Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Earl Grey Lavender Cake is a fragrant, moist treat that brings the perfect balance of floral and citrus notes. This recipe solves the problem of boring desserts that lack personality. After making this many times, I’ve learned the secret to keeping it moist and flavorful. The cake is soft and light, with a creamy, rich frosting that melts in your mouth. Try our Refreshing Cranberry Orange Mocktail for a perfect pairing. Jump to Recipe If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Refreshing Cranberry Orange Mocktail and Easy Mango Bars.
Why This Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Is Pure Comfort
- fragrant
- moist
- flavorful
- rich
What You'll Need for Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup Earl Grey tea, cooled
- 1 1/2 tsp lavender extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Lavender extract
- Earl Grey tea
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Optional: Fresh lavender sprigs
- Optional: Sliced strawberries
- Optional: Powdered sugar
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Earl Grey tea: Use a high-quality bag to get the best flavor.
- Lavender extract: Use pure extract for a stronger floral flavor.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stand Mixer — Mixes batter evenly without overworking → See on Amazon
- Mixing Bowls — Helps in organizing ingredients and mixing → See on Amazon
How to Make Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs: Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, alternating with Earl Grey tea.
- Add Lavender: Mix in lavender extract until fully combined.
- Bake: Divide batter between pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Let cakes cool completely before frosting.
- Make Frosting: In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract.
- Frost and Decorate: Spread frosting between layers and on top. Garnish with lavender and berries.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Baking: Use a stand mixer to ensure even mixing and avoid overworking the batter.
- Common mistake and fix: If the cake is dry, add a bit more tea or oil to the batter.
- Flavor: For a deeper flavor, let the cake rest for an hour before frosting.
- Texture: Use room temperature butter and cream cheese for a smoother frosting.
Storing & Reheating Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Make the cake up to 2 days in advance.
Freezing Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat at 350°F for 10–15 minutes. Microwave: Microwave for 20–30 seconds.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Use fresh lavender for the best flavor, not dried.
- Best substitution: If unavailable, you can use vanilla extract for the base flavor.
- Make-ahead: This cake can be made in advance and stored well.
- Scaling: Double the recipe for a larger cake or two-layer version.
- Troubleshooting: If the cake is too dense, check the oven temperature and bake time.
Want to level up this recipe?
Cooling Racks — Helps cake cool evenly and prevents sogginess → Check price on Amazon
Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup Earl Grey tea, cooled
- 1 1/2 tsp lavender extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Seasonings
- Lavender extract
- Earl Grey tea
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
Optional Toppings
- Fresh lavender sprigs
- Sliced strawberries
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs: Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, alternating with Earl Grey tea.
- Add Lavender: Mix in lavender extract until fully combined.
- Bake: Divide batter between pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Let cakes cool completely before frosting.
- Make Frosting: In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract.
- Frost and Decorate: Spread frosting between layers and on top. Garnish with lavender and berries.
Notes
- Chef tip: Use fresh lavender for the best flavor, not dried.
- Best substitution: If unavailable, you can use vanilla extract for the base flavor.
- Make-ahead: This cake can be made in advance and stored well.
- Scaling: Double the recipe for a larger cake or two-layer version.
- Troubleshooting: If the cake is too dense, check the oven temperature and bake time.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat at 350°F for 10–15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Microwave for 20–30 seconds.
- Make ahead: Make the cake up to 2 days in advance.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 5g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Cholesterol: 50mg
- Sat. Fat: 11g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting FAQs
Yes, you can make the cake up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container.
This can happen if the cake is overbaked or if there's not enough moisture in the batter. Check the oven temperature and ensure the cake is fully cooked but not overdone.
Yes, wrap the cake tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
If you don't have Earl Grey tea, you can use black tea or a combination of black and green tea for a similar flavor.
Use fresh lavender, a bit more extract, and ensure the tea is strong enough. You can also add a touch of citrus zest for extra flavor.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
