Do you have the same nostalgia as we do about that soft, two-colored cake, half-white like cream and half chocolate – ideal for dipping in a warm cup of milk? We’re talking about marble cake, so-called because of the swirls of color hidden inside. It can be prepared in a plumcake or a bundt cake pan. The beauty of the nuances depend on the skill in distributing the dough, with a final touch using the tines of a fork to swirl it a bit. But don’t take our word for it – try it for yourself!
Recipe: The Ultimate Marble Cake with Chocolate Ganache
Ingredients
450 g flour, 200 g butter, 20 g yeast, 250 g sugar, 1 vanilla pod, 250 g whole milk, 1 pinch of salt, 5 eggs, 30 g bitter cocoa
Method
First place the butter and sugar in a bowl and start whipping the mixture using an electric mixture. Add a pinch of salt and the seeds of the vanilla pod and continue whipping until the mixture is soft and frothy. For the best results, remember to use the butter at room temperature. In another bowl, sift the flour with the yeast and then add it to the butter and sugar in spoonfuls, continuing to stir until it is completely absorbed. At this point, take the eggs, break them one at a time into the flour mixture and stir until they are completely absorbed. Finally pour in the milk and stir. Divide the batter in half and, in one of the two sections, add 30 g sifted bitter cocoa and mix to distribute evenly. If needed, add a little more milk to dilute the cocoa. Then pour a little bit of the white cake batter into the cake pan, leaving spaces where you’ll pour the cocoa-flavored cake batter. Continue until you’ve used all the cake batter. Then take a fork, and moving it in a zig-zag motion, create the marble effect. Bake at 350°F (175°C) in a ventilated oven for 40 minutes. If you feel that the surface has become too dry at any point while baking, just cover the cake with a sheet of tin foil. Before removing from the oven, try the toothpick test: If it comes out dry, that means that the cake is ready.
Ideas and tips for a fabulous marble cake
For an even more delicious marble cake, cover it with melted chocolate once baked. But let it cool and solidify before you slice!
For a more particular flavor, add a pinch of cinnamon powder to the dough.
If desired, garnish the cake with nuts (e.g. almonds or walnuts).
To give your cake a softer texture, separate the yolk and egg whites and whip the latter until stiff peaks form. Add the egg whites to the dough before adding the bitter cocoa.
If you like the combination of chocolate and berries, add some blueberries, blackberries or raspberries to the batter!