Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
- 2 chai tea bags
- 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pan
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves (pinch)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing the pan
- ¾ cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120ml) sour cream
- 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) milk
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add tea bags and steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags, squeezing out any excess milk. Let cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan, or line with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the chai-infused milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Gently fold in the sour cream or Greek yogurt.
- Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and spread evenly. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a medium bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Once the cake is completely cool, drizzle with the cream cheese icing. Slice and serve the Brown Sugar Chai Cake.