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Chai Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 60 reviews

This Chai Cake is a fragrant, spiced dessert featuring the warm flavors of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and other chai spices baked into a moist, tender cake. Topped with a creamy cinnamon-flavored cream cheese frosting, it’s perfect for a cozy afternoon tea or special occasion. The combination of spices and cream cheese frosting offers a deliciously balanced sweetness and spice profile that chai lovers will adore.

Ingredients

Scale

Chai Cake

  • 115 g unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 115 g vegetable or canola oil
  • 300 g granulated sugar
  • 260 g buttermilk, room temperature
  • 300 g all-purpose flour
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp ground cardamom
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ⅛ tsp ground black pepper

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 225 g full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • 115 g unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 480 g powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Cream Butter and Oil: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the unsalted butter and vegetable oil together on medium speed until well combined, even if a few small lumps remain.
  3. Add Sugar and Cream: Add the granulated sugar and continue beating on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes until the mixture becomes fluffy and pearly white.
  4. Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla: With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then blend in the vanilla extract, scraping down the bowl sides to ensure thorough mixing.
  5. Add Buttermilk: Gradually stream in the room temperature buttermilk while mixing on medium speed until the batter is smooth and fully combined.
  6. Add Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and all the chai spices (cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, black pepper) to the bowl. Mix on low speed until just combined, then stop with a few streaks of flour remaining.
  7. Fold Batter: Gently fold the batter with a rubber spatula to fully incorporate the flour and achieve a smooth batter.
  8. Bake the Cake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  9. Cool Cakes: Remove cakes from oven and let cool in pans for about 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Prepare Frosting: Beat softened cream cheese and unsalted butter on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes until creamy. Scrape down bowl sides, then gradually add powdered sugar one cup at a time on low speed. Add vanilla extract and ground cinnamon, then beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
  11. Assemble Cake: If needed, trim cake tops for even surfaces. Spread a teaspoon of frosting on your cake board to secure the first layer. Place the first layer, spread about 1 cup frosting evenly on top. Position the second layer upside down (flat side up). Coat the entire cake with a thin crumb coat and chill for 20 minutes until firm.
  12. Final Frosting and Garnish: Apply a thick final frosting layer smoothly around the cake. Dust with additional ground cinnamon and garnish with cinnamon sticks and star anise. Slice and serve.

Notes

  • Room temperature ingredients help create a smooth, even batter and frosting.
  • Do not overmix the batter after adding flour to avoid a dense cake.
  • Chilling the cake after applying the crumb coat ensures a clean, crumb-free final frosting layer.
  • Garnish with cinnamon sticks and star anise for an elegant presentation and extra aroma.
  • Leftover cake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Keywords: Chai Cake, Spiced Cake, Cinnamon Cake, Cream Cheese Frosting, Cardamom Cake, Winter Cake, Festive Cake, Chai Spice Dessert

Find it online: https://bakedbylisa.com/chai-cake-with-cinnamon-cream-cheese-frosting-recipe/