Without blowing my very own horn an excessive amount of, I must let you know this Earl Gray "London Fog" cake is really a devastating beauty. With two layers of Earl Gray infused sponge cake along with a drizzle of Earl Gray syrup, soft billowy whipped vanilla cream along with a canopy of edible flowers it is a surprisingly easy show stopper. It had been inspired by among the blog's most widely used cakes: the chai spiced cake. It helped me question why there have been a lot of coffee cakes what about tea cakes with actual tea inside them.
The best tea for consuming in your own home is Earl Gray tea, the floral black tea that's fragranced with bergamot orange oil. Earl Gray teas are named following the British Pm Charles Gray the second Earl Gray but are you aware that in Bc, Canada (and never working in london) there's a form of tea made known as a "London Fog"? It's basically an Earl Gray latte comprised of a really milky Earl Gray tea with vanilla syrup. It's absolutely scrumptious and whenever I set feet in Canada, I order one and sip it gradually to help keep warm. So far as I understand, London Fog is not a factor working in london and could just garner a blank look by trying to buy one.
Such as the chai cake, I additionally believed that it may be a great flavour for any cake and also the perfect cake will be a Victoria Sponge (consistent with the British theme). A Victoria sponge (named after Queen Victoria) differs from a chiffon sponge (using oil and separated eggs) or perhaps a regular sponge cake since it has a substantial amount of butter put into it. Should you ever do get hold of fresh duck eggs, rely on them with this particular cake. Sponge cakes are the most useful cakes to create together due to their high protein content and also the egg-whites create stiffer supporting the sponge.
I acquired lots of baking done throughout the week at the begining of The month of january where it rained non-stop also it was in that time which i made the decision which i need a London Fog cake. I had been advised of England when i was studying a brand new book known as The Lady around the Train by Paula Hawkins and that i was asked to get it by my twitter supporters. It demonstrated an appropriate backdrop towards the book. Have you ever see clearly? It's the type of book that you simply eat rapidly just like a scrumptious dessert or tasty pasta dish. I devoured it in 2 lengthy sessions.
I even did my very own mental casting for that film:
I pictured Courtney Love as Rachel and Josie Bissett as Megan and Jacinda Barrett as Anna. I understand, Zach Forest as Scott is completely wrong but for whatever reason my thoughts visited and I had no clue about Tom. Anyway I promise there are no spoilers within this publish but it is an excellent mental mystery book with comparisons to Gone Girl and Rear Window. For me personally there wasn't a twist also it wasn't as suspenseful when i had wished however it was a terrific way to pass time while studying cake and sipping tea (there needs to be a rating system like four slices of cake from five no? ) ).
Anyway, if you value tea cakes i then urge you to definitely give this cake a go. The adornments are pretty straight forward but effective. I provides you with a small warning concerning the Victoria Sponge. It may be temperamental and that i locate them a little more challenging than the usual chiffon or regular sponge but because lengthy while you exercise some TLC and mild-liness when baking (close the oven door lightly and do not look onto it or open the doorway) then you need to be fine.
Someone once explained that oven manufacturers test their ovens using Victoria sponges so if you have a temperamental oven, make use of the chiffon cake recipe came from here rather just subbing the spices for that Earl Gray tea. I appear to possess fallen deeply in love with the simplicity sponge cake once again and just how easy they're to brighten. The edible flowers were a present from the lovely friend Rebecca and were from great folks in the Essential Component. Not to mention since she's a Victoria sponge, Queen Victoria includes a connect to the Earl and there's a location in B.C. known as Victoria, I made the decision to this cake Victoria.
So let me know Dear Readers, have you ever browse the Girl Around The Train therefore what have you consider it and my crazy casting? The number of slices of cake can you provide the book from five? What's your favourite kind of tea? Have you got it black or with milk as well as sugar? Maybe you have were built with a London Fog tea?
London Fog Earl Gray Tea Cake
An Authentic Recipe by Lorraine Elliott/Less Than Nigella
Preparation time: half an hour
Cooking: half an hour
- Oil cooking spray
- 250g/8.83ozs butter, softened
- 250g/8.83ozs. caster or superfine sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 5 eggs, at 70 degrees (or 3 duck eggs)
- 250g/8.83ozs. self raising flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Tea leaves from 1 Earl Gray tea bag or 1 teaspoon loose leaf Earl Gray tea, crushed until fine
- 1/4 cup milk
Earl Gray Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 Earl Gray tea bag
- 1 cup caster or superfine sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 450ml/16 flozs. cream
- 3 teaspoons vanillin sugar
- Edible flowers
Step One - Preheat oven to 160C/320F. Line the bottom of two 20cm/8inch round tin and spray the bottom and sides well with non-stick spray. Utilizing an electric mixer fitted having a whisk attachment, whip the butter and sugar together for several minutes until light and fluffy. Add some vanilla and so the eggs individually, whisking until combined. Then remove in the mixer and sift within the self raising flour and baking powder from the height. Fold these along with the Earl Gray tea leaves while using milk to help keep the batter moist.
Step Two - Divide the batter in to the two tins and smooth over utilizing an angled spatula or perhaps a dough scraper. Devote the oven lightly and do not slam the doorway. Victoria sponges are recognized for being a bit temperamental and don't open the doorway even though it is baking or switch on the sunshine. Bake for twenty five-half an hour. Awesome completely within the tin. You may make these each day in advance, just wrap them in cling film once they have completely cooled.
Step Three - Meanwhile, as the cakes are baking, result in the syrup, Boil water, tea bag and sugar together until it might be a syrup. Add vanilla and awesome completely.
Step Four - To put together the wedding cake, whip the cream and vanillin sugar before you get soft peaks (my cream possibly wasn't quite firm enough). Take one cake and put on the serving plate. Poke holes within the cake and drizzle a few of the Earl Gray syrup into this. Just how much depends upon you - I did not wish to always serve a trifle and so i used just a couple of tablespoons per cake layer-you may also brush it on simply to add flavour. Then place 1 / 2 of the whipped cream at the base layer. Put the second layer on the top repeating the procedure using the holes and syrup after which spoon around the remaining cream. Top with flowers. This cake will keep for a couple of days within the fridge (possibly much more however it was extremely popular and went rapidly).
Tip: you may make a London Fog with any leftover Earl Gray syrup!