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London Fog Cake with Earl Grey & Lavender Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 63 reviews
  • Author: Lily
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 9 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This London Fog Cake is a fragrant and elegant dessert inspired by the classic Earl Grey tea latte. Infused with loose leaf Earl Grey and culinary lavender throughout the cake, soak, and luscious cream cheese frosting, it delivers a delicate floral and citrus flavor that is both soothing and indulgent. Perfect for tea parties or special occasions, this moist and tender cake combines traditional baking techniques with aromatic ingredients to create a unique treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake

  • 3 tbsp (12 g) loose leaf Earl Grey tea
  • 1 tbsp (2 g) culinary lavender
  • 2 1/4 cups (282 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 10 tbsp (140 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated white sugar
  • 3 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk

Milk Soak

  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) whole milk
  • 2 tbsp (8 g) Earl Grey tea
  • 1/2 tbsp (1 g) culinary lavender
  • 1/2 cup (150 g) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste

Lavender Frosting

  • 1 tbsp (2 g) culinary lavender
  • 1 cup (224 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 8 oz (226 g) cold cream cheese
  • 2 cups (260 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • Optional: Purple food coloring

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
  2. Grind Tea and Lavender: Place the loose leaf Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender into a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is finely ground. Sift this through a fine mesh sieve to remove any large pieces, ensuring a smooth incorporation into the cake batter.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, finely ground tea and lavender mixture, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until the mixture is uniform and aerated.
  4. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar on high speed for about two minutes. The mixture should become pale in color and fluffy, which helps to create a light texture in the cake.
  5. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition. Then mix in the vanilla bean paste until the batter is smooth and well combined.
  6. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Lower the mixer speed. Gradually add the buttermilk alternately with the dry ingredient mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix only until just combined to avoid overworking the batter.
  7. Bake the Cake: Pour the prepared batter into the lined pan and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once baked, let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Prepare Milk Soak: Heat the whole milk in a saucepan until steaming but not boiling. Add the Earl Grey tea and lavender, steeping for 15 minutes to infuse the flavors. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve to remove solids, then stir in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla bean paste until smooth.
  9. Make Lavender Frosting: Beat the softened butter on medium-high speed for five minutes until light and fluffy. Add the cold cream cheese and continue beating until combined. Mix in sifted powdered sugar, finely ground culinary lavender, and vanilla bean paste. Beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy. Add purple food coloring if desired for aesthetic purposes.
  10. Assemble the Cake: Trim a thin layer off the top of the cooled cake to level it. Using a skewer or fork, poke holes all over the surface. Pour the aromatic milk soak evenly over the cake, allowing it to absorb the liquid. Finally, spread the lavender frosting generously on top, smoothing it out for a beautiful finish. Chill the cake if needed before serving.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs to help achieve a smooth batter and better volume when creamed with butter and sugar.
  • Steeping the tea and lavender in milk for the soak is crucial to impart the delicate floral notes throughout the cake.
  • Be careful not to overmix the batter once wet and dry ingredients are combined to keep the cake tender.
  • The optional purple food coloring enhances the cake’s lavender theme but can be omitted for a natural look.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
  • Store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator; it will keep well for 3-4 days.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: British

Keywords: London Fog Cake, Earl Grey Cake, Lavender Cake, Tea-infused Cake, Cream Cheese Frosting, Earl Grey Tea, Lavender, London Fog

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Find it online: https://flavorbylily.com/london-fog-cake-with-earl-grey-and-lavender-recipe/