Best Easy Marble Cake Recipe

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a standard 9-inch loaf pan, ensuring corners are well coated to prevent sticking.

In a large bowl, cream the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients in two parts, alternating with the whole milk, starting and ending with flour. Stir until just combined to avoid overmixing.

Divide the batter evenly into two bowls; mix the cocoa powder into one half to form the chocolate batter.

Spoon alternating scoops of vanilla and chocolate batters into the prepared loaf pan, then swirl gently with a thin knife or skewer to create a marbled effect without over-mixing.

Bake on the middle rack for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Avoid overbaking to maintain a tender crumb.

Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and let cool completely before slicing.