Last Updated on January 12, 2023
Today, we’re going to be taking a look at how to make a moist marble cake from scratch. With beautiful swirls and super-moist, it’s a win-win situation for anybody to make this delicious cake. Because of its contrasting swirls of batter, it creates a marvelous effect when you drag a knife through the batter. With that, who wouldn’t love to have a slice of its striking swirled and marbled pattern? But how do you make marble cake recipes from scratch? Let’s take a closer look.
You can also make your marble cake layers ahead by freezing them. Doing this not only makes it more attainable but also breaks the whole process up. Moreover, once the marble cake layers completely cool, it is best to use a serrated knife to level its cake layers. Doing this makes it easier to frost and assemble the marble cake.
What You Will Need to Make Moist Marble Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp of baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups of white sugar
- ½ cup of butter at room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- 1 cup of buttermilk
- 2tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring spoon
- Measuring cups
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Hand or stand mixer
- Baking pan
- Parchment paper
Hamilton Beach Classic Hand and Stand Mixer, 4 Quarts, 6 Speeds with QuickBurst
Step by Step Instructions to Make Marble Cakes from Scratch
Step 1
Above all else, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, grease and line a 9-inch round pan.
Step 2
Next, whisk in a mixing bowl the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt until well combined.
Step 3
Then, cream the butter at medium-high speed using the hand or stand mixer’s bowl fitted with a wire whisk attachment. Afterward, gradually add the sugar and beat it until fluffy or for about 2 minutes. After that, using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides and the bowl’s bottom as often as needed.
Step 4
Next, set the stand or hand mixer at low speed and slowly add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract. After that, beat at medium-high speed until combined. Then, scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as often as needed.
Step 5
Afterward, place the mixer running on low speed and alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk in sequence. Make sure not to overmix.
Step 6
Then, scoop out 3/4 cup of the batter into another mixing bowl and mix in the cocoa powder. After that, pour the remaining batter into the greased and lined baking pan.
Step 7
Later on, grab a spoon and drip over the white batter’s top. Moreover, make sure to swirl the chocolate batter into the white batter to incorporate it into a marble effect.
Step 8
Then, put the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55 minutes. Afterward, remove the pan out of the conventional oven and cool the pan for 10 minutes. Finally, place on a wire rack to cool down.
Servings and Preparation Time
Tips and Tricks for Making Moist Marble Cakes from Scratch
If buttermilk is unavailable in your local supermarket, you can make your own by using a cup of whole milk and a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Make sure to measure your ingredients accurately. That is why it is ideal to utilize a kitchen scale to precisely measure the dry ingredients; especially the all-purpose flour.
You can store marble cake in the refrigerator for a week or. In addition to that, before you start assembling your marble cake from scratch, make sure that you chill the cake layers in the freezer for around twenty minutes. Doing this makes it more convenient to stack and frost. To guarantee that the cake layers are fluffy and tender, mix the cake batter till the ingredients are well incorporated.
In addition to that, make any frosting well in advance. Likewise, save any leftovers of the frosting in the fridge. Do not worry since you can store them in an airproof container in the refrigerator for about a week. Similarly, it can last up to three months if stored in the freezer properly. However, if freezing, ensure you thaw it beforehand to obtain an excellent and smooth consistency.
Moist Marble Cake From Scratch: Best Recipe
Equipment
- Measuring spoon
- Measuring cups
- Baking pan
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp of baking soda
- 1 1/2 cup of white sugar
- ½ cup of butter at room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- 1 cup of buttermilk
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
Instructions
- Above all else, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, grease and line a 9-inch round pan.
- Next, whisk in the mixing bowl the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt until well combined.
- Then, cream the butter at medium-high speed using the hand or stand mixer’s bowl fitted with a wire whisk attachment. Afterward, gradually add the sugar and beat it until fluffy or for about 2 minutes. After that, using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides and the bowl’s bottom as often as needed.
- Next, set the stand or hand mixer at low speed and slowly add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract. After that, beat at medium-high speed until combined. Then, scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as often as needed.
- Afterward, place the mixer running on low speed and alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk in sequence. Make sure not to overmix.
- Then, scoop out 3/4 cup of the batter into another mixing bowl and mix in the cocoa powder. After that, pour the remaining batter into the greased and lined baking pan.
- Later on, grab a spoon and drip over the white batter’s top. Moreover, make sure to swirl the chocolate batter into the white batter to incorporate it into a marble effect.
- Then, put the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55 minutes. Afterward, remove the pan out of the conventional oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Finally, place on a wire rack to cool down.
Notes
- If buttermilk is unavailable in your local supermarket, you can make your own by using a cup of whole milk and a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Make sure to measure your ingredients accurately. That is why it is ideal to utilize a kitchen scale to precisely measure the dry ingredients; especially the all-purpose flour.
- You can store marble cake in the refrigerator for a week or. In addition to that, before you start assembling your marble cake from scratch, make sure that you chill the cake layers in the freezer for around twenty minutes. Doing this makes it more convenient to stack and frost. To guarantee that the cake layers are fluffy and tender, mix the cake batter till the ingredients are well incorporated.
- In addition to that, make any frosting well in advance. Likewise, save any leftovers of the frosting in the fridge. Do not worry since you can store them in an airproof container in the refrigerator for about a week. Similarly, it can last up to three months if stored in the freezer properly. However, if freezing, ensure you thaw it beforehand to obtain an excellent and smooth consistency.
Moist Marble Cake Recipe
If you’re looking for a second recipe to try, this one is inspired by Sally’s Baking Addiction, and it’s another of my favorites. Let’s take a closer look. The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:
- 2 cups of cake flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup of softened butter
- 3/4 cup of white sugar
- 1/2 cup of light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup of buttermilk
- 4oz of chopped chocolate
Now all you need to do is:
- Gather all of the ingredients you need and preheat your oven to 350F. You’ll also need to line 2 round cake pans with parchment paper and grease lightly. You’ll also need to sift the dry ingredients before you begin and leave them to one side.
- Beat the butter until creamy, this should take around one minute. Add both sugars and cream for a further few minutes. Turn the speed to low and add the eggs (and yolks) individually. Once all eggs and yolks are incorporated, mix in the vanilla extract.
- Now add the dry ingredients in several stages, alternating with small amounts of buttermilk. Once just combined, stop mixing. Do not overmix.
- Take one cup of batter and add 4oz of melted chocolate and mix well.
- Pour half of the yellow batter into your prepared pan and then use a spoon to add half of the chocolate batter. Swirl the batters together with a knife to create the marble effect. Repeat this for the second cake pan.
- Place the pans into the preheated oven and bake for around 22-26 minutes. If the cake top is browning too quickly, cover it with foil for the end of the baking period.
- Remove from oven and leave to cool. Frost and decorate, as desired. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
How to Make Marble Cake Moist?
There are many ways to make marble cakes, and we’ve just looked at two simple ways. Making a moist marble cake is super easy if you follow some of our top tips. Let’s take a closer look.
- Don’t Overmix. When you mix the butter for too long, your cake will become dense, rather than light and airy. And if you overmix the cake batter itself, you’ll be left with a dry, unpleasant cake. It’s important to mix the ingredients until just combined.
- Do Use Cake Flour. Cake flour is known for being fine in texture. This helps to keep the cake moist, as well as tender.
- Don’t Overbake. Overbaking causes your cake to dry out. When your cake is coming to the end of its baking time, try checking with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, your cake is ready.
- Do Use Simple Syrup. If your cake is fully baked and it’s too late to salvage it via the oven, just add equal parts sugar and water to a small bowl and brush over your cake to help keep it moist.
- Don’t Use the Incorrect Temperature. While it’s tempting to up the temperature to make your cake bake quicker, this is not advised. It will dry your cake out and cause it to overbake.
- Do Frost and Layer. You can add moisture to your cake with fillings such as jam, jelly, frosting, and icing. All of these options will help salvage an otherwise dry cake.
It’s also important to store your cake correctly. The best way is in an airtight container, in either a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
I hope this post has helped you to become more familiar with how to make a moist marble cake from scratch. Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to making moist marble cake? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below.
Zarah is an experienced pastry chef whose creations have delighted countless customers. With a passion for baking, Zarah has developed a unique style that combines classic techniques with modern flavors. Her desserts are consistently crafted with the finest ingredients, and her attention to detail is evident in the stunning and delectable results. Zarah has a wealth of experience in the pastry kitchen, and loves to share her knowledge with others. Whether it is teaching a class or creating a custom cake for a special occasion, Zarah is committed to making sure every customer is satisfied.
