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Milk-Free Vanilla Cocoa Swirl Cake Recipe

4.9 from 615 reviews

A delightful milk-free marble cake that combines vanilla and chocolate flavors in a soft, fluffy texture. Perfect for those avoiding dairy without compromising on taste, this cake features a classic marble design made by swirling cocoa into a vanilla base. It is easy to prepare and baked to perfection, making it an excellent choice for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 250g butter
  • 4 eggs
  • 250g sugar
  • 250g plain flour
  • 80g vanilla pudding powder (or cornflour plus 1 tsp vanilla extract)
  • 5g baking powder
  • 5ml vanilla extract
  • 20g cocoa powder
  • Icing sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Butter: Start by melting the butter gently until fully liquid, then set it aside to cool completely to avoid cooking the eggs when mixed later.
  2. Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to 180°C (fan 160°C) or gas mark 4 to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the cake evenly.
  3. Mix Eggs and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together using a mixer until the mixture is pale in color and fluffy in texture, which helps incorporate air into the batter for a light cake.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients and Batter: Gently fold in the plain flour, vanilla pudding powder (or cornflour and vanilla), and baking powder into the egg mixture to create a smooth batter without overmixing.
  5. Add Butter and Vanilla: Pour the cooled melted butter and vanilla extract into the batter and fold gently until fully combined to maintain the mixture’s lightness.
  6. Divide Batter for Marble Effect: Pour three quarters of the batter into a lined 950g loaf tin or a 20cm round cake tin. Then add the cocoa powder to the remaining batter and mix until evenly incorporated to create the chocolate batter.
  7. Layer the Batter: Carefully spoon the chocolate batter down the center of the pale vanilla batter in the tin to create the classic marble effect during baking.
  8. Bake the Cake: Place the tin into the preheated oven and bake the cake for about 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool and Decorate: Allow the cake to cool completely before removing from the tin. Dust with icing sugar or optionally cover with a chocolate glaze for a beautiful finish.

Notes

  • Ensure the melted butter is cooled before adding to the batter to prevent curdling the eggs.
  • Vanilla pudding powder can be substituted with a mixture of cornflour and vanilla extract if unavailable.
  • Baking times may vary depending on your oven; check doneness by inserting a skewer into the center of the cake.
  • For a dairy-free option, use a plant-based butter substitute.
  • Chocolate glaze can be made using dairy-free chocolate melted with a small amount of plant-based milk for milk-free diets.

Keywords: milk-free cake, marble cake, vanilla cake, chocolate cake, dairy-free dessert, easy cake recipe