Description
A delicious chai-flavored cake topped with a cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 2 chai tea bags
- 2 ¼ cups cake flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 oz cream cheese, cold
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, warm the milk just until steaming (don’t let it boil). Add the chai tea bags and let them steep for at least 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags and let the milk cool completely. This infused milk will bring real chai flavor into every bite of the cake.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease and line three 6-inch round cake pans (or two 8-inch pans) with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all the warm spices—cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (about 3–4 minutes).
- Lower the speed and add eggs one at a time, mixing well between additions. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- On low speed, add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the cooled chai milk. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Divide the batter evenly between the pans. Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack.
- In a clean mixing bowl, beat the butter until smooth, then add the cold cream cheese and beat until fully incorporated. Add the powdered sugar gradually, followed by cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla extract. Beat until fluffy and smooth.
- Once the cake layers are completely cooled, spread a generous layer of frosting between each tier. Frost the outside with the remaining chai-spiced frosting. Decorate as you like—dust with cinnamon, top with dried orange slices, or keep it beautifully simple.
Notes
- This cake is perfect for special occasions or a wonderful treat to enjoy with a cup of tea.
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for best results.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 32 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 63g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 105mg