This pound cake is marbled with three colorful flavors: chocolate, caramel, and vanilla. The texture is tender but still durable, making this a great cake to slice and take as a snack on the go!
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: cake, caramel, chocolate, loaf cake
Author: Beth Cato
Equipment
9x5 loaf pan
parchment paper
food scale
Ingredients
3/4cupunsalted butter(1 and a half sticks) softened
1 1/2cupswhite sugar
3large eggs room temperature
1 3/4cupsall-purpose flour
1/2teaspoonkosher salt
1/4teaspoonbaking powder
1/2cupvanilla Greek yogurt or sour cream
1/4cupjarred caramel or dulce de leche
1/3cupdark chocolate melted and cooled slightly
1TablespoonDutch-process cocoa powder sifted
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven at 300-degrees. Cut a piece of parchment to fit like a sling inside the pan, extending up both long sides. Apply butter or nonstick spray in the pan, then set the parchment inside and spray it again.
Beat together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, beating well after each addition.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients in with the wet, adding in the yogurt/sour cream as well.
Either by using a food scale or by eyeballing, divide the dough into three roughly equal portions.
If the caramel/dulce de leche is stiff, microwave briefly in a microwave-safe bowl to make it looser. Mix that into one portion of dough.
Add the cocoa powder with the melted chocolate, and fold that into a second portion of dough until the color is even throughout.
To the third portion, mix in the vanilla to completely incorporate.
Set a tablespoon with each portion. Scoop vanilla and chocolate to form a checkerboard-like formation in the bottom of the loaf pan. Add scoops of caramel dough sporadically over top. Tap pan to settle the dough. Repeat, mixing up the pattern so that different colors are near each other, tapping the pan on occasion. Once all of the dough is in the pan, use a butter knife to gently swirl for an extra marbling effect on the top. Tap pan again to level and work out bubbles.
Bake for 1 hour 40 minutes. Check the middle with a toothpick. If it's still wet, bake longer, checking every few minutes for doneness. Once it passes the test, let cool on stove top for 10 minutes, then use the parchment sling to lift the loaf onto a rack to cool completely.
Cake can be served warm or at room temperature. It will keep for up to 4 days in a sealed container. It can also be frozen in slices for later enjoyment.