When you are the baker in the family, it is not uncommon that you just might have to bake your own birthday cakes. I’m okay with that and since today I find myself turning a year older (how does that keep happening???), I thought I’d make some cupcakes that feature a few of my favorite things…
Which means chocolate and vanilla zebra striped cupcakes topped with hot pink & black sprinkles and Hello Kitty. You’d think I was turning 13, wouldn’t you? Closer to twice three times that, but we’ll just chalk it up to being young at heart and having little girls around.
I keep seeing zebra striped cakes and cupcakes and have wanted to try to make some, so this seemed like a good time to try it out. To keep it simple I used a white cake mix and a chocolate fudge cake mix. I did add a bit of black food coloring to my chocolate cake mix, just to pump up the darkness.
I think this is something that probably works out a bit better when made in cake form than in cupcake form. Check out this great post over at My Cake School on how to make a zebra striped cake. My cupcakes didn’t give me exactly the look that I was going for, but I think they pass muster. They manage to still be stripey versus just marbled. Speaking of marbled, a marbled cake mix would be an awesome way to do this (versus using two cake mixes).
I basically layered the white and chocolate cake batters…
After that I simply baked according to the directions on the box.
And in keeping it simple, I just added vanilla frosting, some sprinkles and some Hello Kitty sugar decorations (I’ve found these at grocery stores, party stores and craft stores for years, I think they are a pretty standard item – I mean it IS Hello Kitty!). I also topped a few with a pink heart.
And a look inside…
These were fun and easy and you could get pretty creative using different colors. Now it’s time for me to go enjoy a cupcake and cry about getting old! 
Have a great day!
These are so freaking cute!! Awesome job!
I didn’t realize the zebra-striping was so easy to do. I can’t wait to try making these or a version of them. You could do these for baby showers too and they would be super cute! Plus, I mean, Hello…Hello Kitty on a cupcake, so fun!
Happy Birthday!!! These cupcakes are so cute. I am gonna have to give them a try. I love that you did zebra and Hello Kitty for your birthday. Hope you have a fantabulous day!
You could do black bean cupcake mix too for the black batter.
Happy Bday!!! and both me and my 5 year old would love Hello Kitty cupcakes for our next bdays!
Happy Birthday! Who doesn’t love Hello Kitty? Or zebra print? Two of my fave things in a cupcake? Love it!
Very cute!!
So cute! Love the Hello Kitty and the zebra is gorg. My daughter has a thing for zebras, these would be perfect for her. Happy Birthday!
I can’t even tell you how much I love these. LOVE!!! ♥
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Sugar!
Happy Birthday – we share the same birthdate!! The cupcakes look great!
Happy birthday! And yes!! I agree. I’m finding that I have to bake my own birthday cake too. Although I prefer home baked, there’s just a little part of me that wishes my loved ones would have made the effort for me.
The hello kitty cupcakes are so darn cute. Loving the zebra style, I so have to try that. The frosting looks delicious too and I wish we got those hello kitty toppers here.
Happy belated + these are ADORABLE!
These are so cute!! Happy Birthday!
I have never seen anything more cute than these!
What beautiful cupcakes! So cute!
Um, these are beyond adorable. I just fell in love with a cupcake.
Love love love them!!!
Absolutely adorable! If you agree I would like to showcase these cupcakes on my cupcake recipes & ideas blog.
what measurements did you use for each layer?
Robin, I just spooned them in by sight – to me that’s much more of an “art” than a “science” – whatever looks good for something like this works for me as it’s not going to change the basic structure/recipe. Well, that and it pains me to measure, I enjoy baking so much more when I just roll with it and fly by the seat of my pants.