Description
This Chocolate Orange Marble Cake is a delightful blend of rich chocolate and fresh orange flavors swirled into a moist, tender cake. Enhanced with a zesty orange glaze, this cake offers a perfect balance of sweetness and citrus brightness, making it an irresistible treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup boiling water
For the Orange Glaze (optional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or a bundt pan to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside to be combined later with wet ingredients.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes, which helps create a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then mix in the vanilla extract and orange zest to infuse flavor throughout the batter.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the whole milk. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overworking the batter.
- Make Chocolate Mixture: In a small bowl, blend the cocoa powder with boiling water until smooth and well combined to enhance the chocolate flavor.
- Divide the Batter: Separate half of the prepared batter into another bowl and mix it thoroughly with the chocolate mixture to create the chocolate layer.
- Layer the Batter: Spoon half of the vanilla batter into the prepared pan, followed by half of the chocolate batter, then repeat with the remaining batter layers to build the marble effect.
- Create the Marble Effect: Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the vanilla and chocolate batters together, creating a beautiful marbled pattern without overmixing.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, ensuring the cake is fully cooked.
- Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan for about 20 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely, preventing sogginess before glazing.
- Make the Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, fresh orange juice, and orange zest until smooth. Adjust the consistency with extra juice or sugar as needed for drizzle thickness.
- Glaze the Cake: Once cooled, drizzle the orange glaze evenly over the top of the cake to add a zesty sweetness and beautiful finish.
- Slice and Enjoy: Cut the cake into slices and serve to enjoy the harmonious chocolate and orange flavors in each bite.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened, not melted, for proper creaming texture.
- Do not overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added to keep the cake tender.
- Adjust the amount of orange juice in the glaze to achieve the desired consistency.
- You can substitute whole milk with buttermilk for a slightly tangier flavor and moist texture.
- This cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
