I'm home for a bit between me going to Alaska so I'm baking quite a bit this week so sorry for the food spam lol

Made this for my dad's birthday. He loves marble cake and usually only gets a box cake but this year it was better ;)

I added the little mint to the chocolate batter just for some complexity to the cake. And you can cut the chocolate cake batter in 1/2 because you won't need as much or you can just make side cupcakes like I did. :3

If you have any questions let me know. ~Happy Baking~

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Vanilla Cake
1 cup unsalted butter-softened
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 and 3/4 cups cake flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 cup whole milk

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour 2 9-inch round cake pans; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Beat in the extract.
3. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir with a whisk and add it to the butter mixture alternately with the milk, beating well after each addition.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and then make the chocolate cake batter.

Chocolate Cake
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1 t kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
1 T vanilla extract
1 t mint extract (or to taste depending on how much you want)
3 eggs, at room temperature
2/3 cup hottest tap water
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t instant espresso powder
2/3 cup half-and-half

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and baking soda, then stir in the salt.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed for 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl, then add the vanilla and beat in the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated and the batter is smooth.
3. In a medium bowl or large liquid measuring cup, whisk together the hot water, cocoa powder and espresso powder until smooth. Add the half-and-half and whisk until smooth.
4. With the mixer on low, add the flour and chocolate mixtures alternately in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour. With a rubber spatula, scrape down the bowl and ensure that the batter is well-mixed.
5. Place 4-5 large dollops of batter on the vanilla batter in the pans. swirl the chocolate around with a butter knife or toothpick until it's dispersed well.
6. Bake for 20-25 min or until a toothpick comes out clean. ***it may take a little longer because the chocolate cake batter is heavier than the vanilla***

Dark Chocolate Buttercream
6 T softened butter
4 oz. melted dark chocolate
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 t vanilla
3 T milk {give or take}

Directions:
1. Melt chocolate on low heat in microwave. Set aside and cool to room temperature.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir butter and melted chocolate together.
3. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Scrape sides and stir again.
4. Stream in milk by the teaspoon until frosting is to your desired consistency.
5. Scrape sides and mix again until smooth.