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This homemade Marble Cake is so moist and and buttery. Easy marble cake recipe with deep chocolate flavors. Every bite is chocolatey and sweet. 5 stars.
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.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
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
Yes, you can. Sour cream makes marble cake extra moist. Substitute milk in the recipe with the same amount of sour cream (4 tablespoons).
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.
This recipe is only 310 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.
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
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Marble Cake
Ingredients
- 7 oz. (200g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks (225 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 7 oz. (200g) 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 butter. Mix the flour and baking powder together, then sift. Add the salt and mix well. Set aside.
- Use an electronic hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the butter and sugar until well combined and pale yellow in color. Add the first egg and beat well after each egg addition until creamy. Scrape down the sides, then add the vanilla extract. Fold the flour into the mixture and mix well. Add 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 and shake it lightly to distribute it evenly.
- Pour the cocoa batter into the middle of the baking pan and lightly swirl it with a butter knife. I usually make an "S" shape with the knife a few times. Be careful not to overmix.
- Bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 40 minutes. If the top browns too quickly before the cake is set, cover it with aluminum foil at the 20-minute mark to prevent it from becoming too brown and crusty.
- Insert a cake tester into the center of the cake to check for doneness. If the middle is still wet, bake for a little longer. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Then, remove it from the pan, slice, and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi, I’ve tried your recipe exactly for marble cake but mine turns out to be dry. I’ve tried many times with reducing the baking time, try not to overmix the batter but not sure what’s the problem. I bake them in 3 mini loaf pan in 170c for 28mins. I tried creaming the butter & sugar for 3 mins & 10mins but still got a dry cake. I’m not sure where could I have gone wrong??
Your measurement must be off. I am not sure why. Why don’t you try my butter cake recipe first: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-butter-cake/
How long do you usually cream the butter & sugar? Would creaming it for 10mins be too long?
Yes, too long. Just cream until it’s pale white in color, maybe 3 minutes.
“Regardless of the size of pan used, double and stack two pans together before baking”. I’m not sure I understand this tip, can you describe a little more? Thank you!
Stack an empty pan below the pan you use. Double pan.
Why does my cake take so long still wet? No change in ingredients except using plain flour.
Please bake longer if it’s wet. Every oven is different, some takes shorter, some takes longer.
Can I use self raising flour instead of plain flour?.How much of baking powder should I use.Please advice.
Thank you Madam.
If you use self rising flour, you can use 3/4 teaspoon of baking powder.
Hi will it be possible if I have some chocolate fudge to add bits of choco chips in the mixture? Will it spoil the flufiness of the cake and make it denser??
You can try but I have never tried, it’s so good as is.
Hi, very nice n yummy recipe. Can I take out 1/3 of the mixture to mix the cocoa powder instead?
Sure!
Hihi.
Can I check if I wanna use chocolate.
I also melt 2tbsp of chocolate?
Thanks :)
You can try I think it should be fine!
Hi! Can i use full cream milk instead of whole milk?
Full cream and whole milk is the same.
How many cups is the flour?
Hi, wanted to ask for step no. 3, after folding in the flour, mix well and add milk…. Does it means can mix with mixer? Or only using hand whisk to mix? Then after adding milk? Mix again with mixer till smooth? Thanks
You can mix with the mixer or with hands. It really doesn’t matter.
Okay thanks! I thought it would be more fluffy if i did not use mixer to mix it. Also, i used a bigger loaf to bake and it takes 40minutes…i wonder if you used mini loaf also takes 40 minutes?
Mini loaf pans should take 30 minutes to bake.
Hi, I’m interested in your marble recipe. But there are some question,
* If I use salted butter, do I still need salt?
* If I use half recipe, Can I still use a 20cm round pan? How long should I bake ?
* If I use MINI Muffin tray. How long should I bake?
Thank you
Skip salt if you use salted butter. Half recipe will fit one mini loaf pan or muffin tray. For muffin tray maybe you can bake for 20-30 mins.
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