Espresso Chocolate And Vanilla Marble Loaf Cake

Name: Espresso Chocolate And Vanilla Marble Loaf Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Ingredients: 225 g butter (cubed and chilled); 225 g flour; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp salt; 225 g castor sugar; 1 tbsp vanilla extract/paste (the good stuff); 3 eggs; 120 g yogurt; 20 g cocoa powder; 15 g espresso powder; 40 g hot water; 120 g water; 45 g castor sugar; 45 g cocoa powder; 60 g icing sugar; 30 g hot cream

One batter and two distinct flavors. The vanilla bean batter is so fluffy, tender and light while the espresso chocolate batter is dark, rich and indulgent. They are swirled together to create the most elegant, delicious and beautiful tea cake recipe.

If you have not checked out my OG Marble Vanilla Chocolate loaf cake recipe, here is a reminder for you to do so. However this recipe, in my humble opinion has ruined all other marble tea cake recipes for me. It is simple, tender, fluffy and so delicious. Not to mention you do not need fancy equipment of ingredients to make it. You might just have all the ingredients in your pantry at the moment just waiting for you to throw them all together and make this delicious loaf cake.

Also, quick note – this is supposed to be fall baking vibes cause we are in September but it is very much summer baking vibes in Dubai at the moment – having said that the element of transition recipes has always allured me. I have talked about them before, where we are getting out of one season and gearing up with the next. While the world is already moving into all thing cozy, pumpkin and warm I am still trying to acclimatise with the current heat while still enjoying my cup of pumpkin spice latte. And I believe this recipe is one of the best transition recipes of all time. So lets get to it.

What is a marble cake?

A marble cake is a pound cake recipe with a marbled or streaked appearance created by gently swirling two or more different flavored batters, most commonly vanilla and chocolate, in a single pan to form a zebra-like pattern. This traditional treat, which originated in Germany during the 19th century, combines the flavors and colors of the batters for a visually appealing and delicious dessert, often enjoyed as a teatime treat.

Why is it called marble cake?

A marble cake gets its name from the distinct marbled pattern it has when sliced into as it is made by combining two different flavors of cake batter, usually vanilla and chocolate.

What ingredients do you need to make this Espresso Chocolate And Vanilla Marble Loaf Cake?

This cake is made by reverse creaming method, this is a method that basically means we hydrate the flour with the fat to ensure it coats the flour well, this inhibits the development of gluten and ensures the cake stays light and fluffy once baked. It is a classic pound cake recipe which includes butter, castor sugar, eggs, yogurt, flour, vanilla, baking powder, salt. For the chocolate element we need cocoa powder, espresso powder or instant coffee powder and hot water. For the syrup I like to use a simple syrup of water and sugar – this keeps the cake moist and tender once baked. And top it with a cocoa glaze and sea salt flakes.

What equipment do you need to make this Espresso Chocolate And Vanilla Marble Loaf Cake?

To make the cake batters we need two mixing bowls, one larger than the other. A whisk to bring the batter together and a rubber spatula to divide it. I have baked the cake in an oven on the middle rack in a 9 inch loaf tin that is lined with baking paper.

How to make this Espresso Chocolate And Vanilla Marble Loaf Cake?

Preheat the oven to 175 Degrees C and line a 9 inch loaf tin by brushing it with oil and baking paper, making sure it hangs over the sides so it is easier to lift from the tin once baked. In a smaller mixing bowl add the cocoa powder, espresso powder and hot water – stir together until smooth and combined. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and stir together with your fingers. Add the butter and using your finger rub together to create a damp sand like texture. Add in the castor sugar and stir together. Add the eggs, vanilla, yogurt and whisk until smooth. Divide the batter into half and using a rubber spatula transfer half the batter to the bowl with the cocoa powder mixture. Whisk it well until smooth and combined.

Scoop 3-4 dollops of vanilla batter at the bottom of the tin and fill in the gaps with the chocolate batter. Top the vanilla batter with scoops of chocolate. Then top the chocolate batter with scoops of vanilla batter and repeat unit the batters are done. Using a chopstick or a knife, swirl the batters together a couple of times and bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean. While the cake is baking make the simple syrup by boiling the water and sugar together until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup is transparent. Once the cake is out of the oven, poke holes into it and pour over the warm syrup. Allow this to soak for a couple of hours covered with cling wrap. To make the cocoa glaze, stir all the ingredients together until smooth and pour over the cake, sprinkle over the sea salt flakes, slice and serve.

Serving and storing this Espresso Chocolate And Vanilla Marble Loaf Cake?

The best way to serve this cake is after it has completely cooled down or you can even serve it the next day. The recipe is even more delicious. Pair it with an espresso or a glass of cold milk as well. It is the perfect tea cake recipe to feed a crowd and you can absolutely make it ahead for the best results. The leftovers can be sliced and stored in air tight containers or in the zip lock bags in the fridge for up to 1 week. When you are ready to eat allow the cake to come to room temperature or warm it in the microwave for 20 seconds before serving. Also, you could totally serve this with a scoop of vanilla, chocolate or coffee ice cream.

Looking for more loaf cake recipes?

Now that we have covered how to make this Espresso Chocolate And Vanilla Marble Loaf Cake Recipe, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.