Welcome to the ultimate expression of your favorite tea latte in dessert form. This London Fog Cake recipe transforms the subtle, aromatic flavors of Earl Grey tea, vanilla, and lavender into a stunningly delicious layer cake. If you’ve ever wished you could capture the cozy essence of a London Fog drink in a slice of cake, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve perfected this recipe to ensure a moist, fragrant crumb and a silky, luscious buttercream that will delight your senses.
This isn’t just another cake; it’s an experience. Perfect for afternoon tea, special occasions, or whenever you need a truly elegant treat. Let’s get baking!
What is a London Fog?
Before we dive into the cake, let’s talk about its inspiration. A London Fog is a hot beverage made with Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and a touch of vanilla syrup. It’s known for its creamy texture and the distinct floral, citrusy notes of bergamot from the Earl Grey. This London Fog Cake recipe captures that signature flavor profile by infusing the very same elements into each component, from the sponge to the frosting.
Why You’ll Love This London Fog Cake Recipe
- Perfect Flavor Balance: We carefully balance the bergamot from the Earl Grey with sweet vanilla and a whisper of lavender, ensuring no single flavor overpowers the others.
- Incredibly Moist Crumb: The tea-infused milk not only adds flavor but also contributes to a tender, moist texture that stays fresh for days.
- Silky Smooth Buttercream: Our recipe guides you to a perfectly smooth and light vanilla lavender buttercream that’s a dream to work with and even better to eat.
- A True Showstopper: With its elegant layers and delicate aroma, this cake is guaranteed to impress your family and friends. For another impressive dessert, try this classic New York Cheesecake Recipe.
Key Ingredients
Achieving the perfect flavor starts with quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Earl Grey Cake
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for our cake.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Our leavening agents that create a light, airy crumb.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
- Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s at room temperature for proper creaming.
- Granulated Sugar: For sweetness and a tender texture.
- Eggs: Room temperature eggs incorporate better into the batter.
- Vanilla Extract: Complements the Earl Grey and lavender notes perfectly.
- Whole Milk: The base for our tea infusion, adding richness and moisture.
- Earl Grey Tea: Use 4-5 high-quality tea bags or the equivalent in loose-leaf tea for the best, most robust flavor.
For the Vanilla Lavender Buttercream
- Unsalted Butter: Softened to room temperature is crucial for a non-greasy, smooth frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: Sift it to avoid any lumps in your finished buttercream.
- Heavy Cream or Milk: To achieve the perfect spreading consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: A must-have for that classic buttercream taste.
- Culinary Lavender: A small amount adds a beautiful, subtle floral note. Ensure it’s food-grade!
How to Make the Perfect London Fog Cake
Follow these steps carefully for a flawless cake. We’ll start by infusing the milk to build our flavor foundation.
Step 1: Infuse the Milk
Pour the milk into a small saucepan and add the Earl Grey tea bags or loose-leaf tea. Gently heat over medium-low heat until it begins to simmer. Do not let it boil. Remove from the heat, cover, and let it steep for at least 30 minutes. The longer it steeps, the stronger the flavor. Once steeped, remove the tea bags (or strain the loose leaves) and let the milk cool to room temperature.
Step 2: Prepare the Cake Batter
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the room temperature butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
Step 3: Combine and Bake
Alternate adding the dry ingredient mixture and the cooled, tea-infused milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined—be careful not to overmix! Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Crafting the Silky Buttercream Frosting
A smooth, creamy frosting is the perfect crown for our London Fog Cake.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter on medium-high speed until it’s creamy and pale, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the sifted powdered sugar until it’s all incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and culinary lavender. With the mixer still on low, slowly pour in the heavy cream until you reach your desired consistency. Once added, increase the speed to medium-high and beat for another 3-5 minutes until the buttercream is light and fluffy.
Assembling Your Masterpiece
Once your cake layers are completely cool, it’s time to assemble. Place one cake layer on your serving plate or cake stand. Spread a generous layer of the vanilla lavender buttercream evenly over the top. Place the second cake layer on top and apply a thin “crumb coat” of frosting over the entire cake. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to set the crumb coat. Once chilled, apply the final, thicker layer of buttercream, smoothing it with an offset spatula or bench scraper. Decorate with a sprinkle of extra culinary lavender or a drizzle of caramel if desired.
Expert Tips for a Flawless Cake
- Room Temperature is Key: For a smooth, emulsified batter and frosting, ensure your butter, eggs, and milk are all at room temperature.
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter after adding the flour will develop gluten and result in a tough, dense cake. Mix until just combined.
- Strong Tea Infusion: Don’t rush the steeping process. For a more intense flavor, use an extra tea bag and let it steep for up to an hour.
- Sift Your Powdered Sugar: This is a non-negotiable step for a perfectly smooth buttercream without any gritty lumps.
Recipe Variations
While this classic London Fog Cake is divine as is, feel free to experiment! You could add a thin layer of lemon curd between the cake layers for a bright, citrusy contrast. For a quicker meal, consider this simple Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta. Or for a savory snack, these Cottage Cheese Chips are surprisingly delicious.
Storage Instructions
Store the finished cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For the best taste and texture, let the cake sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving if it has been refrigerated.
London Fog Cake FAQs
Yes. You can bake the cake layers up to two days in advance. Let them cool completely, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them at room temperature. You can also make the buttercream ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week; just be sure to re-whip it before using.
Absolutely! Use about 2 tablespoons of loose-leaf Earl Grey tea in place of the 4 tea bags. Just be sure to strain the milk thoroughly through a fine-mesh sieve to remove all the leaves before adding it to the batter.
The key is to infuse the milk properly. Use high-quality Earl Grey tea and let it steep in warm milk for at least 30 minutes. For an even stronger flavor, use an extra tea bag and let it steep for up to an hour.
Not at all. This recipe uses a very small amount of culinary lavender to provide a subtle floral hint that complements the Earl Grey tea, just like in the classic beverage. It’s a background note, not the main flavor.
A London Fog Cake tastes like its namesake drink! It has the distinct floral and citrusy notes of Earl Grey tea (from bergamot), balanced with creamy vanilla and a subtle hint of lavender. It’s aromatic, sweet, and very elegant.
The Recipe
London Fog Cake: The Ultimate Recipe for Tea Lovers
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Infuse the Milk: In a small saucepan, heat the whole milk and Earl Grey tea bags over medium-low heat until simmering. Remove from heat, cover, and steep for 30 minutes. Remove tea bags and let the milk cool completely.
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Batter: Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the cooled tea-infused milk to the creamed butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined.
- Bake: Pour batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Beat Butter: In a stand mixer, beat the softened butter on medium-high speed until creamy and pale, about 5 minutes.
- Add Sugar and Flavors: Reduce speed to low and gradually add sifted powdered sugar. Mix in the vanilla extract and culinary lavender.
- Finish Frosting: Slowly pour in the heavy cream until you reach a spreadable consistency. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for another 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Assemble Cake: Place one cooled cake layer on a serving plate. Top with a generous layer of buttercream. Add the second layer. Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting over the entire cake and chill for 20-30 minutes. Finish with the remaining frosting.
Notes
Do not overmix the cake batter once the flour is added to keep the cake tender.
For a stronger tea flavor, use 5 tea bags and let the milk steep for 1 hour.
Share Your Creation!
We are so excited for you to try this London Fog Cake recipe. It’s a true labor of love that we know you’ll enjoy making and sharing. If you make this cake, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out! We’d love to see your beautiful creations, so be sure to share a photo on Pinterest!
