Best of Both Worlds

Marble cake is very popular, but I've never made one. I've wanted to for a while, so I just did it. It really is the best of both worlds because you get chocolate and vanilla cake all in one. This is adapted from southern livings marble cake. It is moist, buttery, and strongly flavored. Delish. Here's what you need for the marble cake

Butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, water, flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, and half & half. In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar

Beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla

Mix in until combined. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients

Alternately add this dry mixture with the half & half, beginning and ending with the dry mixture

Mix on low speed until just combined

Scoop out some of the batter into a large bowl. Add water, cocoa powder, and sugar to make the chocolate combination for the marble

Stir together with a spatula

Here's your two batters

Pour the white batter into a greased sheet pan

Spread out evenly. Then dollop the chocolate batter around the cake

Using a butter knife, swirl the chocolate batter into the vanilla batter until the batters marble together

Bake

While cooling, prepare the frosting. Here's what you need for the vanilla buttercream

Butter, vegetable crisco, half & half, vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar. In a mixing bowl, combine butter and shortening

Beat together until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar

Beat that in, then add the vanilla and half & half

Mix that in. Add more half & half until consistency is reached

Spread the frosting over the cooled cake 

This cake was super moist. I adapted it from Southern Living. This is definitely my go-to marble cake recipe. When I cut into it, I was surprised to see it wasn't really marbled, it was more so layered. I didn't mind, but if you are wanting more of a marble look, gently fold from the bottom to the top while marbling. (You have to be careful not to mix the batters though)

This cake will work just as well in cupcake or layer cake form if you prefer that. Just adjust the baking time

Best Marble Cake

-Adapted from Southern Living

1 cup butter, softened                     1 3/4 cups sugar, divided

• 2 large eggs                                    2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 1/8 cups AP flour                        1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt                             1 cup half & half
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder                    4 tablespoons hot water

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar at medium speed for 2 minutes or until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating just until blended. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture alternately with half & half, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition, stopping to scrape bowl as needed. Spoon 1 1/4 cups batter into a large bowl; Add cocoa, hot water, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar until well blended. Spread remaining vanilla batter into a greased 9X13 baking pan. Spoon chocolate batter onto vanilla batter in pan; gently swirl with a butter knife to create a marble. Bake at 325° for 23 to 28 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Prepare frosting while cooling. (I used a vanilla buttercream, but I think milk chocolate frosting goes wonderful on a marble cake).

Vanilla Buttercream:

1/2 cup butter, softened                1/2 cup vegetable shortening

2 tsp. vanilla extract                      4 cups powdered sugar

2-4 Tbs. half & half


In a large bowl, beat together butter and shortening until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, a cup at a time. Mix in the vanilla and half & half, adding more half & half until desired consistency is reached. Beat the frosting until well combined. Spread evenly over the cooled marble cake. Enjoy :)