Three delicious and easy Edwardian marble cake recipes from 1902 – two classic marble cake recipes with chocolate and one flavored with just spices: cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg.
In the Victorian and Edwardian era, marble cakes were usually flavored with spices – cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg – instead of with chocolate or cocoa powder. While the light part of the marble cake was usually made with just egg whites, the dark part was colored with brown sugar, molasses and egg yolks – no chocolate or cocoa powder!
But in the Edwardian era there were already chocolate marble cakes. Below are three Edwardian marble cake recipes – one with spices and two with chocolate – all from 1902. Historical cake recipes are usually very sweet so feel free to reduce the amount of sugar.
Edwardian Marble Cake Recipes
Spice Marble Cake From 1902
Light Part
- 4 egg whites
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp soda + 1 tsp cream of tartar (or 1 1/2 tsp baking powder)
- 1 tsp vanilla or lemon flavoring
Dark Part
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup sour milk
- 1/4 tsp soda + 3/4 tsp cream of tartar (or 1 tsp baking powder)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp each of cloves, allspice and nutmeg
‘Beat thoroughly. Put in the pan a layer of the dark batter, then large spoonfuls of the white light until all the batter is used. Bake one hour.’ (Three Meals A Day, 1902)
Chocolate Marble Cake From 1902
- 4 eggs
- 3 cups flour
- 3/4 cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 4 tbsp baking chocolate + a little cream
‘Two cups sugar, three fourths cup butter, three cups flour, one cup milk, four well-beaten eggs, two teaspoonfuls baking powder. Take one cup of this batter and mix with four table-spoonfuls of chocolate, dissolved in a little cream. Cover the bottom of the pan with white batter, and drop a spoonful of the chocolate mixture upon it in places, which will form rings; then another layer of white and dark until all is used. Bake in a moderate oven.’ (The Home Cyclopedia Of Cooking And Housekeeping, 1902)
Related: 7 Types Of Buttercream + Recipes
Chocolate Marble Cake With Egg Whites From 1902
- 6 egg whites
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 oz baking chocolate + 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp vanilla powder
‘Put one ounce of chocolate and one tablespoonful of butter in a cup, and set this in a pan of boiling water. Beat to a cream one-half cup of butter and one cup of sugar. Gradually beat in half a cup of milk. Now add the whites of six eggs, beaten to a stiff froth; one teaspoonful of vanilla, and a one and one-half cups of sifted flour, in which is mixed one teaspoonful of baking-powder. Put about one-third of this mixture into another bowl and stir the melted butter and chocolate into it. Drop the white-and-brown mixture in spoonfuls into a well-buttered, deep cake-pan, and bake in a moderate oven for about forty-five minutes; or, the cake can be baked in a sheet and iced with a chocolate or white icing.’ (The Ideal Cook Book, 1902)
I am intrigued by this old-fashioned marble cake. It looks beautiful but I am curious about the yellow strip at the base of the cake. Did you include some kind of lemon curd filling?
Thanks so much, Lisa! 😀 I filled the cake with canned peaches (the yellow strip) and custard buttercream.
I did not realise the marbling in Edwardian cake recipes wasn’t chocolate, Lina! I found this post so interesting! Thank you so much for sharing it, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Pinning. Have a lovely week!
Thank you so much, April! 😀
They look amazing! Every time I give marble cake a go, it looks more splodgy than elegant like yours! #BloggerClubUK
Thanks, Gemma! 🙂
The marbling on these cakes look so pretty. Just goes to show old recipes can be just as good as new ones. Thank you for linking to #CookBlogShare
Thanks, Jacqui!
What a gorgeous and interesting cake! Thanks for sharing the history and the recipe, I look forward to trying it.
Thanks, Sandra! 😀 Let me know how you like it!
These look super tasty! I LOVE cake! #BloggerClubUK
Thanks, Beth! 🙂
This looks so delicious and fun! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday!
Thanks, Julie! 🙂
Your cake turned out so pretty. I love that you got these recipes from an old cookbook. It is funny but I never thought of someone making a cake this fancy over a Century ago. Thank you for sharing at Foodie Friday Link Party.
Thanks for stopping by, Amy! 🙂
What pretty cakes… I love that spice was used instead of cocoa – I’m going to try that! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday.
Thank you! 🙂 Let me know how you like it!
This is fascinating Lina, I had no idea at all that the marble cake that we all know and love today started out being made with spices and no chocolate at all. Out of curiosity which of the recipes did you use for the images? #CookBlogShare
Angela x
Thanks, Angela! 🙂 I made the chocolate marble cake with eggs (the second recipe).
Beautiful cake! I love the historical information. Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner Party!
Thanks so much, Helen! 🙂
Your Marble Cake is so pretty and will be delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and sure hope you are having a great week!
Miz Helen
Thanks, Helen! 🙂
Would love to make this and am intrigued by the custard butterflies. Would you share that recipe too, please. Or did I miss the link for it.
Auto correct did it again…Not custard butterflies…custard buttercream
I’ll share the recipe for the custard buttercream in the next days! 🙂