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Classic Marble Cake Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.2 from 80 reviews
  • Author: Diane
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 1 9-inch cake
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Classic Marble Cake recipe features a tender vanilla and chocolate swirled cake that’s perfect for any occasion. With a moist texture and beautifully marbled appearance, it delivers a delightful balance of flavors that satisfies both vanilla and chocolate lovers.


Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour a 9-inch round cake pan to ensure the cake doesn’t stick after baking.
  2. Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the all-purpose flour, sugar, milk, eggs, softened butter, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt. This mixture forms the base batter for the cake.
  3. Mix Batter: Start mixing slowly to combine and moisten the dry ingredients. Then beat the mixture with an electric mixer at medium speed for about 2 minutes until the batter is smooth and homogenous.
  4. Reserve Batter: Set aside ¾ cup of the batter in a separate bowl. Pour the remaining batter evenly into the prepared cake pan — this will be the vanilla portion of the cake.
  5. Add Cocoa to Reserved Batter: Stir the unsweetened cocoa powder into the reserved ¾ cup batter until the color is even and the mixture is smooth.
  6. Create Marble Effect: Drop large spoonfuls of the chocolate batter on top of the vanilla batter in the pan. Using a knife, gently swirl the chocolate batter into the vanilla batter to create a marbled pattern without overmixing.
  7. Bake the Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, indicating it’s fully cooked.
  8. Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool briefly on a wire rack. Then carefully invert the cake onto a serving plate or cooling rack and let it cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easy mixing and a smoother batter.
  • Be careful not to over-swirl the chocolate and vanilla batters to maintain distinct marble patterns.
  • Check doneness with a toothpick to avoid overbaking, which can dry out the cake.
  • This cake pairs wonderfully with a cup of tea or coffee for an afternoon treat.