Tags: cookery school, cooking classes, Italian cooking, learn to cook, pasta making

This is a cake that is quick, easy and a great all-rounder. It’s perfect for an afternoon treat with a cup of tea or to add a little love to a lunchbox. The easiest way to achieve the marbling is to divide the batter in half and add sifted good quality cocoa powder to one half. Add random spoonfuls of each batter to the tin then use a skewer or knitting needle to swirl the two lightly together.

Finished Chocolate marble pound cake in a cake tin.
Finished Chocolate marble pound cake in a cake tin.
Ingredients:
  • 200g butter (room temp) or Stork margarine
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste / 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 3 large free range eggs
  • 200g self-raising flour
  • 3 tbsp good quality cocoa powder, sifted
  • 3 tbsp buttermilk
Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 170C fan and line a 2lb loaf tin with parchment or pre-cut liners.
  2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla then beat again briefly to combine.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating between each addition. Sift in the flour and fold in gently to the batter. You may decide to add one tbsp of buttermilk at this stage and combine again.
  4. Divide the mixture in half, putting one half in another bowl. Add the cocoa pwder and fold into the batter with a spatula or large metal spoon. Add the remaining buttermilk to loosen the batter.
  5. Using a large spoon, drop dollops of each batter randomly into the tin (see image below). Use a skewer or knitting needle to swirl the batters together to create a marble affect.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 50mins – 1 hour until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing to cool fully on a wire rack.

 

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up