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High Altitude Red Velvet Marble Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • For the loaf:
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • ½ cup sour cream full fat, please
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Dry ingredients:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour high altitude adjustment
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp cocoa powder
  • ¾ tsp baking powder reduced for altitude
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Red velvet swirl:
  • 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 Tbsp milk
  • 1 –2 tsp red food coloring gel preferred
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment, leaving an overhang for dramatic cake removal later.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy—about 2–3 minutes. This is not the time to rush. January already rushed us enough.
  3. Add eggs & dairy
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl as needed. Mix in sour cream and vanilla until smooth.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  6. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Do not overmix. We want tender loaf, not emotional support bread.
  7. Create the marble magic. Scoop about ⅓ of the batter into a small bowl. Stir in the cocoa powder, milk, and red food coloring until smooth and gloriously red.
  8. Layer & swirl. Alternate spoonfuls of vanilla and red velvet batter into the loaf pan. Use a knife to gently swirl—think “romantic ribbon,” not “aggressive stirring.”
  9. Bake for 55–65 minutes, tenting loosely with foil after 45 minutes if the top browns too quickly. A toothpick should come out with a few moist crumbs.
  10. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool completely before frosting. (This is the hardest part. I believe in you.)
  11. Make the frosting. Beat all the frosting ingredients together until smooth, fluffy, and emotionally supportive. Spread generously over cooled loaf.