 22, 2022 at 9:06 am

      5 stars
      it came out very beautiful my friend loved it and said he couldn't tell if it was even vegan so tysm

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        May 23, 2022 at 11:57 am

        Aw that's amazing! Thanks so much Joseph!

        Reply
    16. Lonán says

      January 19, 2022 at 2:52 am

      This looks delicious! Just wondering if this could be make in standard cake pans? Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        January 19, 2022 at 6:07 am

        Yes, I've baked this in standard cake pans and it works well!

        Reply
    17. Molly says

      December 12, 2021 at 11:16 am

      Can I substitute gluten-free flour?

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        December 14, 2021 at 4:31 pm

        Hi Molly, I've just updated the notes of the recipe card with a gluten free substitute! I hope that helps.

        Reply
    18. Makayla says

      September 06, 2021 at 2:42 am

      5 stars
      This was a wonderful recipe! I’m by no means a skilled baker and was able to make this beautiful cake the first time with no hiccups.

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        September 06, 2021 at 7:16 am

        Aw!! I'm so happy that you enjoyed this recipe and that you found it approachable! Thanks for your kind comment and for making my day 🙂

        Reply
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