∭ swirly for my girlie

sundays are baking days for us:

that's if we haven't already baked one on saturday:

usually I let Libbie decide what cake to make 

and being valentines she wanted a heart ❤ cake:

so ignoring that I've gone for this ↷

*no I'm not really that mean, it's just the heart cake tin we have is too 

small for this recipe*

swirly marble cake

now this cake can be made in a food processor if you have one:

not often you get to do that!

or use electric / good old fashioned hand whisk

you will need:

250g soft butter

250g plain flour

250g caster sugar

4 eggs

½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1½ teaspoons baking powder

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

*1 tablespoon espresso powder 

*this is optional but I find it gives the cocoa a push*

1 tablespoon milk

zest of an orange and 3 tablespoons of the juice

preheat the oven to 180°c/ gas 4/350°f

line and grease a 22cm round *or square*  baking tin: 

chose your mixer and pile the butter, sugar, flour, eggs, orange zest, 

baking powder and bicarb and blitz/whisk/mix to a smooth batter:

now drizzle in the orange juice and mix again:

scoop half the mixture into a separate bowl and stir

in the cocoa powder, milk and espresso powder *if using*

dollop *I ❤ that word!* the light coloured cake mixture into your tin

and alternate with the chocolate one, like this ☟

when you have filled your tin with all the mixture:

take a skewer or knife and swirl swirl swirl:

*Libbie loves doing this bit*

then place your tin in the oven and bake for 35 minutes:

test after 30 minutes by putting a skewer in the middle >

if it comes out clean = done!

cool on a rack for ten minutes then remove from tin,

peel off baking paper and cool a bit more if you can resist:

sweet for my sweet ❤