The first course that I prepare for any dinner party is dessert. I focus on the baking. The smell of a cake in the oven is inspiration enough for the rest of the menu to fall into place. I know this sounds crazy.
When I was hosting a few friends last week, I baked a flourlessVanilla and Chocolate Marble Cake for dessert. This was served with a spoonful of brownie ice cream. So with every bite there was rich and dense chocolate, a hint of cream cheese which making it taste part cheesecake too, and of course the ice-cream.
The best of two worlds in one. The luscious swirls of chocolate around a divine vanilla scented cream cheese batter. This cake is pure indulgence and every bite is a party for your tastebuds.
Gluten Free Chocolate and Vanilla Marble Cake
Author: Adapted fromby Abigail Johnson Dodge/ Fine Cooking
Recipe type: Dessert, Cake
Ingredients
- For the vanilla batter:
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- For the chocolate batter:
- 10 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 5 oz. (10 Tbs.) unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbs. dark rum or espresso
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- Pinch table salt
- Cocoa powder for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Lightly grease a 9×2-inch round cake pan and /or line the bottom with parchment.
- Make the vanilla batter:
- In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Add the sugar and continue beating until well blended and no lumps remain. Add the egg and vanilla and beat just until blended. Set aside.
- Make the chocolate batter:
- In a medium bowl, melt the chocolate and butter in a large metal bowl over a pan of simmering water or in the microwave.
- Whisk until smooth and set aside to cool slightly. With a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment (or with a hand mixer), beat the eggs, sugar, rum or espresso, vanilla, and salt on medium high until the mixture is pale and thick, 3 to 4 min.
- With the mixer on low, gradually pour in the chocolate mixture and continue beating until well blended.
- Combine and bake:
- Spread about half of the chocolate batter in the bottom of the pan. Alternately add large scoopfuls of each of the remaining batters to the cake pan.
- Using a knife or the tip of a rubber spatula or a toothpick gently swirl the two batters together so they’re mixed but not completely blended.
- Tap the pan against the countertop several times to settle the batters.
- Bake until a pick inserted about 2 inches from the edge comes out gooey but not liquid, 40 to 42 min.; don’t over bake.
- The top will be puffed and slightly cracked, especially around the edges. It will sink down as it cools. Let cool on a rack until just slightly warm, about 1-1/2 hours.
- Loosen the cake from the pan by holding the pan almost perpendicular to the counter; tap the pan on the counter while rotating it clockwise. Invert onto a large flat plate or board. Remove the pan and carefully peel off the parchment. Sift some cocoa powder over the cake (this will make it easier to remove the slices when serving).
- Invert again onto a similar plate so that the top side is up. Let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 4 hours or overnight, or freeze
Notes
– To slice the marble cake neatly, use a hot knife (run it under hot running water and dry it). Wipe the blade clean between slices.
Happy Baking!
This really is indulgence mixed with beauty..looks good and tastes yum!!
This cake looks soooo tempting and delicious! Just what the doctor ordered… ;-P
Cheers,
Rosa
Oooooh baby, that’s what I’m talkin’ about! That looks so, so, so good. Pure indulgence, indeed!
Who doesn’t take care of dessert before the dinner menu? I do the same! This cake looks so divine. I can taste it now!
So chocolaty and such a wonderful creation, An!
I am speechless [and hungry!] Totally craving a slice along with brownie ice cream for breakfast now… my hormones are crazy these days so it’s ok :) I see you adapted this from Abby, I love her recipes!
Looks decadent and absolutely delicious. Love the beautiful swirls. If only I could pull a piece right thru my screen! Want now!
Beautiful marbling Miss Fifi and the cake looks super moist!! Mmmm delish looking!
What an elegant dessert and you did a wonderful job on the swirls. If it was at the bakery I would definitely have to buy a piece. Awesome decandent treat-well done.
This looks amazing An!
O but that does not sound crazy at all to plan the dessert first..lol.. I think it makes perfect sense. It is usually the easiest course to come up with when planning something and well, with a gorgeous cake like this do you really need anything else!
Beautiful and dramatic looking dessert!
Flourless marble cake!!! eeek that is genius. Looks so fudgey and decadent!
Love the recipe and I love chocolate! Thanks for the friend request! Sending some buzz!!!
Oh WOW – look at the state of that! Love the pretty marbling and how cool that it is flourless! I always love that squidgy look of flourless cakes and this is no exception :)
Absolutely Divine!
Thats like sinful. I can’t really take my eyes off it. What work An! splendid
No dear, that doesn’t sound crazy at all !
Love the swirl you gave .. i have tried that so many time .. was never that successful :(
This recipe does not fail you. You should give this a try the next time you’re in a mood to experiment.
i’m not generally one for flourless anything but this looks truly incredible!
Very deserving of Top 9 congratulations!
Thanks Sandra!
I SO appreciate finding flourless dessert recipes, this one looks absolutely fabulous!
Thank you, Rande!
This looks AMAZING! My friend Celia is a coeliac (yes really, everyone finds this hilarious!) and is coming for Sunday lunch in a couple of weeks. I now know exactly what I’m going to make :-)
YAY! Let me know how it turns out! :)
Congrats on Foodbuzz top 9!
Thanks Christine!
Looks amazing! Better yet (for me), it’s gluten free!
WOW – this looks absolutely incredibly deliciously divine.
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com
this is so beautiful. i love the swirls in it. i wish i was able to eat stuff like this still! when u gonna open up your own bakery?
I am totally craving for a slice! This decadent wonder is looks amazing. Thanks for making this flourless recipe!
Beautiful blog , great recipes and photos, love your dessert, sounds delicious:)
http://mywanderingspoon.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/the-amazing-sandwich-my-way/
This is beautiful! And the fact that it is gluten free is helpful! I LOVE the contrast of the swirls and I’m imagining how incredible this tastes.
Fantastic post.
Oh my word. This looks fantastic.
oh dear. the world has just stopped turning for a little bit – and I thought I was stuffed from dinner until a few minutes ago…and back to drooling!
Omg, this looks so delicious! Beautiul!
Let me know when you make this cake again so that I can drop by for a chat. No, scratch that, I’ll just be there for the cake! :-P
I love love the look of this gorgeous cake! Since I am a newbie to gluten free, I adore this recipe too:-) Hugs, Terra
Wow, this looks delicious! I always plan dessert first too and then pick savoury dishes which won’t clash with my dessert choice :)
lovely post. can i be the people you call over for dinner.. that cake looks luscious and decadent.
That looks so good–it is nice to see some yummy vanilla cake mixed in with the chocolate. I know what you mean about starting with the favorite course when planning a dinner party–for me, it is appetizers, though.
Just saved this recipe. It looks great!
Woman! You just combined vanilla cream cheesecake with flourless chocolate cake. I’m not sure whether to throw myself at your feet and kiss the ground you walk on, or plot your assassination for my imminent weight gain! ;)
My mouth is melting! Fabulous!
Wow, this sounds crazy good! Yumtown.
I’ve done the flourless chocolate cake quote a lot. Never thought to incorporate vanilla – this will be my current obsession until I make it.
Oh, this is so beautiful and that rich chocolate layer is divine!! I think I might dream about this cake tonight!
This cake is sensational! (And I focus on dessert first, too!)
WOW! I’m literally drooling, this looks stunning! I have got to make this, so many amazing flavors put into one delicious cake! Love it :)
Fantastic gluten free cake. I’d be all over that one!
Wow this looks amazing!! Love the crust & the cake is beautiful! Yum!!
A recipe with perfect timing for the holidays!!! Love this and can’t wait to make my own!
What a fabulous cake. It’s beautiful too.
oh boy, I’m in for it this holiday season. Way too many beautiful recipes like this one on your blog. I’m going to be the size of a house after trying all of them.
What a gorgeous cake. The chocolate layer on the bottom really caught my eye ;) I still have yet to try a flourless cake…not sure why! This sounds great!
Oh this looks beautiful!
Sinful! I would love to indulge in a slice of this right now!!
What a wonderful looking dessert. I can’t believe it’s flourless! The gluten-free gods are smiling.
Alaiyo
That doesn’t sound crazy at all! If I could bake, I’d focus on dessert too :) I love the sound of this cake, especially with the brownie ice cream. So naughty!
Buzzed
the swirls are so pretty…..i don’t think anyone can resist this cake. woman you’re on a baking roll ! wish i was in bbay lol
The cake looks so addictive.And with ice cream,I’d be polishing off the entire place,I’m sure.Bookmarked..
I think I just found what I am bringing to the in-laws. This looks absolutely fantastic. I have never made anything flourless that wasn’t just chocolate.
Wow – you’re right…it has a little bit of everything and a whole lot of perfection in every bite! Very nicely done!
How cool that this is flourless! :D
Looks good! And I focus on dessert first too.
A family friend was just told by her doctors that she had to live gluten-free and I have been trying to find some good recipes for her to have on hand and I think this is one I’ll pass on to her.
Thanks Rayna!
Mmmm this looks so delicious! And what is wonderful about this – besides the decadence – is that it can be jazzed up as well with different flavors – like the choice you have of rum or espresso. Maybe a dash of Amaretto or Grand Marnier? Or dotted with jarred cherries? Oh the possibilities are endless! Great dessert!
Gosh, this looks AMAZING!!!! My family would love it…so I must try your recipe! Thanks!
This is absolutely my kind of cake! I’ve been eating so healthy since the new year, but I seriously want a slice of this now!
I just tried my first flourless chocolate cake and I loved it. This cake looks amazing, I must try this next. Thank you!
This looks amazing! I love marble cakes and brownies–this is definitely dinner party-worthy.
This cakes looks delicious! I have a question about the espresso. Do you mean 1 tsp. of the espresso grounds or brewed (liquid)? Thanks!
Thanks Sindia! You need to use brewed espresso in this case. I would recommend you go with rum if you can. Just takes the flavor up a notch.
Pingback: Decisions, decisions…and a Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake |
Just made this – it’s currently in the oven looking BEAUTIFUL.
Had to do a bit of maths/researching to transfer it into UK measurements, but it looks perfect so I guess I managed. Can’t wait to taste it now!
Thank you so much for the recipe, just what I was after :)
(Also, splodging the batters into the pan was the most fun thing EVER!)
Woohoo! I hope it turned out well Jenny. And you and your family enjoyed it just as much as we did. :)