3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
1 c. sugar
2 lg. eggs (room temp.)
2 1/4 c. cake flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. milk
2 tbsp. light molasses
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground mace (opt.)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. In large bowl with mixer, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs. Beat in one cup cake flour, baking powder and salt. Beat in remaining flour alternately with milk until smooth.

Spoon 1/3 of batter into small bowl; stir in molasses and spices until mixed. Into loaf pan, spoon about a half-inch layer of plain batter. Spoon spice batter and remaining plain batter alternately by spoonfuls into pan. With table knife, cut through batter several times to create a marble effect.

Bake 60 to 65 minutes or until cake tester inserted comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on wire rack. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack. (Blue Ribbon Winner at County Fair in Texas.)