Wednesday 8 May 2013

Marbled Butter Cake


Butter Cake is my Pa's favorite cake. Over the weekend, I had the case of itchy fingers and decided to try marbling my Butter Cake. I am hoping to bake Pa a Marbled Butter Cake when he and my Mum next visit. The recipe I used is Mrs Ng's Butter Cake which is the best recipe I have tried so far (not that I tried that many) and I will not bother trying any other Butter Cake recipes. The recipe yields a very fluffy and moist cake, unlike others I tried which tend to be on the dense side.


I have checked a few blogs for the method to make a marbled cake. It is quite easy, just fold in cocoa paste to one portion of the batter and then alternate the batter in the tin. Then take a butter knife and swirl the batter to create a marbling pattern. It is quite fun but me being clumsy, it was a bit of a messy affair.

What a mess! Washing up was a pain.

I tend to get very "kan cheong" (panicky) when I am trying out something for the first time. I keep telling myself "Madam, you are not in a competition. This is not Masterchef. You are at home. Nobody cares what you are doing. Nobody is judging you. As long as the cake turns out, they just wallop, no questions asked. So, relax lah!". 

I got a bit carried away with the marbling. Reminds me of art class in school.

I alternated dollops of the batter and in the process, my dining table was also dotted with batter. After swirling, I tapped the cake tin on the table to release trapped air bubbles and to level the batter. Tap! Tap! Tap! That reminded me of my dentist asking me to bite down on the paper to take an impression of my molar. At first he asked me to grind my teeth and then he said "Now, let's go tap, tap, tap". That was during my root canal procedure. Ouch!

The volcano erupted.

Anyway, back to my cake. In the oven, the middle part puffed up like a volcano and then it cracked. Usually when I bake Butter Cake, I will create a well in the middle of the cake so that it rises evenly. This time I didn't because I didn't want to mess up the marbling.


But once the cake cooled, the crack was not apparent. I was quiet happy with the result. The cake was fluffy and moist and the marbling turned out alright. Hopefully when I bake this cake again, I will be more relaxed. The best thing about a tried and tested cake is that I know for sure it will be done in 50 minutes at 160C. 


For a fragrant butter aroma, always use good quality butter like Golden Churn. For this bake, I used SCS because I ran out of Golden Churn. In my personal opinion, between the two, Golden Churn is better.




Marbled Butter Cake
Recipe Source : Adapted from Table for Two .....or More

Mixture A :
250g butter at room temperature
75g fine sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
5 egg yolks
2 tablespoons milk
200g self raising flour (sifted)

Mixture B :
5 egg whites
75g fine sugar

Cocoa Paste :
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon or more hot water (put in bit by bit and add as required)

Method :
1. To make cocoa paste, mix cocoa powder with hot water to form a smooth paste and set aside.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla essence.
3. Add egg yolks one at a time and mix well.
4. Add flour in three additions. In the first addition, add 1 tablespoon of milk. Mix on low speed until just incorporated. In the next addition, add in second tablespoon of milk and mix. Then add in last addition of flour. Do not over mix.
5. In another bowl, whisk egg whites and gradually add sugar. Whisk until stiff peaks.
6. Fold in 1/3 of egg whites into the butter mixture. Mix well and fold in the remaining egg whites.
7. Divide the batter into two portions.
8. To one portion, add the cocoa paste and mix until well incorporated.
9. Alternate dollops of the batter into cake tin until all batter has been used up.
10. Use a butter knife to swirl the batter to create marbling pattern.
11. Tap baking pan on work surface a few time to release air bubbles and to level the batter.
12. Bake in 8" lined round pan at 160C for 50 minutes.

Note : I buttered the cake pan and dusted flour all around. And I lined only the bottom part of the pan. I kept the pan in the fridge while preparing the batter.

66 comments:

  1. My wife makes this all the time. Every Chinese New Year without fail...

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    1. Arthur, I am going to include this cake in my CNY bakes too. Making it's debut 2014 :)

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  2. Remind me I have so long did not bake a marble butter cake. Your cake turned out well!

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  3. Hi Phong Hong,

    No doubt that this recipe is always the butter cake to bake. Nice that you are baking it in a form of marble cake. Love your swirls... very pretty.

    Zoe

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    1. Thank you, Zoe! I was quite happy than the swirls turned out nicely.

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  4. Butter cake is a classic fav. I used to have my fav recipe, but lost it years ago! Will try this one for sure..thanks for sharing!

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    1. Tina, you will love the butter cake using this recipe. I used to dislike butter cake but I am now a fan!

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  5. morning PH...
    rajinnyer PH baking a cake. husband I suka kek yg mcm ni.. tanpa icing... & mkn masa suam2 tu... memang berkeping2la habis dimakannya....

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    1. Hi MaDiHaA! Kek ni memang best masa suam-suam. Harum dan sedap terutamanya kalau pekena dengan kopi o panas.

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  6. Yes looking at your marbled butter cake, remind me that Ive not bake this for so long. Just in time for my tea break now, sipping my tea now but only can look at your cake.

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    1. Mel, this is a great tea time cake. I love it a lot now but cannot eat too much :)

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  7. Hi,
    Your marble cake look so delicious, I would love to have a slice right now. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I would love t try your recipes soon.:) Happy to be your newest follower:)

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    1. Thank you, Melgie! You will love this cake for sure!

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  8. Phong hong my favourite cake your's look so chomeh em! That meams I can also eat he!he!this method is also like my method but I am ka dan ka bok don't turn out that comeh like your's may be tomorrow I will bake then will let you know

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    1. Ee-Ee, I am now a butter cake fan. You were the one who taught me how to make this cake using egg separation method.

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  9. Hi Phong Hong,
    I love plain old simple butter cakes like this, especially marbled! This is really my cup of tea! Very good eaten with either a cup of tea or even coffee! The texture of the cake are so moist and tender! Yum, yum!

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    1. Joyce, this is a classic cake and much loved at home. I am now a convert because I used to think of butter cake as yuks! LOL!

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  10. Try out this recipe before, it's yummy! When see your beautiful marble look on the cake, really make me want to try it again :)

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    1. DG, it is fun doing the marbling. I hope that you will enjoy it too!

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  11. hi,,may i know using one block of butter for this cake is
    it very oily,,i am baking for my mum,n she cant take too
    oily food especially cakes,,hope u can share,,
    thanks--hana--

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    1. Hi Hana! Yes, it can be a little bit oily. Please check Wendy's recipe because I believe she used less butter but you cannot cut down too much or else the cake won't taste as good.

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  12. Your cake looks beautiful! I have tried this recipe before and loved it! But, it's too sinful so better not jump in and bake again lol! ogura cakes I don't mind because they are less sinful:P

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    1. Jeannie, you are right! Ogura cake has less fats and flour but I guess once in a while is alright.

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  13. Agree about the golden churn butter. I always use that for Kueh Lapis and its perfect. Your cake looks really soft and fluffy.

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    1. Mich, I bought the SCS because it came in a nice container. So, I was actually more interested in the container than the butter LOL!

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  14. Hi Phong Hong, this reminds me of the butter cake packed in plastic bags sold at most coffee shops during my childhood days. Those days butter cakes and sponge cakes were very popular and convenient. I can imagine the taste of your cake cos' I've tried Mrs Ng SK's butter cake too. My hubby loves it too.

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    1. Kimmy, I will not try any other butter cake recipes. Very satisfied with this one and since my Pa loves it, I will bake him a nice one when he visits me :)

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    2. Hi Phong Hong, you should. My late FIL loved this kind of cake too. Just too bad I didn't have much chance to bake it for him cos' he stayed at JB/S'pore. Now I baked it for him during ancestral worship.

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    3. Yah, Kimmy it is good to let them enjoy what they like to eat while they are still with us.

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  15. Phong Hong, I was also very "kan cheong" when I first made my marble cake! Your cake looks absolutely fine to me, I can see the swirl. Wah, like the cake texture too!

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    1. Thanks, Jessie! I was so kelam kabut and excited. Sometimes I ask myself why am I so nervous hah! hah!

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  16. Wow Phong, soft, buttery and two yummy

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    1. Thanks, Vimitha! I bet that you will love this cake to :)

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  17. Oh! I can smell the aroma of your butter cake from here , haha...
    Love the beautiful marble effects!

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    1. Thanks, Esther! Wish you could taste it hah! hah!

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  18. like this cake.. very soft and moist..

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  19. Hi Phong Hong, your marble butter cake look really moist and soft. Very nice marble effect.
    I enjoy butter cake too cos the buttery aroma is so fragrant, great to go with a cup of nice coffee.

    Have a nice week ahead.

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    1. Amelia, this is a nice cake to have during gathering with family and friends. It's almost the weekend now yay!

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  20. Looks absolutely delicious! Wish I can a piece of your butter cake. :)

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    1. Oh, you are welcome to have a piece!

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  21. I learnt something new today! I didn't know that creating a well in the middle of the cake helps it to rise evenly! thanks for the tip :D

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    1. Janine, I learnt that from another blog :)

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  22. You are getting better and better, PH!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Alvin! Practice makes perfect :)

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  23. Mmmmm......I like....just nice with a cup of kopi o. Seems like a lot of work leh to make

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    Replies
    1. It's not that bad, but easier if not making the marbling.

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  24. Dear Phong Hong,

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  25. Phong Hong, I remember I tried a butter cake recipe with eggs separated. The cake was really soft and moist. Yours look pretty with the marble effect. :)

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    1. Thanks, Ann! This is my one and only butter cake. So happy with it :)

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  26. i have yet to bake this famous buttercake..aiya..actually i have lots of recipes i want to try..but so lazy :)

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    1. Lena, I also have one pile of recipes that I want to try. And the pile is still growing hah! hah!

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  27. adoiii...adoiii...adoiiii....sakit mata betul la masuk sini malam2! hati pun sakit jugak ni ttengok kek lembut, gebu moist...

    PH, I peratikan, you punya kek semua gebu2, lembut...I percaya you punya tangan memang ajaib la, tengk pun takleh tahan... tak semua org boleh dpt camtu tau...tentu suami you bangga ngan you kan?

    you taknak bisnes kek ker? part time job...tentu laku punya, mula2 jual kat ofis, lama2 boleh pi satu malaysia tau! ngan you punya kualiti ni, trust me! (ni citer nak pujuk hati tak dpt makan kek you malam2 buta ni hihihi)...sbb dah lama I tak baking, asyik bz wat masak2, so bila masuk sini nampak kek2 you yg menjolok mata tu, hati pun grrrr...grrrr... grrraaaam tau! hahaha...

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    1. Q, kek I tak selalu menjadi tau! Kadang-kadang tong sampah jer yang untung hee..hee...Buat bisnes? Ish...mungkin satu hari nanti lah yer? But masa ni tak leh sebab nanti stress terlebih. Nanti I jadi giler susah pulak kang hee...hee...

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  28. this cake luks really yumm n tempting..perfectly baked out..can u pass slice plz..hahaha

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    1. Thanks, Maha! Sorry, you are a little late and there's only crumbs left hah! hah!

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  29. How could I have missed your marbled butter cake? Simply gorgeous and droolworthy delicious! Shared it on Google plus!

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    1. Elisabeth, thanks so much! I am so flattered :)

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  30. Replies
    1. Thank you, Lizzy! You are always very sweet!

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  31. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Hi Phong Hong,
      Your butter cake look beautiful.
      Moist and the swirl are nice!
      Can I named this PH's butter cake? :p
      mui

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    2. mui mui, can! can! Hee..hee....

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  32. Hi, would you know why after I folded the egg whites to the batter, both looks separated and watery?

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  33. Hi there! I suspect that your egg whites were probably over beaten and it separated. Or it could have been underbeaten and it is till watery. Try again and make sure it is beaten to stiff peaks and stop when it has just reached stiff peaks. Hope this helps.

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