Description
This Brown Sugar Chai Cake Recipe combines warm chai spices with the rich sweetness of dark brown sugar. Paired with tangy cream cheese frosting, it’s perfect for holidays, celebrations, or any cozy gathering.
Ingredients
For the Brown Sugar Chai Cake:
390 g (3 ¼ cups) all-purpose flour
320 g (1 ½ cups) dark brown sugar
15 g (1 tbsp + ¾ tsp) baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cloves
140 g (10 tablespoon) unsalted butter, room temperature
100 g (½ cup) neutral oil
283 g (1 ¼ cups) whole milk, room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
227 g (16 tablespoon) unsalted butter, room temperature
12 oz (1 ½ blocks) cream cheese, cold
340 g (3 cups) powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease and line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
2. In a stand mixer, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and all spices. Mix until well blended.
3. Cut butter into cubes and add to dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until the mixture resembles wet sand.
4. Add oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until just combined without overworking the batter.
5. Divide the batter evenly between the pans. Wrap soaked cake strips around the pans for even baking.
6. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool cakes completely on a wire rack. For easier frosting, wrap cooled cakes in plastic wrap and freeze for 2 hours.
8. For the frosting, beat butter and cold cream cheese together until smooth. Add sifted powdered sugar gradually and beat until creamy.
9. Assemble by placing the first cake layer on a stand, spreading frosting evenly, then topping with the second layer. Frost the top and sides.
10. Sprinkle with cinnamon or decorate as desired. Slice and serve.
Notes
Use soaked cake strips to prevent domed layers and achieve even baking.
Freeze cake layers before frosting to keep crumbs under control.
Always use cold cream cheese with room-temperature butter for sturdy, pipeable frosting.
Sift powdered sugar before adding to avoid grainy frosting.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 90mg