London Fog Cake with Earl Grey & Lavender (Printable)
Delicate aromatic layer cake infused with Earl Grey tea and lavender with creamy vanilla bean frosting.
# What You’ll 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 or pure vanilla extract
15 - Pinch of salt
→ For 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 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 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 spatula. 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. Spread with frosting. Repeat with remaining layers. Frost top and sides of cake. Decorate with dried lavender buds and lemon zest if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The aromatic Earl Grey infusion creates layers of subtle citrusy brightness that keeps every bite interesting
- Lavender adds this gorgeous floral whisper that makes people lean in and ask what the secret ingredient is
02 -
- The tea-infused milk must be completely cool before you add it to the batter or your butter will seize and the texture will suffer
- Overbaking even by a few minutes will dry out the delicate crumb, so start checking at the twenty-five minute mark
03 -
- For an extra aromatic boost, brush each cooled cake layer with a simple syrup made from equal parts sugar and water infused with another Earl Grey tea bag
- Leftover frosted cake actually tastes better on day two when the flavors have had time to mingle and settle