Marmorkuchen (German Marble Cake)

Marble cake has withstood the test of time--is it still one of the most popular birthday cakes in Germany both for children and adults. The combination of vanilla and chocolate is hard to resist. It is often served with whipped cream.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 321 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup milk
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¼ cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar
• 2 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons dark rum
• 1 ⅛ cups unsalted butter, softened
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 medium lemon, zested

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a large Kugelhopf or Bundt® cake pan with butter.

Step 2

Beat butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and creamy. Slowly add sugar and vanilla sugar while beating constantly. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat for 5 minutes until batter is light and fluffy.

Step 3

Sift flour and baking powder together in a separate bowl. Gradually mix flour mixture into the cake batter, alternating with the milk. Add rum and lemon zest. Pour 2/3 of the batter into the prepared pan.

Step 4

Stir cocoa powder into the remaining batter until fully incorporated. Pour chocolate batter over the vanilla batter in the pan. Gently move a knife up and down through the batter in circular movements to create a marbled effect.

Step 5

Bake cake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool slightly in the pan. Remove and place on a cooling rack to cool completely.