Patriotic Marble Cake (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Cake Base
01 -
2 cups white granulated sugar
02 -
1/2 cup neutral vegetable oil
03 -
3 fresh large eggs, room temperature
04 -
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
05 -
1/2 cup light sour cream
06 -
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
07 -
3 teaspoons baking powder
08 -
1 teaspoon fine salt
09 -
1 1/4 cups whole milk
10 -
Red gel food coloring (about 8 drops)
11 -
Blue gel food coloring (about 8 drops)
→ Vanilla Buttercream
12 -
2 cups cold unsalted butter, cubed
13 -
7-8 cups confectioners' sugar
14 -
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
15 -
2-3 tablespoons heavy cream
16 -
Pinch of salt
→ Decorations
17 -
Red, white, and blue sprinkles
18 -
Fresh berries (optional)
# Instructions:
01 -
Heat your oven to 350°F. Line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and lightly grease with cooking spray.
02 -
Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream together sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla for about 2 minutes until well blended. Mix in the sour cream until smooth.
03 -
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Alternate adding the dry mixture and milk to your wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined.
04 -
Divide your batter evenly among three bowls. Tint one bowl with red gel coloring and another with blue gel coloring, stirring until the colors are evenly distributed. Leave the third bowl plain white.
05 -
Drop small spoonfuls of each colored batter randomly into your prepared pans. Use a knife to gently swirl the colors together - don't overmix or you'll lose the marble pattern.
06 -
Bake for 20-23 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in pans before removing.
07 -
Beat cold butter until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth and spreadable.
08 -
Level cake layers if needed. Place first layer on serving plate, pipe frosting on top and spread evenly. Repeat with remaining layers, then frost the entire outside of the cake smoothly.
09 -
Decorate with remaining frosting using piping techniques if desired. Add sprinkles and berries for a festive finish. Chill for 1 hour before slicing to set the frosting.
# Notes:
01 -
Greek yogurt can substitute for sour cream in equal amounts
02 -
Room temperature ingredients blend more easily and create better texture
03 -
Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent a dense, tough cake
04 -
You can tint the frosting with food coloring for extra patriotic flair
05 -
Don't overbeat the buttercream to avoid incorporating too much air