Marvelous Marble Cake

Name: Marvelous Marble Cake
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 16 servings.
Cuisine: Comfort Food Desserts, Comfort Food Recipes
Ingredients: 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped; 3 tablespoons plus 1-1/4 cups butter, softened, divided; 2 cups sugar; 5 large eggs, room temperature; 3 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips, optional; FROSTING:; 3/4 cup butter, softened; 6-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 to 2/3 cup 2% milk; 2 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Pound cake and chocolate make the best marble cake. — Ellen Riley, Birmingham, Alabama

Ingredients

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 tablespoons plus 1-1/4 cups butter, softened, divided
2 cups sugar
5 large eggs, room temperature
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips, optional
FROSTING:
3/4 cup butter, softened
6-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 to 2/3 cup 2% milk
2 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

In top of a double boiler or a metal bowl over barely simmering water, melt chocolate and 3 tablespoons butter; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 375°. Line bottoms of three greased 8-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease parchment.
In a large bowl, cream remaining butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition.
Remove 2 cups batter to a small bowl; stir in cooled chocolate mixture and, if desired, chocolate chips, until blended. Drop plain and chocolate batters by tablespoonfuls into prepared pans, dividing batters evenly among pans. To make batter level in pans, bang cake pans several times on counter.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove parchment. Cool completely.
For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and enough milk to reach desired consistency.
If cake layers have rounded tops, trim with a serrated knife to make level. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Cool slightly.
Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake.
Drop cooled chocolate by 1/2 teaspoonfuls over frosting. Using a large offset spatula, smear chocolate to create a marble design in frosting.

Test Kitchen Tips

To learn even more, see our guide for how to bake a cake.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 683 calories, 33g fat (20g saturated fat), 138mg cholesterol, 330mg sodium, 97g carbohydrate (79g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Gramma Amy

May 25, 2018

Pretty cake, and we loved the addition of the mini chips in the chocolate batter. I baked as directed, but it browned and was dry on the top. Next time I will do as others have suggested and decrease oven to 350 degrees. it is a dense cake, but we enjoyed both flavor and texture. We also liked the icing as the recipe directed, and found it to be sufficient to cover the cake and fill the layers. I will make this cake again.
Sana

Jul 24, 2017

This cake turned out great. The taste was rich and the texture was soft and light. Absolutely loved it :)
Jellybug

Jan 16, 2016

Love this cake, the presentation is perfect for a marble cake. The taste is 5 plus stars. next time I make it, I want to make it with a cream cheese buttercream, just to see the difference. otherwise the cake is perfect!! I used my homemade vanilla which made it extra yummy...
kfarris86

Apr 7, 2015

The frosting not good for this cake AT ALL!
JenandBry

Feb 5, 2015

This cake turned out exactly like the picture. Beautiful presentation, moderately simple to put together. Great flavor and texture.
Weedbind

Jan 13, 2015

I can't wait to make this mmmmm good cake!!!
Saby_23

Dec 1, 2014

Great taste, I baked at 350 degrees. Made it for my friend's daughter party who wanted a Marble cake. They loved it...
Villarosa

Jan 6, 2014

I made this cake for my husband's birthday, and our whole family loved it! It is absolutely delicious and a nice birthday cake for a man, I think. I did adjust to 350 degrees and decided to forgo the melted chocolate top. You could just sprinkle some of the mini chocolate chips on top and it would look and taste great.
mdescoteaux

Oct 21, 2013

Suggest you swirl in the chocolate batter as you would with a regular marble cake (it just looks better). Also, I needed to make another cup of frosting so I'd increase the amounts quoted for the frosting slightly. I also added a quarter teaspoon of Oil to the melted choc. chips used on top of the cake so the chocolate doesn't harden before you can swirl it in nicely. I also think I'll cook the cake at 350 degrees next time because at 375 degrees the cake really browned before the inside was done. But it is a beautiful cake with a wonderful flavor. Good luck...........M