This elegant, beautiful Earl Grey Lavender Cake is a delightful dessert to serve for birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, Easter, or simple afternoon tea. It has a light floral flavor from the lavender and hint of citrus and floral from the earl grey.
There's something undeniably captivating about a beautiful, elegant layer cake. From chocolate coffee cake to green velvet cake, you can create so many different delicious flavor combinations.
Earl Grey Lavender Cake is a culinary masterpiece that effortlessly combines the floral essence of lavender with the sophisticated and comforting embrace of Earl Grey tea.
Earl Grey tea is known for its distinct bergamot flavor. It adds an elegant touch to any recipe. When infused into a delicate sponge cake, it elevates the dessert to a whole new level.
The addition of lavender brings a fragrant and soothing element to the mix. The floral flavors perfectly complements the citrusy undertones of Earl Grey. This pairing creates a truly unique and memorable flavor profile that is both sophisticated and comforting.
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🌟 Why you'll love this recipe
This cake is a treat for the senses. It evokes a sense of tranquility and elegance with every bite.
Whether you're a tea lover, a dessert enthusiast, or simply seeking a moment of refined indulgence, Earl Grey Lavender Cake is a must-try delicacy that will captivate your heart and taste buds alike.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Before you start baking this earl grey lavender cake recipe, make sure you have everything you need to bake this cake. Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
- Stand mixer - use a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer and large mixing bowl.
- Mixing bowls - To mix the dry ingredients, you'll need a large mixing bowl.
- Saucepan - you'll need a small to medium saucepan to create the tea and lavender-infused milk.
- 8-inch cake pan - you'll need two 8-inch cake pans.
- Parchment paper - line the cake pans with parchment paper to keep the cakes from sticking.
🛒 Ingredient notes
Dry ingredients - For the cake, you'll need all-purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda, kosher salt, and fresh lemon zest.
You'll also need culinary lavender and the contents of earl grey tea bags, both ground down to powder. I use a marble mortar and pestle to grind the lavender and tea down.
Wet ingredients- For the wet ingredients of the cake, you'll need two large eggs, yogurt, sugar, and vanilla extract. Use Greek yogurt for the richest cake texture.
To make the lavender earl grey buttercream frosting, you'll need to first infuse the lavender and tea bags with buttermilk to create a flavored cream.
Then you'll need powdered sugar (AKA confectioner's sugar or icing sugar) and unsalted butter to make the buttercream frosting base. Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature so that it creams up smoothly into a fluffy frosting.
The cooled infused flavored cream will add that delicious earl grey lavender flavor to the frosting.
OPTIONAL: food coloring. I added some light purple gel coloring to my frosting for a pastel purple color. But you can leave it in its natural white/cream color if you prefer.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
Full ingredient lists and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. But here's a step-by-step guide to help you along the way.
- Start by making the infused cream. In a small saucepan, steep two tea bags and lavender in the milk over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.
- Next: make the cake. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground tea leaves, ground lavender, and lemon zest.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large mixing bowl and using a hand mixer), beat the eggs until they are frothy, about 2 minutes.
4. Beat in the sugar, vanilla, and yogurt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients while the mixer is on low-medium speed, just until ingredients are well combined. Do not overmix.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared lined baking pan and bake at 350°F for 25-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake almost comes out clean. While it's baking, clean out the stand mixer bowl and finish the buttercream.
Finish making the earl grey lavender frosting
6. In the stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until it's light and creamy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
With the mixer on low, alternate in beating in the powdered sugar and earl grey lavender milk, until the frosting is to the thickness and consistency you desire. Add more powdered sugar if you want thicker buttercream; add a touch more milk to thin out a buttercream that became too thick. Optional: add a few drops of food coloring to color the buttercream frosting.
7. Assemble the cake. Once the cake is done baking, allow it to cool completely on a wire rack. Then frost the cake layers with the earl grey lavender buttercream.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs & cake baking tips
A secret to ensuring your cake is moist is making sure you do not overmix the batter. The use of yogurt in the cake batter helps create a moist cake.
A crumb coating is simply the first light-handed frosting of cake layers. Spread just a little bit of frosting to barely cover the cake, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Then you can frost the cake as usual. A crumb coat can help keep cake crumbs from falling out and helps create smooth frosting.
Wrap frosted cake in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Use a mortar and pestle or you can also use a spice grinder.
🍽 Serving ideas
This delightful creation is the perfect cake for a variety of occasions, from afternoon tea gatherings to elegant celebrations. Pair it with a cup of tea or a refreshing lavender-infused lemonade to enhance the overall experience. The floral and citrus notes of the cake harmonize beautifully with the aromatic beverages, creating a moment of sheer indulgence.
It's also delicious as a special occasion cake, such as a birthday cake, baby shower cake, or bridal shower cake.
It would make an exceptional centerpiece on a dessert table, along with Lavender Shortbread Cookies, Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes, Ube White Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Funfetti Cookie Bars.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
Contrary to popular belief, champagne and cake are NOT a good pairing. Instead, opt for a German Riesling or Moscato. You need a sweet wine for cake.
More cake recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Earl Grey Lavender Cake
Ingredients
For the buttercream
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 earl grey tea bags
- 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
For the cake
- 1¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 earl grey tea bag, leaves removed and ground
- 1 teaspoon ground culinary lavender
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
Make the earl grey lavender milk for the frosting
- Add the milk, Earl Grey tea bags, and lavender to a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and allow to cool. Meanwhile, make the cake.
Make the cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper, and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground tea leaves, ground lavender, and lemon zest.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large mixing bowl and using a hand mixer), beat the eggs until they are frothy, about 2 minutes.
- Beat in the sugar, vanilla, and yogurt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients while the mixer is on low-medium speed, just until ingredients are well combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared lined baking pan and bake at 350°F for 25-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake almost comes out clean. While it's baking, clean out the stand mixer bowl and finish the buttercream.
Finish making the earl grey lavender frosting
- In the stand mixer, beat the softened butter until it's light and creamy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- With the mixer on low, alternate in beating in the powdered sugar and earl grey lavender milk, until the frosting is to the thickness and consistency you desire. Add more powdered sugar if you want thicker buttercream; add a touch more milk to thin out a buttercream that became too thick.
Assemble
- Once the cake is done baking, allow it to cool completely before frosting with the earl grey lavender buttercream.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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