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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Marbled Chocolate-Tahini Cake

Makes one 9-inch loaf

1½ hours 30 minutes active, plus cooling

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This loaf cake boasts a marbled interior featuring one of our favorite flavor combinations—nutty, savory tahini and rich dark chocolate. The cake’s striking design is made by alternating layers of chocolate-enriched batter and plain, lightly colored batter, then using a butter knife to swirl the two together. A buttery chocolate-tahini glaze comes together quickly in the microwave and accentuates the cake’s flavors beautifully. Though we often prefer to use bittersweet chocolate in our sweets, for both the batter and glaze in this recipe we find that semi-sweet better complements the earthy, subtly bitter notes of the tahini. Dense and moist, this cake takes about 2 hours to cool completely. Applying the glaze about halfway through the cooling period ensures it is fully set by the time the cake is ready to serve. While the cake is best enjoyed the day it's made, it can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic for up to two days.

Makes one

9-inch loaf

Tip

Don’t be tempted to spread your batters in even layers after adding them to the pan. Letting them fall on top of each other organically and swirling them together right away yields the most dramatic marbling. Also, don’t over-swirl the batters or the cake will have a uniformly colored crumb. Just one swishy zigzag pass from one side of the pan to the other is sufficient.

1½ hours

30 minutes active, plus cooling

For the cake

  • 260

    grams (2 cups) all-purpose flour

Directions

Reviews
Cynthia W.
July 30, 2025
SO UNIQUE AND DELISH!
I have made this 3x now and every time it is a smashing success. It's so unique with the tahini too. Don't skip the glaze, it really takes this cake to the next level. I am working my way through all the loaf cakes in the Bake book and each is amazing. More everyday loaf cake recipes please! They're perfect for everyday.
Aaron G.
January 28, 2025
Elegant, unique, delicious!
The sesame flavor shines through in the cake. It turned out beautifully; moist and light. Will be making again!

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