Marbré cake, or chocolate and vanilla marble cake, is a great classic of French home cooking. This simple recipe combines two wonderful flavours – so you don't have to choose! The “marble” effect is achieved (more or less) by making a few quick swirls through alternating layers of light and dark batters.
Ingredients (serves 8-10)
170g butter, softened
1 ⅔ cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/3 cup buttermilk
2 ½ cups cake flour
½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
40 g unsweetened chocolate
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease your cake pan. Set aside.
2. Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
3. Beat the butter with sugar in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and the vanilla extract and beat until combined. Scrape down the sides and add the buttermilk.
4. With the mixer running on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients. Do not overmix. The batter will be slightly thick.
5. Melt the chocolate in the microwave and stir until smooth. Pour ¼ of the batter into the melted chocolate and stir until combined.
6. Pour an even layer of the plain batter into the cake pan. Spoon chocolate batter on top. Pour remaining plain batter on top of the chocolate. Using a stick, slightly swirl the two batters together.
7. Bake the layers for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one cake comes out clean. Mine usually take 24 minutes.
8. Bake the layers for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one cake comes out clean. Mine usually take 24 minutes.