Marble Cake Recipe

Chocolate and vanilla cake batter are swirled to make this two-layer marble cake. Rich, creamy chocolate icing tops everything off! 

– 3 cups (345 grams) cake flour (spooned & leveled) – 2 teaspoons baking powder – ½ teaspoon baking soda – ½ teaspoon salt – 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk (room temperature) – ¼ cup (60 ml) canola or vegetable oil – 1 tablespoon (15 ml) pure vanilla extract – ⅓ cup (30 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder – ¼ cup (60 ml) hot water – 1 cup (2 sticks, or 230 grams) unsalted butter (softened) – 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar – 4 large eggs (room temperature)

Ingredient

Direction

Start oven at 350°F/180°C. Put parchment paper and nonstick spray on two 9-inch round cake pans. Mix cake flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a large bowl. 

1

Mix the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract in a large bowl or measuring cup. Mix the cocoa powder and water in a separate bowl until lump-free. Let cool.

2

Mix butter and granulated sugar in a stand mixer with paddle attachment or a large basin with a low-speed handheld mixer. Sugar foams in 4–5 minutes on medium.

3

After adding each egg, scrape bowl edges and bottom. Three times, alternate dry and buttermilk components on low speed. Avoid overmixing the batter as you add ingredients.

4

Using a rubber spatula, scrape the bowl bottom and sides to mix. Transfer 2 cups (430 grams) vanilla cake batter to a clean bowl. Lightly stir in chocolate powder.

5

Pour vanilla cake batter into each pan and spread evenly. Distribute spoonfuls of chocolate and vanilla cake batter evenly across the two pans.

6

Marbleize the batter by knife-stirring. Level batter by tapping pans on counter. Bake 28–33 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

7

Allow to cool in pans for 20 minutes after removing from oven. Cut around the cakes, then carefully remove them from the pans and cool on a wire rack.

8

Also See: 

Strawberry Cake Recipe