Il Cucinologo
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Marble Cake

17/11/2023

The marble cake is a classic baked dessert, appreciated for its two-tone visual effect and the contrast of flavors between chocolate and vanilla. Here’s how to prepare it Italian-style.

Ingredients

  • 200 g soft butter (at room temperature)
  • 200 g granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 200 g 00 flour
  • 1 packet baking powder
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 packet vanillin or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean
  • Milk as needed (optional, to adjust the consistency of the batter)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and prepare a cake pan by buttering and flouring it or lining it with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream the soft butter with the granulated sugar until you obtain a light and fluffy cream.
  3. Add the eggs, one at a time, incorporating them well after each addition.
  4. Mix the sifted flour with the baking powder and salt, then add it to the butter, sugar, and egg mixture, blending well until you obtain a smooth batter without lumps.
  5. Divide the obtained batter into two parts. To one, add the vanillin or vanilla seeds and mix well.
  6. In the other half, incorporate the unsweetened cocoa powder, adding a bit of milk if necessary to achieve a consistency similar to the vanilla batter.
  7. Pour alternating spoonfuls of the batters into the prepared pan, creating a marbled effect. You can use a toothpick or the tip of a knife to draw light spiral movements to emphasize the marbled effect.
  8. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  9. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool before unmolding it.

Trivia

Marbling is a technique achieved by lightly mixing two batters of different colors. It creates a visual effect similar to Carrara marble, from which the name derives, and probably originates in Germany, where it is known as “Marmorkuchen”. Over the centuries, this technique has spread to many countries, including Italy, where every family has its own “secret” recipe to make the marbled cake special.

Marble Cake