Ultimate Marble Cupcakes
🧁 Makes: 12 cupcakes
⏱ Time: 25 min prep | 18–22 min bake
📝 Ingredients
Vanilla Batter:
1 cup (130g) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup (80ml) buttermilk (room temp)
Chocolate Batter (use half of the vanilla batter base):
1/4 cup (25g) unsweetened cocoa powder
2–3 tbsp milk (as needed for consistency)
1 tbsp sugar (optional, for extra richness)
Optional Frosting Ideas:
Vanilla Buttercream
Chocolate Ganache or Frosting
Swirled Vanilla & Chocolate Frosting for the full marble effect!
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Preheat oven:
Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. Whisk dry ingredients:
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cream butter, oil & sugar:
Beat butter, oil, and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
4. Add egg & vanilla:
Mix in the egg and vanilla until well combined.
5. Alternate adding dry and buttermilk:
Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in 2 batches, mixing just until combined.
6. Divide batter:
Split the batter in half. To one half, mix in the cocoa powder, milk, and optional extra sugar to make your chocolate batter.
7. Marble it:
Spoon vanilla and chocolate batters into cupcake liners in alternating dollops. Use a skewer or toothpick to gently swirl in a figure-8 motion.
8. Bake:
Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
🧁 Frosting Ideas:
Classic Vanilla Buttercream:
1/2 cup (115g) butter, 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1–2 tbsp milk
Beat until fluffy!
Chocolate Frosting:
Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the above + a bit more milk
Swirled Two-Tone Frosting Tip:
Fill a piping bag with half vanilla, half chocolate frosting side-by-side to create a gorgeous swirl!