Description
This classic Marble Cake recipe features a delightful swirl of vanilla and chocolate batters, creating a visually stunning and delicious dessert. Moist and tender with a perfect balance of flavors, it’s ideal for any occasion and easy to prepare in a standard oven.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
Chocolate Swirl
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup hot water
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or an 8-inch round cake pan to ensure the cake releases easily after baking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and seasoning.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. This step is crucial for a tender cake crumb.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with the whole milk, starting and ending with flour mixture. Mix just until combined to avoid overworking the batter.
- Prepare chocolate batter: In a separate small bowl, mix the unsweetened cocoa powder with hot water to form a smooth paste. Transfer about one cup of the vanilla batter into this mixture and stir until well blended to create the chocolate portion of the batter.
- Layer and swirl batters: Spoon the vanilla and chocolate batters alternately into the prepared pan. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the batters together, creating a beautiful marbled effect without overmixing.
- Bake the cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Baking times may vary slightly depending on your oven.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For extra richness, add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract to the vanilla batter for a subtle nutty flavor.
- This cake pairs wonderfully with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of chocolate glaze for a special touch.
- Make sure to not overmix the batter to keep the cake light and tender.
