London Fog Cake with Earl Grey & Lavender (Printable Version)
Delicate aromatic layers infused with Earl Grey and lavender, finished with creamy vanilla bean frosting.
# What You Need:
→ For the 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
→ For the 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
15 - Pinch of salt
→ For Decoration
16 - Dried lavender buds
17 - Lemon zest
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - Heat the 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 in a large bowl 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. Smooth tops with a spatula. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the 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 a serving plate. Spread with frosting. Repeat with remaining layers. Frost the top and sides of the cake.
11 - Decorate with dried lavender buds and lemon zest if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The Earl Grey infusion gives each bite that comforting café latte warmth we all crave on gray afternoons
- Lavender adds this subtle floral whisper that makes everyone ask what your secret ingredient is
- The frosting alone is worth making, creamy and speckled with real vanilla bean like tiny edible constellations
02 -
- That tea-infused milk must cool completely before adding to batter or your butter will seize into curdled disappointment
- Over-baking even by a few minutes will dry out these delicate layers, so set that timer and trust your senses
03 -
- Use an ice cream scoop to distribute batter equally among pans for perfectly matched layers
- Chill the frosted cake for 30 minutes before slicing for the cleanest, most professional-looking pieces