Description
A simple, beginner-friendly recipe for a moist vanilla and chocolate swirl loaf cake that produces beautiful marbled results every time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon hot water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
- Divide the batter evenly into two separate bowls.
- In one bowl, stir the cocoa powder and hot water into the batter until fully incorporated, creating the chocolate batter.
- Place alternating spoonfuls of the vanilla and chocolate batters into the prepared loaf pan.
- Use a knife or skewer to gently cut through the batter in an ‘S’ pattern a few times to create the marble effect. Do not over-swirl.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For a moister cake, ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before mixing.
- Do not overmix the batter once the flour is added; this prevents a tough cake.
- For a simple glaze, mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon milk and drizzle over the cooled cake.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 55 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 55