If you love the cozy, aromatic flavors of Earl Grey tea and the delicate floral notes of lavender, then you are going to fall head over heels for this London Fog Cake Recipe. This cake is a tender, moist celebration of those classic tea-time tastes, wrapped up in a luscious cream cheese frosting that’s infused with just a hint of lavender. It’s like having a warm hug in cake form, perfect for sharing with friends or savoring all to yourself on a quiet afternoon.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Creating the perfect London Fog Cake Recipe is surprisingly simple thanks to a handful of well-chosen ingredients. Each one plays a key role, from the fragrant Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender that give the cake its signature flavor, to the creamy buttermilk that keeps it tender and moist.
- Earl Grey tea (3 tbsp and 2 tbsp): Provides the classic bergamot flavor that makes this cake unique and aromatic.
- Culinary lavender (1 tbsp, ½ tbsp, and 1 tbsp): Adds a subtle floral note that beautifully complements the tea.
- All-purpose flour (2 ¼ cups): The base of the cake; make sure to spoon and level for accuracy.
- Baking powder (1 ½ tsp) and baking soda (¼ tsp): Give the cake its light, airy texture.
- Salt (½ tsp): Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted butter (10 tbsp for cake, 1 cup for frosting): Softened butter adds richness and moisture.
- Granulated sugar (1 ½ cups): Sweetens the cake while helping with its structure.
- Eggs (3 at room temperature): Bind everything together and add moisture.
- Vanilla bean paste (1 tbsp for cake, ½ tsp for soak, 1 tsp for frosting): Brings a warm depth of flavor.
- Buttermilk (1 cup) and whole milk (½ cup): Keep the cake tender and help infuse the flavors.
- Sweetened condensed milk (½ cup): Adds sweetness and a silky texture to the milk soak.
- Cream cheese (8 oz, cold): Essential for the creamy, tangy frosting.
- Powdered sugar (2 cups): Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
- Purple food coloring (optional): For a beautiful lavender hue in the frosting.
How to Make London Fog Cake Recipe
Step 1: Prepare and Bake the Earl Grey Cake
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a 9×9 inch pan with parchment paper after greasing. Grinding the Earl Grey tea with the culinary lavender creates that magical tea-lavender blend that infuses the entire cake with flavor. Mixing the dry ingredients separately helps them incorporate evenly into the batter, ensuring a perfect crumb. Creaming softened butter with sugar is your ticket to a light texture, and adding eggs one at a time makes sure your batter is smooth and evenly emulsified. Alternating the addition of dry ingredients with buttermilk helps keep everything balanced and delicate. After pouring the batter in, bake for 38-44 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and let it cool completely before moving on.
Step 2: Make the Earl Grey Milk Soak
While your cake cools, it’s soak time. Gently heat whole milk and steep Earl Grey tea and lavender until beautifully infused with their fragrant aromas. Straining the mixture ensures a smooth soak, while mixing in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla bean paste enriches the flavor and sweetness, creating a soak that will keep your cake moist and bursting with that signature London Fog essence.
Step 3: Create the Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting
The frosting is where this cake really shines. Pulse the culinary lavender to release even more fragrance and sift it so your frosting stays silky smooth. Whipping butter until pale and fluffy is key before adding cold cream cheese to keep the texture light and creamy. Sifting powdered sugar in gradually ensures your frosting is lump-free, with vanilla and lavender adding those classic flavors. If you want to add a visual pop, a touch of purple food coloring is perfectly fitting for this tea-inspired treat.
Step 4: Assemble Your London Fog Cake Recipe
Once the cake is fully cooled, trimming a thin layer off the top allows your Earl Grey milk soak to penetrate better, making every bite wonderfully moist and infused. Poking holes with a wooden tool helps the soak distribute evenly throughout the cake. Pour the milk slowly; patience really pays off here. Finally, cover the cake with the lavender cream cheese frosting generously and slice into 16 pieces to serve.
How to Serve London Fog Cake Recipe
Garnishes
Fresh edible lavender sprigs or a light dusting of culinary lavender buds scattered on top can add a stunning touch and intensify the floral notes. You could also sprinkle some finely grated lemon zest for an extra bright contrast that pairs beautifully with Earl Grey.
Side Dishes
This cake is a star on its own but served alongside a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea or a light lavender-infused latte elevates the whole experience. For something more substantial, fresh berries or a dollop of lightly whipped cream can complement the cake’s rich, floral flavors and keep your palate refreshed.
Creative Ways to Present
Serving multiple mini squares on a vintage tea tray adds an elegant touch, perfect for afternoon tea parties. Try layering your cake with a little extra lavender cream cheese frosting in between to create a London Fog-inspired layer cake, or even use mini cookie cutters to make bite-sized tea party treats that’ll dazzle your guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once frosted, keep your London Fog Cake Recipe wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container in the fridge. This will keep it fresh and moist for up to four days, giving you plenty of time to enjoy every slice.
Freezing
You can freeze the unfrosted cake layers wrapped tightly in plastic and foil for up to two months. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge before applying the lavender cream cheese frosting fresh, ensuring your cake tastes like it just came from the oven.
Reheating
Since this cake is best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, reheating is generally not recommended. If you prefer it slightly warm, let it come to room temperature before serving rather than applying heat, maintaining that delicate texture and flavor.
FAQs
Can I use Earl Grey tea bags instead of loose leaf?
Absolutely! Just make sure to remove the tea leaves from the bags before grinding, or open the bags completely to measure the right amount. Loose leaf tends to give a more intense flavor, but tea bags work just fine in a pinch.
Is culinary lavender safe to eat?
Yes, as long as you use culinary-grade lavender specifically intended for cooking. Avoid decorative lavender varieties that may have pesticides or other treatments not suitable for consumption.
What if I don’t have buttermilk?
No problem! You can make a simple buttermilk substitute by adding one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of whole milk and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes before using it in the recipe.
Can I make this cake vegan or dairy-free?
This cake relies on dairy and eggs for texture and flavor, but you could experiment with vegan butter, non-dairy milk, and egg replacers. Just note that the flavor and texture will change, so it might take some tweaking to perfect.
Why is the milk soak important in the London Fog Cake Recipe?
The milk soak is what truly sets this cake apart by infusing it with Earl Grey and lavender flavors while keeping it incredibly moist. It adds a subtle creaminess and depth that a regular cake just doesn’t have.
Final Thoughts
There is something so comforting and magical about this London Fog Cake Recipe, combining the elegance of Earl Grey tea, the sophistication of lavender, and the joy of a rich, creamy frosting. Whether you’re treating yourself or sharing with loved ones, this cake promises to deliver that perfect blend of flavors that feels like a warm, indulgent moment in every slice. Give it a try and discover just how delightful a slice of tea-inspired cake can be!
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London Fog Cake Recipe
This London Fog Cake is a delicate and fragrant dessert inspired by the classic Earl Grey tea latte. Infused with Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender, the moist cake is soaked in a lightly sweetened Earl Grey milk mixture and topped with a luscious lavender cream cheese frosting. Perfect for tea time or special occasions, this cake blends floral and citrus notes with creamy sweetness for an unforgettable treat.
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients
For the Earl Grey Cake
- 3 tbsp (12 g) 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 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) whole milk
For the Earl Grey Milk Soak
- 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
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) whole milk (included above but volume referenced here)
For the Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 tbsp (2 g) culinary lavender
- 1 cup (224 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, cold
- 2 cups (260 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- Purple food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9 inch light metal baking pan and line it with parchment paper to ensure easy cake removal.
- Grind Tea and Lavender: Add the Earl Grey tea and lavender to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Pass through a sieve to remove any large bits for a smooth texture in the cake.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground Earl Grey tea, lavender, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside this flour mixture.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on high speed for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs and vanilla bean paste on medium speed until the batter is pale and smooth, about 1 minute.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Alternately add the buttermilk and the dry flour mixture to the batter, mixing on low speed until just combined and smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure an even mix.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 38-44 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cake: Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Then, lift the cake out using the parchment paper and allow it to cool completely on the rack.
- Prepare Earl Grey Milk Soak: Heat whole milk in a small saucepan over low heat until steaming. Add Earl Grey tea and lavender, steep for 15 minutes off heat, then strain and cool the milk.
- Mix Soak Ingredients: Combine the cooled Earl Grey milk with sweetened condensed milk and vanilla bean paste. Set aside until needed.
- Prepare Lavender Frosting: Finely grind lavender in a food processor and sift out any large pieces. Cream butter in a large bowl on high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Add Cream Cheese: Add cold cream cheese to the creamed butter and beat on high speed until fluffy, around 1 minute.
- Incorporate Sugar and Flavorings: Sift powdered sugar into the mixture, add ground lavender, vanilla bean paste, and beat on low until combined, then on high speed for 1 minute until fluffy. Add purple food coloring if desired and mix thoroughly.
- Prepare Cake Surface: Once completely cooled, trim a thin layer from the top of the cake for better soak absorption. Place the cake on a serving plate and poke holes on top with a wooden stick or honey dipper handle.
- Apply Milk Soak: Slowly pour the Earl Grey milk mixture over the cake, allowing it to absorb into the holes, enhancing moisture and flavor.
- Frost the Cake: Spread a thick, even layer of lavender cream cheese frosting over the soaked cake using an offset spatula.
- Serve: Slice the cake into 16 equal pieces and serve.
Notes
- Make sure the ground tea and lavender are finely sifted to avoid any coarse bits in the cake and frosting.
- Room temperature eggs and softened butter help achieve a smooth batter and light texture.
- Do not overmix once adding flour to keep the cake tender.
- The milk soak enhances the moistness and flavor, so be patient to allow it to absorb fully.
- Chilling the frosting slightly can make it easier to spread if it becomes too soft.
- The optional purple food coloring adds a beautiful lavender hue but can be omitted for a natural look.
- Use a light metal baking pan for even heat distribution.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 44 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British-inspired
