A Battenberg cake might be a challenging cake, but it’s well worth the effort.

When cut, you will see a two-by-two, bi-colored check pattern.

Cocoa is kneaded into the marzipan for a chocolaty coating.

Southern Living Battenberg Cake sliced and ready to serve

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What Is Marzipan?

Marzipan is a sweet, dense, dough-like product made of sugar and almonds.

This cake comes together easier than you’d expect.

Southern Living Battenberg Cake ingredients

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Ingredients

Baking spray with flour

1cup(8 oz.)

unsalted butter, softened

1cupgranulated sugar

3large eggs

1/2tsp.vanilla extract

1 3/4cups(about 7 oz.)

self-rising flour

1/4cup(about 7/8 oz.)

Southern Living Battenberg Cake greasing the pan

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almond flour

6Tbsp.unsweetened cocoa, divided, plus more for dusting

1 1/2cupsmarzipan (about 16 oz.)

1/3cupraspberry jam, warmed

Directions

Prepare oven and pan:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Coat a 9-inch square pan with baking spray.

Southern Living Battenberg Cake preparing the pan with a foil divider

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Cut a piece of aluminum foil into a 10-inch square piece.

(You will be baking 2 different batters at the same time.)

Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

Southern Living Battenberg Cakebeating the butter and sugar together

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Make chocolate batter:

Transfer half of batter (about 1 3/4 cups) to another bowl.

Add 3 tablespoons of the cocoa, and stir until well combined and smooth.

Add batters to pan:

Pour chocolate batter on 1 side of foil divider in prepared pan.

Southern Living Battenberg Cake adding the dry ingredients to the batter

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Pour remaining vanilla batter into empty side of the foil divider in prepared pan.

Smooth tops with a spatula.

Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes.

Southern Living Battenberg Cake making the chocolate batter

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Invert cakes onto a wire rack, removing foil divider from middle and separating cake into 2 loaves.

Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Make marizpan:

Knead marzipan and remaining 3 tablespoons cocoa in a large bowl until combined.

Southern Living Battenberg Cake spreading the batter in the prepared pan

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Roll marzipan out on a work surface lightly dusted with cocoa to a 1/4-inch thickness.

Build cake:

Brush jam on tops and sides of cake strips.

Place cake in center of marzipan.

Southern Living Battenberg Cake after baking

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Trim edges of marzipan so that it lines up with exposed cake ends.

Roll cake up tightly, rolling so sealed side is on bottom and top and sides are smooth.

Refrigerate 1 hour before cutting slicing and serving.

Southern Living Battenberg Cake separating the chocolate and vanilla loaves from each other

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Southern Living Battenberg Cake trimming the cakes

Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Battenberg Cake preparing the marzipan

Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Battenberg Cake placing the cake in the center of the marzipan

Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Battenberg Cake trimming the marzipan

Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Battenberg Cake rolling the cake in the marzipan

Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Battenberg Cake sliced and ready to serve

Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle