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London Fog Cake with Earl Grey & Lavender Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 71 reviews

This London Fog Cake is a delicate and fragrant dessert infused with Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender, combining floral and citrus notes in a moist, tender cake layered with lavender cream cheese frosting. Perfect for tea lovers and those seeking a unique and elegant 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 the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
  2. Grind tea and lavender: Pulse the loose leaf Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender in a food processor until finely ground. Then sift this mixture through a mesh sieve to ensure no large bits remain, providing a smooth texture for the cake.
  3. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground tea-lavender mixture, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly combined.
  4. Cream butter and sugar: Using a mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar on high speed for about two minutes. The mixture should become pale and fluffy, indicating it is well-aerated.
  5. Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla bean paste until the batter is smooth and even.
  6. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the buttermilk and dry ingredients alternately into the batter on low speed, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined to keep the cake tender.
  7. Bake the cake: Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Prepare the milk soak: Heat whole milk until steaming but not boiling. Steep the Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender in the hot milk for 15 minutes, then strain out the solids. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla bean paste to create the soak.
  9. Make the frosting: Beat the softened butter for five minutes until light and creamy. Add cold cream cheese and continue beating until smooth. Mix in sifted ground lavender, powdered sugar, and vanilla bean paste until the frosting is fluffy. Add purple food coloring if desired for a lavender hue.
  10. Assemble the cake: Trim a thin layer off the top of the cooled cake to create a flat surface. Poke holes evenly across the surface using the back of a spoon or a skewer. Slowly pour the milk soak over the cake, allowing it to absorb. Finally, spread the lavender cream cheese frosting evenly over the cake, smoothing to finish.

Notes

  • Be sure to use culinary-grade lavender to avoid any bitterness or medicinal flavors.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely before applying the soak and frosting to prevent melting and sogginess.
  • For a deeper lavender flavor, you can lightly toast the lavender buds before grinding.
  • Use room temperature eggs and softened butter for best mixing results.
  • The cake can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: London Fog Cake, Earl Grey cake, lavender cake, tea cake, cream cheese frosting, floral dessert, British tea dessert

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