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Marble Cake Recipe from Scratch
Marble cake is one of my favorite cakes.
It is a rich, moist and buttery cake with chocolate swirls. Every bite is chocolatey, sweet and decadent.
It is great with a cup of coffee or tea and I enjoy it whenever I need a quick sweet bite.
This is the easiest and the best marble cake recipe step by step, adapted from my butter cake recipe. The taste is 5 stars!
How to Make Marble Cake?
In this recipe, you will learn how to make the cake mix with the following ingredients:
- Unsalted butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Milk
- Cocoa powder
Mix the cocoa powder to make the chocolate batter. Follow the steps in the recipe card and learn the techniques on how to create the marble effect in the cake.
Marble Cake without Chocolate
You can use chocolate in the cake but I prefer to use cocoa powder because it’s easier.
Cocoa powder doesn’t compromise the taste.
This recipe is guaranteed to yield a cake that is rich, buttery with deep chocolate flavors.
Baking Tips
For the best results, please follow the tried and tested tips below:
- Grease the cake pan generously with butter.
- Regardless of the size of pan used, double and stack two pans together before baking. This will make sure that the cake doesn’t have a thick brown crust and have a softer texture.
- Cover the top of the cake at 20 minutes mark in the oven. This will make sure that the top of the cake is not too brown.
- Let cool the cake on wire rack for 30 minutes before removing from the pan. This will ensure that the bottom of the cake doesn’t stick to the pan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Sour Cream?
Yes, you can. Sour cream makes marble cake extra moist.
Substitute milk in the recipe with the same amount of sour cream (4 tablespoons).
What Cake Pan to Use for Homemade Marble Cake?
I baked the cake with mini loaf pans because I love small packages. The batter makes three mini loaves.
You can also use regular loaf pan (9×5 inch) or standard rectangle cake pan measuring 9×9-inch or 8×8-inch.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 373 calories per serving.
What to Serve with This Recipe?
Serve the cake with coffee or tea. For an afternoon tea party, I recommend the following recipes.
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Marble Cake
Ingredients
- 7 oz. all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks (225 g unsalted butter, at room temperature)
- 7 oz. sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a pan with some butter.
- Mix the flour and the baking powder together and sieve. Add in salt and mix well. Set aside.
- Use an electronic hand mixer or stand mixer to mix butter and sugar until well combined or pale yellow in color. Add in the first egg. Beat well after each addition of egg until creamy. Scrape down the sides and add in vanilla extract. Fold the flour into the mixture and mix well. Add in the milk.
- Divide the batter into two portions. Stir the cocoa powder into one portion and mix well. Transfer the plain batter into the greased baking pan. Shake it lightly to distribute evenly.
- Pour the cocoa batter in the middle of baking pan, and lightly swirl the cocoa batter with a butter knife. I usually make a "S" shape with the butter knife a few times. Do not over mix.
- Bake until golden brown and cooked, about 40 minutes. If the top turns too brown before the cake is set, cover the top with aluminum foil at 20 minutes mark to prevent the top from being too brown and crusty.
- Insert a cake tester in the middle of the cake to test doneness. Bake longer if the middle of the cake is still wet. Remove it from the oven and let cool on the wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from pan, slice and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
I’ve baked your original butter cake, the one with raisins, and this one, all at least thrice. All are amazing! This one takes a bit more effort to make the cocoa batter but it’s overall really easy to make, clean up is fast since I only need one bowl and mixer, and it turns out perfect all the time even when I play around with the oven temperatures and / or use different cake pans. I need to get some yoghurt soon, want to find out how much better this cake would taste with yoghurt instead of milk!
Hi Cas, I have the best butter cake batter ever. If you want it extra buttery, add extra two tablespoons butter, even better. Yes, add raisins, blueberries and prunes. You might even add rum or cognac, if you are gutsy. Yoghurt makes it moist. You can also try it with sour cream, whipping cream, heavy whipping cream and evaporated milk. It’s endless possibilities. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/ and also try my banana cake. It’s the BEST!
Is there anything I can substitute eggs for but at the same time dont want to compromise with the softness
You need eggs to make marble cake.
Hey rasa malaysia !
thank you a lot for giving/providing us a delicious recipes!
marble cake is my favorite cake i prefer more! and am a new finalist studied culinary arts.
my family is very interested with marble cake that i made last.
Awesome thanks for trying.
How much is 7 ounces of flour in cups?
How much is 7 ounces of sugar in cups?
7/8 cup – 7 oz
Hi
I have a question , can I use salted butter in place of unsalted?
Yes you can. Just skip salt in recipe.
I’m making this now in an 8×8 pan. Not sure how long it’s going to need to bake. I set the timer for 20 minutes and I’m watching it. Will take advice and put a tinfoil tent over it. The batter is amazing already. I used Greek yogurt ? instead of milk.
Sounds good, it will take 40-50 minutes but yes please cover with foil once the top is set. This marble cake is SO delicious!
This cake disappeared at work and even my fussy father loves it.
Yes this is the best marble cake recipe ever!
Have tried and my family is simply loving it. Wells like to check if i can i double up the recipe to make a bigger cake?
Yes.
I just made this cake yesterday evening, it was over by today morning. I was yum till the last crumb. So moist and buttery. Wonderful recipe. Thanks
Thanks for trying my marble cake recipe.
This is a brilliant recipe, made this for my sister as she requested a marble cake. She doesn’t really like cake that much, but she absolutely loved this! Really easy recipe, works like a charm! :)
Hi, I just tried this recipe with my daughters here in Lagos Nigeria ?? and it was absolutely amazing!!!
Yes, this is the best marble cake recipe ever!
Hi. Will make this weekend. May I ask what do you consider a standard rectangle pan (9 x 13)?
9×9 inch or 8×8 inch.
I am making this cake now and it looks amazing already.