Description
Marble loaf cake is a moist, tender loaf with swirls of vanilla and chocolate batters, topped with rich ganache. This classic treat blends buttery vanilla and deep cocoa flavors in every slice, perfect for brunches, celebrations, or everyday indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Vanilla Batter:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
Chocolate Batter:
- ½ teaspoon espresso powder
- ¼ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons reserved buttermilk
Ganache Topping:
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate bar, finely chopped
- 6 tablespoons heavy cream
Optional Garnish:
- Fresh raspberries
- Mint sprigs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
- Add eggs and vanilla; beat on high for 1 minute.
- On low speed, gradually mix in dry ingredients and ¾ cup + 2 tbsp buttermilk until combined.
- Warm 2 tablespoons buttermilk and dissolve espresso powder into it. Stir into slightly less than half of the vanilla batter, then mix in cocoa powder.
- Spread a layer of vanilla batter in the prepared pan, alternating spoonfuls of vanilla and chocolate batters.
- Swirl gently with a knife for a marbled effect.
- Bake 65–75 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Tent with foil after 30 minutes if browning too quickly.
- Cool in pan 30 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
- Make ganache: melt chocolate and cream together over simmering water, stir until smooth, and cool 20 minutes.
- Drizzle ganache over cooled cake and garnish if desired.
Notes
- Use room-temperature ingredients for the best texture.
- Don’t overmix to keep the crumb tender.
- For thicker swirls, chill the batter briefly before marbling.
- Substitute plant-based butter, flax eggs, and dairy-free milk for a vegan version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10 loaf)
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 75m