Chocolate Marble Loaf Cake

I do love a nice loaf cake and this chocolate and vanilla one, marbled as it is, whets my appetite immensely. 

Luckily it is easy to make and doesn’t take very long, and is well worth the time and effort.

Once baked the loaf cake is perfect just as it is, but some people may wish to add a little chocolate frosting to the top, for an added treat.  So I have done that with mine, but it certainly isn’t necessary.

The method of making the cake is also very simple, everything, apart from the cocoa paste, goes into one bowl, at the same time to be mixed together.  Then the mixture is divided and the chocolate paste is mixed into one half.  That gives you two colours and flavours of batter which can then be spooned into a loaf tin and swirled around to make the marble effect.  What could be simpler?

Happily mine turned out very well and tasted very good indeed.  I do hope you will give this a try.

If you have any suggestions for recipes that you would like to see I would love to hear about them.  Visiting my Youtube channel, by clicking the video below allows you to comment, so you can leave suggestions there, if you wish.

• 225g softened, unsalted butter
• 225g caster sugar
• 4 large eggs(in the USA that would be extra large)
• 275g self-raising flour
• 2tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 12g cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp hot water
• 2 tbsp milk

For the topping – if you want

• 25g unsalted butter
• 15g cocoa powder
• 100g icing sugar
• 1-2 tbsp milk

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 160C/140C Fan/325F.
2. Grease and line a 2lb(900g) loaf tin.
3. Place all the ingredients, except the cocoa powder and hot water, into the bowl of a stand mixer(your can use a hand mixer).
4. Whisk to combine, for about 2 minutes, until all the ingredients are incorporated.
5. Mix the cocoa powder with the hot water and mix to a paste.
6. Divide the batter into two, placing one half in another bowl.
7. Mix one half of the batter with the cocoa paster until fully combined.
8. Spoon the two mixtures into the loaf tin, randomly, so they are mixed together.
9. Level off the mixture and then take the handle of a spoon and making swirling motions, going quite deeply, in the mixture (try not to over-do it).
10. Level off the mixture again and place in the oven to bake for between 50 minutes and one hour, until a skewer poked into the centre comes out clean.
11. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cook completely.
12. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the cocoa powder, stirring to combine.  
13. Cook gently for one minute.
14. Remove from the heat and add the milk and the icing sugar and mix thoroughly until fully combined.
15. Allow to cool and thicken.
16. Spread the chocolate frosting mixture  evenly onto the top of the loaf cake and set aside to firm up a little before slicing and serving.