London Fog Cake with Earl Grey (Printable)
Aromatic Earl Grey and lavender infused layers with creamy vanilla bean frosting, capturing London Fog latte elegance.
# What You'll Need:
→ Earl Grey Lavender Cake
01 - 1 cup whole milk
02 - 3 Earl Grey tea bags
03 - 1 tbsp dried culinary lavender
04 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
08 - 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
09 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
10 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
→ Vanilla Bean Frosting
11 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
12 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 2 tbsp whole milk
14 - 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
15 - Pinch of salt
→ Decoration
16 - Dried lavender buds
17 - Lemon zest
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - Heat milk in a small saucepan until steaming but not boiling. Remove from heat, add Earl Grey tea bags and lavender, cover, and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and cool to room temperature.
03 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
04 - Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
05 - Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla extract.
06 - With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with cooled tea-infused milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
07 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla bean paste, and salt. Beat until fluffy and smooth.
10 - Place one cake layer on serving plate and spread with frosting. Repeat with remaining layers. Frost top and sides of cake.
11 - Garnish with dried lavender buds and lemon zest if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of bergamot and vanilla creates this sophisticated flavor profile that feels like something from a fancy bakery
- It brings that comforting London Fog latte experience into a stunning dessert that guests will rave about
02 -
- Let the infused milk cool completely before adding it to the batter or it will curdle the butter mixture
- Do not overmix the batter once the flour is added or your cake will be tough
- Chill the frosted cake for 30 minutes before slicing to get those clean neat layers
03 -
- If you can find vanilla bean paste use it instead of extract because those tiny black specks look gorgeous against the white frosting
- Grate a little lemon zest into the frosting for a subtle brightness that complements the lavender beautifully