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Neapolitan Bundt Cake

prep time: 30 min | bake time: 45 min | total time: 1 hr

This Neapolitan Bundt Cake is a total show-stopper and your new favorite dessert to make for special occasions! Bringing together the beloved trio of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors, this eggless bundt cake is soft, moist, and rich in its unique flavors. Finished with a glossy chocolate ganache drizzle, this recipe is perfect for birthdays, gatherings, or when you want a dessert that combines nostalgic flavors with a modern twist!

Neapolitan Bundt Cake: A Trio of Classic Flavors

Get ready to wow everyone your next social gathering with this stunner of a bundt cake! I love bundt cakes because they are stunningly jazzed up or straight out of the oven. This eggless Neapolitan Bundt Cake is no exception and with a chocolate ganache glaze on the top it will turn every head in the room. Each layer, decadent chocolate, light vanilla, and sweet strawberry are carefully swirled to create a marbled masterpiece. And let’s not forget about the rich chocolate ganache glaze draped over the top – YUM.

Imagine sinking your fork into layers of cake that taste like your favorite ice cream flavor, without the brain freeze; sounds like the ideal dessert to me! Why settle for one flavor when you can have three? This beautiful fusion of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry cake layers is bound to become a favorite. Not to mention it’s totally fun and easy to make so grab your bundt pan, a whisk, few ingredients and let’s get baking!

What is Neapolitan Cake?

Neapolitan cake is inspired by the popular ice cream flavor that features layers of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. The flavors are distinct yet complementary, offering variety in every slice. I know for a fact that many people who bought this ice cream would scoop out their favorite flavors first and then not enjoy the experience of having all three together! This cake does not allow for pickiness, it’s beautifully marbled together to make one beautiful harmonious cake where you can still enjoy each flavor individually. The marriage of all three is quite epic. 

Neapolitan Bundt Cake Ingredients

Cake Ingredients 

  • Milk: Mixed with the dry ingredients to provide moisture and softness. Use dairy or a plant-based alternative.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Helps the batter rise and gives the cake a tender crumb.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavors in all three layers to create a beautiful vibrancy in the cake.
  • Cane Sugar: Sweetens the cake while maintaining a soft texture. Use any granulated sugar you have on hand.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Necessary for the base and structure of the cake. Use gluten-free all-purpose flour if necessary. 
  • Cornstarch: Ensures a light, delicate crumb.
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Work together for the perfect rise.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and helps to enhance all the flavors.
  • Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the batter that cannot be beaten! Use dairy free butter sticks if you are making a vegan version.

Chocolate Batter Ingredients

  • Cocoa Powder: I like to use dutch-processed for a rich, intense chocolate flavor. It also gives the chocolate flavor a distinct color.
  • Boiling Water: Helps to dissolve the cocoa for a smooth batter.

Strawberry Batter Ingredients

  • Freeze-Dried Strawberries: Ground into a fine powder for a concentrated flavor. ( a good quality jam will also work)
  • Red Food Coloring: Optional but will create a more vibrant hue of red for this layer of the bundt cake.

Chocolate Ganache Glaze Ingredients

  • Dark Chocolate: Use semi-sweet for a perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness.
  • Whipping Cream: Creates a smooth emulsion and a glossy finish when combined with the dark chocolate.

How to Make a Neapolitan Bundt Cake

For the Cake Batter

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a bundt pan by greasing it with butter and a light spray of oil. In a bowl, combine milk and apple cider vinegar, allowing it to sit for 10 minutes to curdle. Add the sugar to this mixture and stir until fully dissolved. Sift the dry ingredients—flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt—into a separate bowl, then whisk them into the wet ingredients. Finally, stir in the melted butter until the batter is smooth and well combined.

For the Chocolate Cake Batter

To create the chocolate layer, mix cocoa powder with boiling water to form a smooth paste. Stir this paste into one-third of the prepared cake batter, ensuring the chocolate is evenly incorporated.

For the Strawberry Cake Batter

Blend freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder and mix it into another third of the batter. For a more vibrant hue, add a touch of red food coloring, if desired.

Assembling the Cake

Begin layering the batters into the prepared Bundt pan: start with the strawberry batter, followed by the vanilla batter, and finish with the chocolate batter. Use a spoon or skewer to gently swirl the layers together, creating a marbled effect. Bake the cake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Decorating the Neapolitan Bundt Cake

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 25-30 minutes before carefully flipping it onto a serving plate. While the cake cools, prepare the ganache glaze by heating chocolate and whipping cream in the microwave in 30-second intervals until smooth. Drizzle the glossy ganache over the cooled cake and let it set before slicing and serving.

Can I Freeze Neapolitan Cake?

Yes, this cake freezes beautifully! Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Why You’ll Love This Bundt Cake

This Neapolitan Bundt Cake is the ultimate dessert for flavor lovers! With three distinct layers, chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry – you get the perfect balance of rich, creamy, and fruity in every bite! Its moist, tender crumb and vibrant marbled appearance make it a true showstopper for any occasion. Plus, it’s eggless and easy to make, so everyone can enjoy it! Finished with a glossy chocolate ganache drizzle, it’s indulgent, elegant, and guaranteed to impress both your eyes and taste buds.

Bundt Cake Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for Making Neapolitan Cake

  • Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure the batter mixes evenly without clumps.
  • Weigh Your Ingredients: Accurate measurements are key for perfect layers.
  • Don’t Overmix: Stir until just combined to keep the cake soft and tender.
  • Test for Doneness: A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
  • Take Your Time: The marble effect will be best if you take your time when pouring. Don’t rush the process and enjoy!

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Meet Saloni

I’m a former pastry chef with a love for breads, cakes and everything in between! My recipes are easy to follow, egg free and are designed to be shared with others!

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Neapolitan Bundt Cake

This Neapolitan Bundt Cake is a total show-stopper and your new favorite dessert to make for special occasions! Bringing together the beloved trio of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors, this eggless bundt cake is soft, moist, and rich in its unique flavors. Finished with a glossy chocolate ganache drizzle, this recipe is perfect for birthdays, gatherings, or when you want a dessert that combines nostalgic flavors with a modern twist!
Author: Saloni Mehta
Rate
Yield: 12 servings
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients

  • 420 ml Milk*
  • tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 3 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 400 g Cane Sugar*
  • 400 g All Purpose Flour
  • 30 g Cornstarch
  • tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • 170 g Butter* warm and melted

Chocolate Batter Ingredients

  • 25 g Cocoa Powder Dutch-Processed
  • 60 ml Boiling Water

Strawberry Batter Ingredients

  • 30 g Freeze-Dried Strawberries or 1/2 cup strawberry preserve/jam
  • ¼ tsp Red Food Coloring optional for vibrant color

Chocolate Ganache Glaze Ingredients

  • 80 g Dark Chocolate*
  • 80 ml Whipping Cream*
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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch (23cm) Bundt pan with soft butter and lightly spray it with oil to prevent sticking.
  • In a bowl, combine the milk and apple cider vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes to curdle slightly.
  • Stir in the sugar and mix until fully dissolved.
  • In a separate large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Add the sifted dry ingredients to the milk mixture and whisk together until fully combined.
  • Pour in the melted butter and stir until the batter is smooth and well incorporated.
  • Divide the batter into three equal portions.
  • For the strawberry batter: Blend the freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder (about 1/4 cup). Stir into one portion of the cake batter, adding food coloring if desired.
  • For the chocolate batter: Dissolve the cocoa powder into the boiling water to make a smooth paste, then stir it into the second portion of the cake batter.
  • Leave the third portion as vanilla.
  • Begin layering the batter in the Bundt pan: start with the strawberry batter, then add the vanilla batter, followed by the chocolate batter. Use a spoon or skewer to swirl the batters together for a marbled effect.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake feels firm to the touch.
  • Let the cake cool in the pan for 30 minutes before gently flipping it onto a serving plate. Tap the pan to release the cake.
  • While the cake cools, prepare the chocolate ganache glaze. In a heatproof bowl, combine the dark chocolate and whipping cream. Heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth and glossy.
  • Pour the ganache glaze over the cooled cake and allow it to set before serving.

Notes

  • Cup vs weighing scale: The US customary cup measurement serves as a rough estimate, as it can have uncertainties, so for precise results, it's recommended to weigh your ingredients using a digital scale in grams.
  • Before you start to make any recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the process will go smoothly and easily.
  • For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with for accuracy.
  • Milk: You can use any dairy-free unsweetened milk (like almond, soy, oat) or dairy based whole milk.
  • Butter: Dairy-free butter sticks or any butter of your choice.
  • Sugar: Cane sugar can be substituted with granulated sugar or castor sugar. Ensure the sugar is vegan-friendly (some sugars are processed with bone char) or use organic cane sugar.
  • Whipping Cream: Unsweetened Dairy-free Whipping Cream or use Canned Coconut Cream at room temperature for vegan version or any plain whipping cream of your choice.
  • Dark Chocolate: Use semi-sweet baking chocolate chips or 60% Chocolate Bar. For the vegan version, use dark chocolate / semi-sweet chocolate of any dairy-free chocolate brand (make sure it doesn't contain milk solids or butter) but cocoa butter is fine.

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