Marble Pound Cake

When chocolate meets vanilla the result is a cake with twice the appeal. And the marble effect is so easy to make. All it takes is a simple swirl of the batters with a knife.

Vanilla Pound Cake Batter:
1 lb (3¼ cups) all-purpose flour, unbleached
1 tsp. fine sea salt
4 sticks butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
9 large eggs, at room-temperature

Chocolate Pound Cake Batter:
2¼ cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. fine sea salt
4 sticks butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
9 large eggs, at room-temperature

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C/140°C fan, Gas Mark 3).

Make the Vanilla Pound Cake:
Butter two 9x5" loaf pans. Combine flour and salt in a bowl.

Cream butter and sugar with a mixer on high speed until pale and fluffy, about 8 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Reduce the speed to medium and add the vanilla extract.

Lightly beat the eggs and add to the mixer bowl in 4 additions, mixing thoroughly after each and scraping down the sides. Reduce the speed to low and add flour mixture in 4 additions, mixing until just incorporated.

Make the Chocolate Pound Cake:
Butter two 9x5" loaf pans. Combine all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder and salt in a bowl.

Cream butter and sugar with a mixer on high speed until pale and fluffy, for 8 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Reduce speed to medium, and add vanilla extract.

Lightly beat eggs, and add to mixer bowl in 4 additions, mixing thoroughly after each and scraping down sides. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture in 4 additions, mixing until just incorporated.

Assembly:
Scoop batters into prepared pans, ½ cup at a time, alternating plain and chocolate. Swirl gently with a knife. Tap on the counter to distribute; smooth the tops.

Bake until a tester inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, about 65 minutes.

Let cakes cool in their pans on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Remove from the pans and let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

Makes 2 cakes.