Why you’ll love it

Smaller and quicker than making a layer cake or even a sheet cake, this moist and tender marble loaf cake also looks stunning. A loaf cake, so it’s easy to make, but with that gorgeous swirl, a firm but moist texture and flavours of butter, vanilla and chocolate, this is one classic you must have in your baking collection.

  • Mix by hand – you don’t need any special equipment, since this is all mixed by hand in a mixing bowl.
  • Just two bowls – this makes clean up a breeze.
  • So easy – anyone can make this marble cake. Make one simple batter and flavour half of it with chocolate. So simple.
  • Flavour – I love the flavour with butter, chocolate and vanilla in every bite.
  • Texture – it’s tender and moist but slightly firm with a crumb a bit lighter than a pound cake.
  • Easy to decorate – chocolate ganache is the simplest form of cake decoration, but so delicious.

This marble loaf cake is all about indulgent simplicity. Not only is it so easy to make and even easier to decorate it has more flavour than you expect. Both vanilla and chocolate shine and that butter sure lets us know it’s there too.

I may be a little addicted to loaf cakes – how about you? You have to try my ever-popular chocolate bread and this stunning coconut and raspberry cake.

Front on view of a cake slice showing the marbled inside.

Table of contents

Ingredients you’ll need

Here’s a quick rundown of the ingredients you’ll need.

Ingredients for marble loaf cake on a marble surface.

Detailed quantities and instructions in the recipe card below.

  • Flour: Just every day plain flour / all-purpose flour.
  • Sugar: You’ll just need white granulated sugar for this. Caster (superfine) sugar works well too.
  • Butter: Use unsalted butter so you can control the salt level.
  • Baking powder: Baking powder gives the cake it’s lift. This is not the same as baking soda.
  • Salt: A little salt is added to the dough for balance.
  • Eggs: Use large eggs for this cake. Eggs provide structure to the cake.
  • Buttermilk: Buttermilk is one of the ingredients that help to keep this cake tender and moist. Don’t swap it for regular.
  • Oil: A little oil keeps this cake super moist too.
  • Vanilla: Use a pure vanilla extract as opposed to vanilla essence – the latter is synthetic, not natural.
  • Cocoa powder: I really love dutch processed cocoa powder in this cake and urge you to grab some. It has a really balanced chocolate flavour and is less bitter than regular unsweetened cocoa.
  • Chocolate: I use dark (50%) chocolate for the ganache. It has a great combo of being super chocolatey without being overly bitter.
  • Cream: Called thickened cream in Australia, you may know it as heavy cream, whipping cream or double cream. They’ll all work fine for this ganache.

How to make marble loaf cake

You’d be forgiven for thinking this is tricky. I mean, two different flavours and that pretty swirl effect. Let me tell you just how easy this cake is to make.

A collage of 5 images showing how to make marble cake.

Detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

For the cake

  1. Melt the butter: Melt the butter in the microwave until it’s just melted, then set it aside to cool a little.
  2. Dry ingredients: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk to aerate and disperse everything.
  3. Wet ingredients: In another bowl, use a balloon whisk to mix together the eggs, butter, oil, buttermilk and vanilla.
  4. Combine the two: Make a well in the flour mixture and add the wet ingredients. Gradually combine them together until there are no lumps. Careful not to overmix it.
  5. Divide and flavour the batter: Now place roughly half of the batter into the second bowl (the one you used for the wet ingredients is fine). Add the cocoa and boiling water and mix gently to combine.
  6. Layer: Starting with the vanilla cake batter, dollop roughly half a cup into your lined loaf pan. Do the same with the chocolate cake batter next, dolloping it directly on top of the vanilla. You should have enough batter to do this two more times, just dolloping directly on to the last layer. Once it’s all in, run a knife through the batter in a swirl pattern a couple of times to swirl the batter a little.
  7. Bake for around 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a crumb or two attached.

IMPORTANT! Don’t overbake the cake. Loaf cakes are tall and skinny meaning there is a lot of pan surrounding that batter. If you cook it too long, you risk having a dry cake so make sure to test the cake when it’s getting close to time with a toothpick. It should have some sticky crumbs attached.

Keep in mind, all ovens vary and loaf tins also vary. See my notes in the recipe card.

For the chocolate ganache

  1. Chop the chocolate: You need to chop the chocolate very finely so that it dissolves easily when heated. Place it into a heatproof bowl.
  2. Heat the cream: Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat, swirling from time to time, until it starts bubbling at the sides.
  3. Combine: Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, then give the bowl a shake to settle the chocolate under the cream. Let it sit and soften for 1 minute, then stir until you have a smooth, glossy ganache. Let it cool before 10 minutes before pouring over the cake.
Slices of marble cake on a wire rack.

Tips and tricks

  • Grease and line the pan: Even if you have a non-stick pan, you should grease and line the baking pan with baking paper. Greasing stops the paper from moving when you add the batter and the paper allows you to lift it out easily. Make sure the paper is hanging out the top so you can lift the cake easily.
  • Don’t overmix: Be very careful not to overmix the batter. Only mix it enough to just combine everything, making sure there are no lumps left.
  • Don’t overbake: I know I already said this above but loaf cakes retain much more heat than cakes that aren’t so deep. They also carry-on bake after coming out of the oven because of that heat. For these reasons, take it out as soon as you have some sticky crumbs – not wet batter but stickiness is fine.
  • Allow for cooling time: Loaf cakes retain heat for much longer than layer cake layers, so you’ll need to give it a good couple of hours to cool at room temperature or, after letting it cool for ½ an hour, transfer it to the fridge to speed the process up. Serve it at room temperature though.
  • Don’t make the ganache until the cake has cooled: If you add the ganache while the cake is still hot, you risk it all sliding straight off the cake. This is also a good reason to let the ganache cool for 10 minutes before using too.

FAQs

Is this a Starbucks copycat recipe?

I haven’t tried the Starbucks marble cake, so I can’t confirm if this is the same. It has the same look and flavours though and I know you’ll love it.

Can I swap the buttermilk for regular milk?

No. Regular milk won’t give you the same texture as buttermilk in this recipe. It’s worth using the real thing if you can get it but if you’re really in a bind, you can mix 1 cup of whole milk with 3 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice. Mix and let sit a couple of minutes, then just measure out 1 cup for this cake.

Can I add chocolate chips?

Yes. Feel free to add up to 1 cup of chocolate chips to the batter.

Storage

This vanilla and chocolate marble loaf cake will keep well in an airtight container in a cool place (like the pantry) for 3-4 days. If you put it in the fridge, make sure to take it out half an hour before you serve.

This marble cake can be frozen without the ganache, when wrapped well in plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

A marble loaf cake with slices cut away showing the inside.

More loaf cake recipes you’ll love

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5 slices of marble cake on a tin with a ganache covered knife next to them.

Marble Loaf Cake

Yield: 10 slices
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
4.9 from 32 ratings
This vanilla and chocolate marble loaf cake, with it’s gorgeous swirls and drizzling ganache, is so simple to make. Buttery, tender, moist and filled with flavour, it’s one you’ll make it time and again.
Print Rate Pin

Video

Ingredients

  • 260 g plain (all purp) flour (2 cups / 9.1oz)
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar (200g / 7oz)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 113 g unsalted butter, melted & cooled slightly (½ cup / 4oz)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature (250ml)
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil (60ml)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • ¼ cup dutch processed cocoa (27g / 1oz)
  • 2 tablespoons boiling water (8 tsp, notes 1)

FOR THE GANACHE

  • 150 g dark (50%) chocolate (notes)
  • ½ cup thickened (heavy) cream

For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Make sure to melt your butter (in a medium mixing bowl) in the microwave first until just melted and set aside to cool.
  • Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / 160C fan forced. Grease then line an 8×4 inch loaf tin with baking paper.
  • FOR THE CAKE: In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar baking powder and salt and whisk well using a balloon whisk, to aerate and disperse.
  • Combine the melted butter, eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla and whisk well.
  • Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Use a spatula to gently combine just until there are no lumps left.
  • Transfer about 1 ½ cups of the batter back to the wet ingredients bowl. Add the cocoa and the boiling water – stir until just combined.
  • Drop about ½ cup of the vanilla batter into your prepared tin. Add ½ cup of the chocolate batter directly on top. Repeat these alternating layers until it's all in the tin. Run a knife through to swirl the batters a couple of times – not so much that you completely mix them.
  • Bake for around 45-55 minutes (notes) or until a toothpick comes out with a sticky crumb or two attached. Watch it carefully towards the end as loaf cakes can have a tendency to over-bake quickly.
  • Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes, before using the edges of the baking paper on the long sides to lift it out. Finish cooling on a wire rack.
  • Let the cake cool completely before topping.
  • FOR THE GANACHE: Heat the cream in a small saucepan over low-medium heat until it starts to bubble. Pour over the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and give it a shake to settle the chocolate under the cream. Set aside for 1 minute.
  • Stir the ganache until smooth. Let it cool for 5 minutes before pouring over the cake.
  • Please take a moment to rate this recipe. I really appreciate it and it helps me create more recipes.

Notes

  1. I use a standard Australian 20ml tablespoon (equal to 4 teaspoons).
  2. For best results, you should always weigh ingredients like flour and sugar. Kitchen scales are relatively cheap but if you can’t weigh the ingredients, use the spoon and level method (don’t scoop).
  3. All ovens vary – always test for doneness 5-7 minutes before the recipe suggests.
  4. Baking time will also depend on what you bake it in. Glass or ceramic will take longer. My own 8×4 loaf tin it takes 52 minutes, while my 8.5×4.5 (only slightly bigger) takes 47 minutes. Check it earlier.
  5. Loaf cakes retain a lot of heat due to the shape of the tin so don’t let it overbake. It will carry-on bake after you remove it from the oven.
  6. Cooling the cake: Loaf cakes can take a couple of hours to cool. To speed it up, let it cool at room temperature for half an hour, then transfer to the fridge.
  7. This cake is best eaten at room temperature and can be stored in a cool place like the pantry. You can store in the fridge but make sure to take it out in time to come to room temperature before serving.
  8. You can use a darker chocolate for the ganache, say 70% cocoa solids, however you’ll need less – around 115g or 15oz.
MORE CAKES AND CUPCAKES!
Calories: 440kcal
Author: Marie Roffey
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Have you tried this recipe?Don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.