Basic Marbled Loaf Cake
I have many sources of inspiration when it comes to deciding what to bake – TV, blogs, magazines and my hubs’ insatiable appetite for cookies, chocolate chip to be exact. But often times I’m stumped or in a funk. The last time I just couldn’t figure it out, I took one of the most reliable baking book I know (by Dorie Greenspan) and told myself I would bake whatever the booked opened up to. When the pages turned to a marble loaf cake, I said to myself, “Dang – couldn’t I have gotten something a little more exciting…this couldn’t be more traditional and plain?”
Traditional. Customary. Conventional. Usual. Fixed. Long-established. Old-fashioned.
Plain. Unadorned. Pure. Bare. Simple. Natural. Ordinary. Normal. Everyday. Dull. Boring.
I almost talked my way out of making this cake and flipping to another page.
Thank goodness I didn’t because then I would have missed out on what turned out to be Delicious. Striking. And quite Out of the Ordinary and Enjoyable.
The ingredients are simple, most of which you already have in your cupboard. And the marbling could not be easier. Once you mix the batter, divide it in half and stir melted chocolate to one and keep the other plain. Then drop spoonfuls of each batter into your cake pan randomly and when you’re done, plunge a table knife into the batter and zigzag it a few times. And by a few times I mean like 6 or 8. Not 20, or you’ll end up with a mess.
So marble with abandon, as Dorie says, and you’ll end up with a treat that not only tastes great but looks oh so extraordinary.
Basic Marbled Loaf Cake
Ingredients:
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup evaporated milk
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, meltedDirections:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 8 ½ x 4 ½ x 2 ½-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and place on top of a baking sheet.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
Working with a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and beat for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and alternately add the flour mixture in 3 additions and the milk in 2 (begin with the dry ingredients), mixing only until each addition is incorporated.
Divide the batter in half and stir the melted chocolate into one half and keep the other half plain. Drop spoonfuls of dark and light batter randomly into the pan, and then plunge a table knife deep into the batter and zigzag the knife through the batter, making only about 6 to 8 zigzags. Scrape the batter into the pan.
Bake the cake for 1 hour and 20-30 minutes, or until a thin knife inserted deep into the center of the cake comes out clean. If the cake looks like it is getting too brown, cover it loosely with a foil tent. Transfer the cake to a cooling rack and let it rest for about 15 minutes before unmolding, then cool to room temperature right side up on the rack.
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Gloria — April 6, 2011 @ 12:58 am
Your marble cake looks like artwork! Nice post…definitely doesn’t look plain. Can I have a piece? With a tall glass of milk please!
Rosa — April 6, 2011 @ 1:43 am
Basic maybe, but delicious and pretty nonetheless!
Cheers,
Rosa
Paris Pastry — April 6, 2011 @ 2:45 am
To me, a marble loaf cake couldn’t be more exciting! The chocolate swirl looks perfect. Save a slice for me?
William Casper — April 6, 2011 @ 9:27 am
I have to agree with Gloria. It looks great. Can I have a piece to go with my morning coffee?
Amy (Sing For Your Supper) — April 6, 2011 @ 12:10 pm
Perfect marbling! What gorgeous pictures, too! I’m sitting here having a cup of coffee right now and it NEEDS a slice of this cake! YUM!
Flourchild — April 6, 2011 @ 5:12 pm
How cute it that! I want to flip and pick!!!
Pots and dishes — April 6, 2011 @ 11:11 pm
This cake looks so rich and moist! yum
Katrina — April 6, 2011 @ 11:28 pm
Mmm, looks like perfect marbling and yummy cake!
Joanne — April 7, 2011 @ 7:26 am
Well, I am quite glad that you didn’t give up on this baby. Because I LOVE a good loaf cake. Especially when I don’t even have to choose between vanilla and chocolate. Makes my life easier.
5 Star Foodie — April 7, 2011 @ 9:47 am
The marble effect is gorgeous, delicious cake for sure!
Stephanie — April 7, 2011 @ 8:56 pm
Your cake is beautiful! It’s impossible to be in a funk when you have something that beautiful to look at and eat
vanillasugarblog — April 8, 2011 @ 9:42 am
perfect with a hot cup of coffee.
it looks really moist. nice job!
Bonnie — April 8, 2011 @ 7:12 pm
One of my favorites. There’s something that evaporated milk adds to a cake that is quite delicious.
Best,
Bonnie
Emily — April 8, 2011 @ 7:46 pm
I have to make this! It’s gorgeous! You did a wonderful job.
JoVonn — April 9, 2011 @ 2:09 pm
It looks gorgeous! I will have to try this.
Brian @ A Thought For Food — April 9, 2011 @ 6:41 pm
I grew up with a marbled loaf cake or a pound cake always sitting on the counter top. Your marble is beautiful… I doubt I could do this recipe justice.
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets — April 10, 2011 @ 12:35 am
Beautiful marbling! I always seem to over or under-do it when swirling. Yours came out really lovely.
Lori — April 10, 2011 @ 5:44 pm
Your marbling is perfect! Such a beautiful dessert. This would be perfect with some fresh strawberries. That is, if it would make it that long. I’d be eating right from the pan!
Hannah {Bake five} — April 11, 2011 @ 1:40 am
this looks great! i really love the marbling. (:
Spike — April 12, 2011 @ 10:52 am
i like your method of just opening up a book and baking what’s on the page. I haven’t tried this recipe but there is something wonderful and simple about a good loaf cake
Kerstin — April 15, 2011 @ 9:23 pm
So pretty, I wish I had a nice big slice right now!
adal — April 18, 2011 @ 1:11 pm
Your picture looks better than those in cooking books. Nice job! I want cake!!!
-Adal
steph (whisk/spoon) — April 24, 2011 @ 10:45 am
that maybe traditional, but it sure looks good. we’re doing this one for TWD soon…hope my marbling comes out as nicely as yours!
Bren — April 25, 2011 @ 8:01 pm
que bonito te quedo el marble en el pan/cake… y mira que a ti te gusta complacir al marido!
pity — April 28, 2011 @ 5:39 pm
me encanto tu pastel, quedo divino y seguro que estaba delicioso, me alegro de haberte encontrado en el espacio bloguero, volvere por aqui, saludos desde londres!
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum — May 2, 2011 @ 7:42 am
This is beautiful! If nothing else, it looks amazing. But it sounds like it also tastes as amazing as it looks! I wish I had a slice right now… for breakfast…
Christa Kelso — May 2, 2011 @ 7:14 pm
oh my goodness! That is an amazing photo AND a beautiful dessert!
Rachel @ Bakerita — May 25, 2011 @ 10:26 am
Yum!
I definitely am going to make this soon, it looks fabulous!!