Losing my Marbles Cake



I must have spring on my mind, because I have been so forgetful lately.

The other day, I left the car running while in the grocery store, only to come out and find it still there (I guess that says a lot for the neighborhood I live in).

I have been forgetting about appointments and getting the times mixed up too. Forgetting to record checks in my checkbook and a deposit here and there! So what is it? Spring fever or peri-menopause? Don't answer that.

I never forget this recipe though. It's SO EASY and pretty too. You can dust it with powdered sugar if you like. Bake it in a loaf or cake pan; eat it with ice-cream or without. So many choices, so little time.

Just make the cake.



Easy Marble Cake (adapted from Martha):

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
1 3/4 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp boiling water

Preheat oven to 350F.

Generously butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan or 8" springform pan; set aside.

Whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix in vanilla. Add flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk and beginning and ending with the flour.

Set aside 1/3 of the batter.

In a bowl, mix cocoa and 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons boiling water with a rubber spatula until smooth. Add the cocoa mixture to the reserved cake batter; stir until well combined.

Spoon batters into the prepared pan in 2 layers, alternating spoonfuls of vanilla and chocolate to simulate a checkerboard.



To create marbling, run a table knife (or wooden skewer) through the batters in a swirling motion.



Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until a cake tester comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Let rest in pan 10 minutes then cool on rack.

Dust with powdered sugar or leave plain and eat.



Enjoy!

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Comments

Anonymous said…
What a lovely way to wake up...
my mouth is actually watering looking at the cake. YUMMY!
Mil
I need a cake like this today, my sweet tooth is calling me!
The JR said…
Just wait till you get my age, then you'll wonder where you left your brain.

The cake looks good.
Have a happy weekend.
Ciao Chow Linda said…
Ok, i won't answer that, but i have another theory that shall go unanswered here. Sure wish I had a slice of that cake right now.
Dana said…
Such a pretty cake. I love marble cakes. I'm with you, I've been banging into things and dropping things a lot.
Oui, Chef said…
I'll take mine with a big dollop of whipped cream, thank you very much.
Joanne said…
Given that I forget things constantly and am only 25...let's say that it's spring fever :P or winter sickness.

This cake looks delicious! You've got me craving a chocolate swirl now.
Eileen said…
Uh oh... you are starting to sound like me. But that aside, this cake looks wonderful.