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Classic Marble Cake Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.3 from 21 reviews
  • Author: Laura
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 1 9-inch round cake (approximately 8 servings)
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Classic Marble Cake recipe combines rich vanilla and chocolate batters to create a beautifully swirled, moist, and tender cake that’s perfect for any occasion. With straightforward ingredients and simple steps, you can enjoy a delightful homemade dessert featuring the perfect balance of flavors and texture.


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 flour a 9-inch round cake pan to prevent sticking.
  2. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the all-purpose flour, white sugar, milk, eggs, softened butter, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt.
  3. Mix Batter: Mix the ingredients slowly at first to moisten everything, then use an electric mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes until the batter is smooth and well combined.
  4. Reserve Batter: Set aside ¾ cup of the batter for the chocolate portion. Pour the remaining vanilla batter into the prepared cake pan evenly.
  5. Make Chocolate Batter: Stir the unsweetened cocoa powder into the reserved batter until the color is uniform and fully blended.
  6. Create Marble Effect: Spoon large dollops of the chocolate batter on top of the vanilla batter in the pan. Use a knife to gently swirl the two batters together carefully creating a marbled pattern throughout the cake.
  7. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center—if it comes out clean, the cake is done.
  8. Cool and Serve: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool briefly on a wire rack. Then invert it carefully onto a serving plate or another cooling rack and let it cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature to help it blend smoothly with the other ingredients.
  • Do not overmix the batter after combining to keep the cake tender.
  • The marbling swirl can be adjusted to your preference for more or less chocolate appearance.
  • Use a toothpick tester to ensure the cake is fully baked to avoid soggy centers.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing to maintain clean, neat slices.