Marble Cake

Jan 02

The Recipe

Marble Cake – Tender and moist chocolate and vanilla cake are swirled together to make this delicious, from-scratch marble cake.

Super Moist Marble Cake: Tender and moist chocolate and vanilla cake are swirled together to make this delicious, from-scratch marble cake that I paired with peanut butter frosting. #cakebycourtney #marblecake #easymarblecakerecipe #cakerecipe #moistcakerecipe #supermoistmarblecake

Happy New Year, friends! It’s officially 2020 and what better way to kick off the new year than with cake! This post is long overdue, but I’m excited to finally have it up for you today.

Birthday Boy

Last month, Westin turned 11! I haven’t quite gotten over the fact that I’ve been a mom for 11 years now, and I certainly haven’t gotten over the fact that this handsome kid is nearly a teenager! Someone please slow down time 🙂

Super Moist Marble Cake: Tender and moist chocolate and vanilla cake are swirled together to make this delicious, from-scratch marble cake that I paired with peanut butter frosting. #cakebycourtney #marblecake #easymarblecakerecipe #cakerecipe #moistcakerecipe #supermoistmarblecake

For this year’s cake, Westin requested a marble cake with peanut butter frosting. I actually made him this cake a few years ago but never posted about it. Not sure why that was. Anyway, I’m glad he loved it so much that he asked for it again and that I get to share it with you.

Marble Cake

As most of you already know, a classic marble cake is made up of chocolate and vanilla cake swirled together. If you want to go super traditional, you’d actually use more vanilla cake batter and swirl it with chocolate cake batter. For my cake, I did equal parts chocolate and vanilla cake batter.

Super Moist Marble Cake: Tender and moist chocolate and vanilla cake are swirled together to make this delicious, from-scratch marble cake that I paired with peanut butter frosting. #cakebycourtney #marblecake #easymarblecakerecipe #cakerecipe #moistcakerecipe #supermoistmarblecake

Super Moist Cake

I used my favorite chocolate cake recipe and my go-to vanilla cake recipe. The chocolate cake is rich, moist and perfect for any occasion and any flavor pairing. Note that it’s a dark chocolate cake, so if you’d like a lighter chocolate flavor, feel free to use a regular cocoa powder in place of the dark cocoa powder. The color and flavor will be a bit lighter than what you get in my dark chocolate cake. The vanilla cake has a nice buttery flavor to it. Both cakes are super moist and delicious on their own and even better together!

Tender and moist chocolate and vanilla cake are swirled together to make this delicious, from-scratch marble cake that I paired with peanut butter frosting. #cakebycourtney #marblecake #easymarblecakerecipe #cakerecipe #moistcakerecipe #supermoistmarblecake

Peanut Butter Buttercream

For the buttercream, Westin specifically requested my Peanut Butter Buttercream. I don’t blame him! It’s one of those frostings that you’ll want to spoon into your mouth right out of the mixing bowl. It’s one of my all-time favorites and pairs beautifully with the chocolate and vanilla cakes.

Tender and moist chocolate and vanilla cake are swirled together to make this delicious, from-scratch marble cake that I paired with peanut butter frosting. #cakebycourtney #marblecake #easymarblecakerecipe #cakerecipe #moistcakerecipe #supermoistmarblecake

You’ll notice, however, that I’m not adding the peanut butter buttercream below in the recipe. I think this cake stands alone. I also think it can be paired with so many different frostings, that I want to give you the option of picking your favorite. I’ll link several below.

Cake Scraper Design

And before we get to the recipe, how about a quick sneak peek at one of the new scraper designs I’ll be coming out with soon on Shop.CakebyCourtney.com.

Tender and moist chocolate and vanilla cake are swirled together to make this delicious, from-scratch marble cake that I paired with peanut butter frosting. #cakebycourtney #marblecake #easymarblecakerecipe #cakerecipe #moistcakerecipe #supermoistmarblecake

I love the understated detail it adds to the cake!

Buttercream Options

 

Print

Marble Cake

Super moist vanilla cake swirled with chocolate cake.

Course Dessert
Cuisine Cake
Keyword Marble Cake
Servings 20

Ingredients

FOR THE CHOCOLATE CAKE

  • 1/2 cup (59 g) dark cocoa powder I like Extra Brute Cacao Barry
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour lightly spooned into a measuring cup and leveled off gently with a knife
  • 1 tsp. (4 g) baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. (2.8 g) salt
  • 1/2 tsp. (2 g) baking powder
  • 1/2 cup (120 g) buttermilk at room temperature
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup (54.5 g) vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup (118 g) hot water
  • 1 tsp. (4.2 g) vanilla extract

FOR THE VANILLA CAKE

  • 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (54.5 g) vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups (150 g) cake flour lightly spooned into a measuring cup and leveled off gently with a knife
  • 1 tsp. (4 g) baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. (2.8 g) salt
  • 1/2 cup (120 g) buttermilk at room temperature
  • 1 tsp. (4.2 g) vanilla extract

Instructions

FOR THE CAKE

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray three 8-inch or four 6-inch round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray, line the bottom with parchment paper and spray again. Set aside.

FOR THE CHOCOLATE CAKE BATTER

  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine all of the dry ingredients and stir until combined.

  2. In a separate mixing bowl, combine all the wet ingredients and whisk until combined.

  3. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until incorporated. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Mix again on low for about 20 to 30 seconds. Transfer the batter to another bowl and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

FOR THE VANILLA CAKE BATTER

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine. Set aside.

  2. In the now clean bowl of the mixer, combine the butter, sugar and oil for the vanilla cake. Mix on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

  3. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, one at a time, making sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl between each addition. Add the vanilla.

  4. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just incorporated.

MIXING BATTERS

  1. Now that both cake batters are finished, you'll be alternately adding each flavor to each of your three cake pans. I suggest starting with 8 ounces of vanilla cake batter in each pan, followed by 8 ounces of chocolate cake batter in each pan, for a total of about 16 ounces of batter in each pan. If you're using 6-inch pans, use 6 ounces of vanilla, followed by 6 ounces of chocolate. When I add the second cake batter flavor to each pan, I use a spoon to make dollops of cake batter. Once all the batter is added to the three cake pans, take a toothpick and make swirls in the batter.

  2. Bake the pans for 30 to 33 minutes. Let cool in the pans for about 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto wire racks to cool completely.

  3. As always, it's best to make the cake layers ahead of time so you have time to chill the layers in the freezer for at least an hour before you start stacking and decorating the cake.

22 thoughts on “Marble Cake”

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  1. I am making this cake in the next couple of days and my cake flour won’t be here in time. Would it be ok to use the DIY method take 1 cup of all purpose flour and take two tbsp out and add in two tbsp of cornstarch? I know you need to sift it multiple times after as well.

    Reply

  2. Why do you use 3 eggs in the vanilla cake instead of 3 egg whites like you do on your other vanilla cake recipes? Is it an error or should I try to do it with 3 regular eggs?

    Thank you!! 🙂

    Reply

  3. When you combine the butter, sugar and oil for the vanilla cake do you use a paddle attachment or whisk?
    Thank you!

    Reply

  4. I don’t know what happened with the chocolate batter but it was liquid when it was done. I’ve gone ahead and used it but I don’t think it turned out how it was intended. My daughter and I checked and rechecked the recipe but we did it as written. I’ll let you know what happens.

    Reply

  7. Thank you SO much for sharing this recipe! I made it for my daughter’s birthday with vanilla buttercream frosting and it was a hit! Barely a crumb left

    Reply

  8. 5 stars
    This cake is absolutely amazing, So delicious and so easy to prepare. My all time favourite marble cake recipe, If I could I would give it 10 stars. Thank you for sharing your amazing recipe.

    Reply

  9. Hi Courtney! If I’d make this recipe into cupcakes, do you have an idea how many would be the yield? Also how many minutes would be the bake time? I appreciate your input! Love your creative recipes! -Donna

    Reply

  10. I am at 7k ft would I adjust the anything for altitude? I have made your classic vanilla cake as is, but I wasn’t sure if that was luck. 😁

    Reply

  11. 5 stars
    I’m not sure who needs to read this, but the chocolate and vanilla batters have different consistency. The vanilla is much thicker. But they cook up wonderfully! This is my new go to cake! So delicious!

    Reply

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