Marble cake
Marble cake is a classic that combines two popular cakes: vanilla cake and chocolate cake. Talk about getting the best of both worlds in one cake! In this marble cake recipe, you will also savour a hint of orange – added for an extra taste sensation. It is both fun to make and beautiful to look at, so why not serve this vanilla and chocolate swirled marble cake for your next afternoon tea with guests or the family?
Ingredients
Vanilla batter:
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Soft butter
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125 g |
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Sugar (approx. 300 ml)
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250 g |
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Eggs
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2 |
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Flour (approx. 400 ml)
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225 g |
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Baking powder
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2 tsp |
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Vanilla sugar
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2 tsp |
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Milk
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100 ml |
Chocolate batter:
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Cocoa powder
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2 tbsp |
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Finely grated orange peel (unsprayed)
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1 tbsp |
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Freshly squeezed orange juice
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3 tbsp |
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Melted butter for the mould
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Garnish:
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Oranges in wedges
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Instructions
Vanilla batter:
Chocolate batter:
Marble cake:
Recommended information
Serving suggestion
Tips
You want a moist and light cake every time, and you achieve this by making sure not to overwork the batter. You want the wet ingredients to be light and fluffy, and simply folding the dry ingredients gently into the mix will make sure you keep all that air in the cake, ensuring a light result far from the dense and dry experience you are fearing.
Tips
The baking time is what ensures a moist cake – keep an eye out and make sure not to bake it for too long. When the cake is almost done, start checking once in a while with a sharp knife or the like to make sure it is not overbaked. Take it out as soon as there is no batter on the knife.
Tips
Also make sure to store it properly so it does not dry out and lose its moisture. Cover it in cling film followed by aluminium foil, as this will seal in the cake's moisture and prevent air from drying it out, or store in an airtight container, preferably also wrapped in cling film.
Questions about marble cake
Baking a wonderful afternoon treat is easy with our marble cake recipe. With our tips on how to make the perfect swirl and avoid overworking your batter, you are sure to serve up a beautiful and tasty marble loaf. Below, you can read the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about marble cake and learn more about the classic.
What is a marble cake?
A marble cake is made of a vanilla batter swirled with chocolate batter to create the characteristic two-coloured, mottled look which resembles the stone type for which it was named. The two batters used to create this effect, are traditionally vanilla and chocolate, respectively, and in this marble cake recipe, you will also get a hint of both tangy and sweet orange. It can be prepared in many ways, but you will often see a marble cake loaf or Bundt.
How to make marble cake?
Our recipe for marble cake is easy to follow, especially when you read our tips about how to achieve the eponymous marble effect. Start by preparing the two batters. Then, pour half of the vanilla batter into the buttered tin, spread the chocolate batter on top of this, and place the remainder of the vanilla batter on top. Create the pattern by swirling the batter a few times using the handle of a spatula, a knife or the like. Bake the loaf and start looking forward to your delicious chocolate and vanilla marble cake!
What flavour is marble cake?
Traditionally, the main flavours of a marble cake are vanilla and chocolate, just like in our recipe. We added orange as well to brighten and balance the cake. Vanilla and chocolate complements each other perfectly in this cake both in terms of flavours and colours, creating the characteristic swirled pattern. Even though you can always shake it up with other flavours, you can never go wrong with a classic vanilla and chocolate marble cake.
How to swirl marble cake?
The easiest way to create a marble pattern in your cake is to use the handle of a spatula to swirl the two different-coloured batters together. After pouring the batters into the tin in the right order (½ of the light batter, all the dark batter, the rest of the light), use the handle to swirl the batters by moving it in a zig-zag motion from one side of the tin to the other, from one end to the other. Turn the tin and repeat the swirling in the opposite direction. Do not swirl the batters any more as this it will destroy the pattern.
Feel nostalgic with an old-fashioned marble cake
Sometimes, old-fashioned cakes go out of style, and other times, they continue to be considered classics. An example of the latter is the decorative marble cake. The combination of vanilla, chocolate, and orange is sure to be a winner with both young and old and may result in serious bouts of nostalgia for many.
With our delicious recipe for marble cake, it is easy to prepare a great-looking and tasty homemade treat. Its wonderfully spongy texture is ensured by using quark, which adds moisture and a bit of acidity to balance the cake's richness.
On the lookout for other classic, retro bakes? Check out our recipes for almond cake or banana cake as well, or try something completely new with a cherry clafoutis.
The best of both worlds – chocolate and vanilla
Even though chocolate pairs well with a vast array of flavours, vanilla is one of the most common pairings. Combining them means you get both the warmth and sweetness from the vanilla as well as the cocoa's richness and slight bitterness. As a result, the two complement each other phenomenally. This is why these are the two main flavours of our delicious marble cake which combines the wonders of the classic pound cake with those of a chocolate cake.
Make the perfect swirl
Creating the perfect marble effect depends on the way you swirl the two different-coloured batters together in the tin. After pouring the batters in the tin – first half of the vanilla, then the chocolate, then the rest of the vanilla – place the handle of a spatula in one corner of the tin almost at the edge. Now start swirling the batters together by moving the handle from one side of the tin to the other in a zig-zag motion. Turn the tin and repeat the swirling motion in the opposite direction. Resist the urge to swirl the batters more than this as this will result in a muddy-looking, overmixed cake with the flavours combined instead of separated in a beautifully swirled pattern.
Taste the twist of orange in this marble cake loaf
Vanilla and chocolate are classic flavours for a reason but without a bit of freshness, the combination might become a bit too sweet or dry for some. This is where orange comes into play. The citrus fruit adds just the right amount of zing to the cake without overpowering any of the other great flavours. The tanginess of the orange zest complements the sweetness of the vanilla, and its juice ensures that our marble cake is both moist and flavourful. Using orange brightens the cake in two ways and makes it even tastier.
Try something new with a strawberry marble cake
Although the flavours of a traditional marble cake complement each other very well, it can sometimes be exciting to try out new and interesting flavour combinations. One such variation is a fruity strawberry marble cake. In this version, which is perfect for a summer afternoon, add a handful of small strawberry pieces to the batter. Just make sure not to use too much as this might make the cake too soggy. You might need to bake it a little while longer. The strawberries add a wonderful, sweet taste as well as freshness and moisture to the cake.
Strawberries or not, you can experiment with adding chocolate chips to the batter before baking. For example, add white chocolate chips to the vanilla batter and dark chocolate chips to the chocolate batter.
