Bewitched Marble Cake Food

MARBLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray a 10-in (12-cup) Bundt pan generously with nonstick cooking spray with flour, such as Baker's Joy or Pam with Flour.
• In a small saucepan, combine the cocoa powder, ½ cup of the sugar, and the water. Bring to a simmer over high heat, whisking until smooth. Off the heat, immediately add the chocolate; whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside. (Note that the mixture will start to look curdled as it sits; that's okay.)
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and remaining 2 cups of sugar. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds to combine. Add the softened butter and half of the buttermilk mixture and mix on low speed until moistened but still a little crumbly, about 1 minute. With the mixer running on low, gradually add the remaining buttermilk mixture until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium and mix for three minutes, stopping once to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. The batter should look pale and creamy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl again, making sure the batter is evenly mixed.
• Transfer about 2½ cups of the batter to a medium bowl. Add the chocolate mixture and whisk until smooth.
• Spoon half of the remaining vanilla batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Pour the chocolate batter over top. Finish by spooning the remaining vanilla batter over the chocolate (don't worry about covering the chocolate layer completely). Using a butter knife, swirl the batters together with a zig-zag motion, going three times around the pan. It may not look like the batters are swirled; that's okay. It's important not to over-swirl.
• Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
• While the cake bakes, make the glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, water, and vanilla. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute.
• Set the pan on a cooling rack. Using a skewer or toothpick, poke about 40 holes in the bottom of the still-hot cake, going about ¾ of the way down. Spoon or brush half of the glaze evenly over the bottom of the cake. If the glaze starts to pool on the surface, poke more holes to help it absorb. Leave the cake on the rack to cool for 30 minutes.
• Invert the cake onto a serving platter. Brush the remaining glaze evenly over the top and sides of the cake, letting it soak in as you go. (Go slowly so that the glaze gets absorbed.) Let the cake sit for at least two hours before serving. Cut with a serrated knife.
• Note: If you'd like to make your own buttermilk, check out the easy method here.
• Make-Ahead Instructions: This cake keeps well for several days. Once cool, store in a cake dome (or cover with plastic wrap) at room temperature until ready to serve.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cake can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.

MARBLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray or lightly butter two 9-inch cake pans. Set aside.
• Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
• With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed in a large bowl until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the granulated and brown sugars and beat on high speed for 3-4 minutes until creamed. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer running on low speed, add the eggs then the egg yolks one at a time, then add the vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until combined. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk and mixing each addition just until incorporated. Do not overmix. Use a whisk to rid any large lumps, if needed. The batter will be slightly thick.
• Remove 1 cup of yellow batter and pour into a medium bowl. Melt 4 ounces of chocolate in the microwave, stopping and stirring every 20 seconds until completely smooth. Pour chocolate into the 1 cup of yellow batter you set aside and stir until combined.
• Pour an even layer of the yellow batter into each cake pan. Spoon chocolate batter on top, as shown in the photo above. Pour remaining yellow batter on top of the chocolate. Using a knife, swirl the two batters together. Don't worry if it's not perfect.
• Bake the layers for 22-27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one cake comes out clean. Mine usually take 24 minutes. During bake time, loosely cover the cakes with aluminum foil if you find the tops are browning too quickly. Remove cakes from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack.
• With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the butter on high speed in a large bowl until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla, and cream with the mixer running on low. Once added, increase to high speed and beat for 3 full minutes. Add 1-2 more Tablespoons confectioners' sugar if frosting is too thin or 1-2 more Tablespoons of cream if frosting is too thick. Taste the frosting and add a pinch more salt if it's too sweet.
• If needed, level cakes to create a flat surface (I usually use a knife, be careful doing this!). Place 1 cake layer on a cake stand or large serving plate. Evenly spread about 3/4 cup frosting on top. Top with 2nd cake and spread the remaining frosting all over the sides and top. Decorate with sprinkles if desired. Slice and serve.
• Cover any leftover cake and store at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

MARBLE SNACKING CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment.
• Place the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is fully melted. Set aside.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Beat the granulated sugar, butter and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy and pale, about 4 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the vanilla and then the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and mixing well after each addition. Add one-third of the flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Add half of the milk and beat until combined. Repeat alternating additions of the flour mixture and milk, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each and beating until the last addition of flour is fully incorporated.
• Transfer one-quarter of the batter to the bowl with the melted chocolate and stir until the chocolate is evenly incorporated.
• Pour half of the remaining vanilla batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth out to the edges with an offset spatula. Scoop large spoonfuls of the chocolate batter on top of the vanilla batter and then pour the remaining vanilla batter on top. Using a skewer or butter knife, carefully swirl the chocolate batter into the vanilla batter to create a marbled effect.
• Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes. The top of the cake should be springy to the touch and the vanilla spots should be lightly golden. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then use a paring knife to loosen the sides of the cake from the pan and invert onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
• For the frosting: Beat the butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the cocoa powder, cream, vanilla, salt and 1 1/2 cups of the confectioners' sugar and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. With the mixer still on low, gradually add the remaining confectioners' sugar and mix well. Increase the mixer speed to medium high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes; the frosting will lighten in color as air is incorporated. (See Cook's Note.)
• Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting in a thick, swooping layer all over the top of the cooled cake.

CHOCOLATE MARBLE LOVE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
• Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions. Spoon evenly into the prepared pan and set aside.
• Combine the ricotta, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, eggs and 4 ounces of the mascarpone in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until smooth. Gently scoop the filling onto the cake batter and spread, so the top is completely covered. Bake until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the vanilla cake layer has risen to the top, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.
• Combine the instant pudding, milk and the remaining 12 ounces mascarpone in a stand mixer and beat until thick and smooth. Spread the frosting evenly over the entire cake. Use a peeler to shave chocolate curls to garnish the cake.

LILY'S MARBLE CAKE

Steps:

• Butter and flour a straight-walled 10-inch tube pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and continue to mix well. Add the eggs 1 at a time and beat until incorporated.
• In a bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Reduce the mixer's speed to low. Alternately add the flour and milk mixture until a smooth batter is formed. Continue mixing for 5 minutes. (It's important to mix for the full 5 minutes.)
• Transfer 1/3 of the batter to a bowl and whisk in the cocoa powder. Stir the coconut into the remaining batter.
• Pour the coconut batter into the pan; then spoon the chocolate batter around. Run a knife through the batter, cutting the batters together to create a marbled effect. (Do not stir.) Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Let the cake cool in the pan. Invert the cake onto a stand or plate, slice, and serve.

OLD-FASHIONED MARBLE BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• For the vanilla batter: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with the baking spray.
• Combine the butter, sugar, salt, baking powder, vanilla and oil in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed for 4 minutes. Stop and scrape the bowl and paddle with a rubber spatula. Add 2 of the eggs at a time, beating on medium speed for 30 seconds after each addition. Scrape the bowl.
• Add half of the cake flour and mix on low speed just until combined. Add the cream and buttermilk and mix again on low speed just until combined. Scrape the bowl.
• Add the remaining cake flour and start mixing on low speed to combine, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 4 minutes.
• For the chocolate batter: Transfer 2 cups of the vanilla batter to a medium bowl. Add the cocoa, sugar and baking powder and stir with a fork or small whisk until completely combined. Add the hot water and stir slowly until completely combined.
• Pour about half of the vanilla batter into the prepared pan. Dollop about half of the chocolate batter on top. Repeat with the remaining vanilla and chocolate batters. Run a skewer or butter knife through the pan to slightly swirl the 2 batters together.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 65 to 70 minutes. The cake will rise to fill the pan and will settle slightly once removed from the oven. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 30 minutes then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

MARBLE BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350°F. Coat the inside of a Bundt pan with nonstick spray, or butter and flour every nook and cranny well. Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl between additions. Beat in the vanilla and sour cream until smooth, then add the milk. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over batter, and mix until thoroughly combined. Add 2 cups of the flour to the batter, and mix until just combined.
• Scoop half of the batter-you can eyeball it-into a separate bowl, and stir the melted white chocolate into it until fully combined; then stir in 1/3 cup flour.
• Stir the cocoa powder and melted dark chocolate into the other half of batter.
• Drop or dot large spoonfuls of the white chocolate batter into the bottom of your prepared cake pan. Drop or dot large spoonfuls of the dark chocolate batter over that, checkerboarding it a little. Continue until all the batter is used. Use a skewer to marble the batters together in figure-8 motions.
• Bake the cake until a toothpick or skewer inserted into the center comes out batter-free, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Let cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack, then invert onto a cake plate.
• To finish:
• Heat the cream and chocolate together, and stir until just melted. Spoon over the fully cooled cake, and use the back of a spoon to nudge the drippings down in places. Refrigerate cake to set the chocolate coating; leftovers keep best in the fridge as well.

MARBLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan; set aside. Whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix in vanilla. Add flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk and beginning and ending with the flour. Set aside 1/3 of the batter.
• In a bowl, mix cocoa and 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water with a rubber spatula until smooth. Add the cocoa mixture to the reserved cake batter; stir until well combined.
• Spoon batters into the prepared pan in 2 layers, alternating spoonfuls of vanilla and chocolate to simulate a checkerboard. To create marbling, run a table knife (or wooden skewer) through the batters in a swirling motion.
• Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until a cake tester comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack to cool 10 minutes. Turn out cake from pan and cool completely on the rack. Cake can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.