Ingredients (1 loaf)
For the Base Batter
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
For the Flavorings
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
Prepare the Batter
Preheat your oven to 390F. Grease and flour an 8×4 inch loaf pan.
Your butter and eggs should be at room temperature before you start. This helps them mix together smoothly and create a more tender cake.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the room-temperature butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes ~3-4 minutes on medium speed.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each one.
With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the 3 tablespoons of milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix only until the flour is just incorporated.
Do not overmix the batter once the flour is added, or the cake will become tough.
Divide, Layer, and Marble the Cake
Divide the batter evenly between two separate bowls.
In the first bowl, stir in the vanilla extract.
In the second bowl, stir in the cocoa powder and the extra 1 tablespoon of milk until it’s fully combined.
Spoon about a third of the vanilla batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it out. Drop a similar amount of the chocolate batter on top. Repeat this layering process, alternating between the vanilla and chocolate batters, until you have used all of both.
To create the marble effect, run a butter knife through the batter lengthwise in an “S” shape. Do this only once.
Bake the Cake
Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake at 390F for 10 minutes.
Then, reduce the oven temperature to 350F and continue to bake for another ~30-35 minutes.
The cake is done when a toothpick or cake tester inserted into
Chocolate Vanilla Marble Loaf Cake
Ingredients
For the Base Batter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
For the Flavorings
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 390F. Grease and flour an 8×4 inch loaf pan.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
- Add dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
- Divide batter evenly between two bowls.
- Stir vanilla extract into first bowl.
- Mix cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon milk into second bowl.
- Layer batters alternately in pan, starting with vanilla.
- Make one lengthwise S-shaped swirl through batter with knife.
- Bake at 390F for 10 minutes, then reduce to 350F for 30-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely on wire rack.
