This marble cake is all about the chocolate. Baked in a bundt pan, the cake includes swirls of chocolate fudge cake and creamy white chocolate vanilla cake and is smothered in rich chocolate glaze.
The cake is simple to make (one batter will create both flavors) and uses REAL melted chocolate to create a fudgy texture that's soft, creamy, rich, and buttery.
An amazing, delicious cake! Light, fluffy, moist, sweet, and pretty cake - and very easy to make. Everyone loved it!
- Valerie
Why This Recipe Works
A few years ago a reader wrote to me and requested a marble cake recipe. After baking my way through many, many marble cakes, this recipe is the final result and it's one of my favorite cakes EVER. So, thank you James, for the request.
Here's what I love about this marble cake:
- This cake is all chocolate - buttery white chocolate vanilla cake and rich dark chocolate fudge cake, deliciously swirled together on one pan
- The texture of this cake is super soft and fudgy thanks to butter, extra egg yolks and melted chocolate that's stirred right into the batter
- Baking it in a bundt pan makes it easy to bake, transport, slice, and decorate
- Speaking of decoration... the only adornment this cake requires is a thick layer of decadent chocolate fudge glaze
This is perfect! Fam really loves it and will surely make this again and again on our gatherings! Thanks a bunch for sharing this amazing marble cake recipe! I highly recommend this!
- Allyssa
The #1 Ingredient for Making the BEST Chocolate Marble Cake
Using melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder is the secret to the most delicious marble cake ever. The chocolate gives this cake a texture that's a cross between soft chocolate cake and a delicious fudge brownie.
When I first started working on this recipe, I used cocoa powder for the chocolate batter and white chocolate powder for the vanilla batter. The result was quite good. But, it didn't give me the rich and fudgy texture I was hoping for.
So I started experimenting with adding melted chocolate in place of the cocoa powder and was shocked at how much better the cake was.
Using melted chocolate intensifies the flavor and creates a texture that's so rich and fudgy, it's almost brownie-like. It was so good that I replaced the white chocolate powder with melted white chocolate as well.
The result is, hands down, the most rich, creamy, delicious marble cake I've ever eaten.
What if You Don't Care For White Chocolate?
For those of you who are immediately jumping to the conclusion that this cake isn't for you because you don't really care for white chocolate, I really think you should try it anyway.
There is a very small amount of white chocolate in this batter - only 3 ounces - just enough to boost the flavor of the vanilla cake batter and create a creamy consistency.
Even if you're the kind of person who would never eat a hunk of white chocolate, I feel super confident that you'll still love this cake.
White chocolate candy is not my favorite thing either. But, I love baking with it. Melted white chocolate can add a delicious richness and depth to baked goods.
I first discovered this trick when creating a recipe for Gluten Free Caramel Cake. Mixing a bit of melted white chocolate into the batter transformed the cake from "This is a good gluten free cake" to "There's no way this is a gluten free cake."
I used the same trick for these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Loaves. If you're not the baker, you'd never guess that the cake's rich flavor comes from adding a bit of melted white chocolate to the batter. The melted white chocolate in this cake has the same effect - it boosts the flavor, adds richness, and creates an extra-tender crumb.
It's super-duper yummy. Even white chocolate snubbers will think so.
How to Make a Cake with Chocolate Swirls
You only need one batter to make this marble cake.
Follow the recipe instructions below to mix up the cake batter. Then, stir some melted dark chocolate into one portion of the batter and melted white chocolate into the rest.
Then, simply layer and swirl the two batters together in the pan. Here's how:
#1. Scoop about half of the white chocolate batter into a bundt pan.
#2. Dollop 4 large scoops of dark chocolate batter over the white chocolate batter.
You want to make 4 large "mounds" of dark chocolate batter, that are somewhat evenly spaced.
#3. Pour the remaining white chocolate batter into the pan.
Spread the white chocolate batter over the mounds of dark chocolate batter. Smooth it into an even layer so that it completely covers the dark chocolate batter.
#4. Make the chocolate swirls.
Grab a butter knife and swirl the batter around in the pan, moving the knife in different directions, and using large movements. Only "swirl" the batter a few times so that you get a large pattern of white and dark chocolate cake with clear definition between the two different flavors.
The Best Chocolate Glaze is So Easy To Make
This chocolate glaze is glossy, pourable, rich, and decadent. And, it requires just 4 ingredients:
- Chocolate
- Butter
- Salt
- Corn Syrup
Simply add the chocolate, butter, and salt to a small saucepan and cook it over very low heat to melt. Stir in the corn syrup and you're done.
The glaze tastes like hot fudge sauce when it's warm, and like fudge candy when it's cooled and firm. I can't decide which way I like it more.
FAQs and Expert Tips
A: Yes - you could make this in a 10-inch springform pan or in two 8-inch round cake pans.
Be sure to grease and flour the pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper (here's how to prepare the pans) because this is a super moist cake and might stick otherwise.
A: I've found that heating white chocolate very slowly is very important. I usually use the microwave, heating it at 50% power in 30 second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds.
But, you can also melt it in a bain-marie: add the chocolate to a small bowl or saucepan and set it over another, slightly larger saucepan of boiling water. The key is to not let the bowl with the chocolate in it touch the boiling water. You want the steam from the water to gently heat it as you stir.
If you keep the chocolate under 110 degrees F, you'll be fine. Once it's about 60% melted, remove it from the heat/ microwave and see if it's hot enough to melt the remaining pieces of chocolate.
More Popular Chocolate Cake Recipes
If you give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or take a picture and tag it #ofbatteranddough on Instagram.
Happy baking!
📖 Recipe
Black and White Chocolate Marble Cake
This Marble Bundt Cake covered in chocolate glaze uses REAL melted chocolate for a fudgy texture that's soft, buttery and almost brownie like.
Ingredients
For the Marble Cake:
- 5 oz (141g) bittersweet chocolate chips (or bittersweet chocolate bar, finely chopped)
- 3 oz (85g) white chocolate chips (or white chocolate bar, finely chopped)
- 2 ½ cups (325g) cake flour (*See note for substitution)
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 13 tablespoons (260g) butter, at room temperature
- ¼ cup (60ml) vegetable oil
- 1 ¾ cup (351g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 5 large egg yolks, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup (160ml) buttermilk, at room temperature
For the Chocolate Glaze:
- ½ cup (160g) butter
- 8 ounces (226g) bittersweet chocolate chips
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon (41g) corn syrup
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C). Grease and flour a 12-cup bundt pan: Coat the inside of the pan with vegetable shortening or softened butter, then shake some flour around inside the pan so the inside is well coated. It's very important that the entire inside of the pan be coated in shortening and flour.
- Add the bittersweet chocolate chips to a small bowl and heat in the microwave at 50% power in 1-minute increments, stirring after each, until melted. Repeat with the white chocolate chips in a separate small bowl. Set the chocolates aside.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to a bowl and stir with a wire whisk to combine. Set aside.
- Beat the butter, vegetable oil, and sugar with an electric mixer until very light and fluffy, 4-5 minutes, stopping every once in a while to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the three whole eggs to the butter and sugar and beat for 1-2 minutes, until fully incorporated. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition before adding the next. Scrape down the sides of the bowl from time to time. Beat in the vanilla.
- Add the buttermilk in two additions, alternating with the flour mixture: flour, buttermilk, flour, buttermilk, flour. After each addition, beat on low speed just long enough to incorporate.
- Stir 2 cups of the batter into the melted bittersweet chocolate. Stir the melted white chocolate into the remaining batter.
- Scoop half the white chocolate batter into the prepared bundt pan and spread it out along the bottom into a mostly even layer. Dollop 4 large scoops of dark chocolate batter over the white chocolate batter; you want 4 large "mounds" of dark chocolate batter, evenly spaced. (See photos above for reference.) Pour the remaining white chocolate batter into the pan and spread it into an even layer so that it completely covers the dark chocolate batter.
- Using a butter knife, gently swirl the batter around in the pan, moving the knife in different directions, using large movements. Only "swirl" the batter a few times so that you get a large pattern of white and dark chocolate cake with clear definition between the two different flavors.
- Bake the cake for 60-70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out with only cake crumbs clinging to it and no sign of raw batter.
- Remove the cake from the oven and set on a wire rack. Let stand 5 minutes, then invert the cake from the pan onto the wire rack to let cool completely.
Make the Chocolate Glaze:
- Add the butter, chocolate chips, and salt to a small saucepan and set it over very low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the butter and chocolate are about 75% melted. Remove from the heat and continue stirring until all the butter and chocolate are melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Pour in the corn syrup and stir to mix.
- When the cake is completely cool, pour the glaze over the top of of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Serve immediately, or wait a couple of hours for the chocolate to "set".
Notes
What if you don't have cake flour?
Cake flour is one of the reasons that the crumb of this cake is soft and tender. The brand I use is Swans Down Cake Flour which can be found at many supermarkets, or ordered on Amazon (link below).
If you can't find cake flour, you can make a substitution by mixing 2 ¼ cups (270g) all-purpose flour with ¼ cup (30g) cornstarch.
How to store this Chocolate Marble Cake:
This marble cake will keep well at room temperature for up to 3 days. As is true with most cakes, this cake tastes the best within 24 hours or so of baking. But, because of the oil in the cake, it's still pretty darn delicious 2 and 3 days after baking. Make sure to cover it so the cake doesn't dry out.
Can you freeze chocolate marble cake?
This chocolate marble cake can be frozen for up to three months. Wrap the cake in 2 layers of plastic wrap then in a layer of aluminum foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for about 4 hours.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 673Total Fat: 41gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 546mgCarbohydrates: 68gFiber: 5gSugar: 36gProtein: 9g
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Stephanie says
Hi! Thank you for this delicious looking recipe! I can’t wait to try it! Can I use another pan than a Bundt pan?
Rebecca Blackwell says
Hi Stephanie! Yes - you could make this in a 10-inch springform pan or in two 8-inch round cake pans. Be sure to grease and flour the pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper (here's how to prepare the pans) because this is a super moist cake and might stick otherwise. I hope that helps! Please let me know if you have any more questions! And, I'd love to hear how this cake comes out for you after you make it! xo
Stephanie says
Thank you so much for your reply! I will definitely try it and let you know how it goes! Do you have any tips for melting white chocolate? I have had problems with it seizing.
Rebecca Blackwell says
That can be a problem... I've found that heating it very slowly is the key. I usually use the microwave, heating it at 50% power in 30 second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds. But, you can also melt it in a bain-marie: add the chocolate to a small bowl or saucepan and set it over another, slightly larger saucepan of boiling water. The key is to not let the bowl with the chocolate in it touch the boiling water. You want the steam from the water to gently heat it as you stir. If you keep the chocolate under 110 degrees F, you'll be fine. Once it's about 60% melted, remove it from the heat/ microwave and see if it's hot enough to melt the remaining pieces of chocolate.
I hope that helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xo
Valerie says
An amazing delicious cake! Light, fluffy, moist, sweet, and pretty cake - very easy to make. Everyone loved it!
Rebecca Blackwell says
I'm so happy to hear that you liked this cake, Valerie! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know! I always love hearing from you! xo
Allyssa says
This is perfect! Fam really loves it and will surely make this again and again on our gatherings! Thanks a bunch for sharing this amazing marble cake recipe! I highly recommend this!
Rebecca Blackwell says
I'm so happy to hear that you and your family like this recipe Allyssa! Thank you so much for taking the time to write and let me know. I truly appreciate it! xo
Jessica says
This cake looks delicious. I will definitely try it. Can I use cake flour instead and how much would I need to adjust the amount?
Rebecca Blackwell says
Hi Jessica! You can use cake flour - but omit the cornstarch if you do. Cake flour is essentially all purpose flour and cornstarch; in this recipe, I've just listed them as two separate ingredients rather than calling for cake flour. 🙂 So, just use 2 1/2 cups of cake flour in place of the all-purpose flour and cornstarch and you should be golden! Please let me know if you have any other questions, and I'd love to hear what you think of this cake after you bake it! xo
Jessica says
Ok, thanks Rebbeca I will definitely let you know what I think. I discovered your website a couple days ago after looking for the best red velvet cake recipe. And yours looks delicious so that's on my next list to try and then I try this marble cake recipe. You have a lovely website by the way and the recipes look so delicious!
Rebecca Blackwell says
Thank you so much! I can't wait to hear what you think of both cakes! Happy baking! xoxo