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Dirty Chai Spice Cake Recipe

Dirty Chai Spice Cake Recipe
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★★★★★

4.8 from 18 reviews

This Dirty Chai Spice Cake combines warm chai spices with a rich espresso-infused buttercream frosting, creating a moist, flavorful treat perfect for any occasion. The blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg harmonizes beautifully in the tender cake, while the espresso powder adds a subtle coffee kick to the creamy frosting, topped with delicate caramel swirls for an indulgent finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1⅓ cups cake flour (all-purpose will work as well)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • ½ tsp nutmeg

Cake Wet Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter (room temperature)
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp sour cream (room temperature)
  • ½ cup buttermilk (room temperature)

Frosting Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter (room temperature)
  • 2–3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1–2 tbsp heavy cream (milk can also be used)
  • 1 tsp espresso powder
  • ½ tbsp hot water
  • Caramel sauce for swirling on top

Instructions

  1. Oven and Pan Prep: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease and line an 8-inch square or round baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal after baking. Set aside.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together the cake flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg. This helps to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agents for a consistent crumb.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the ½ cup butter with the brown and granulated sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. This aerates the batter, leading to a tender cake.
  4. Add Eggs and Flavorings: Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed mixture, beating well between each addition to ensure they are fully incorporated. Mix in the vanilla extract and sour cream. The batter may look curdled at this stage, but this is normal.
  5. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually mix in half of the dry ingredients, followed by the buttermilk, then the remaining dry ingredients. Stir gently and just until combined; overmixing can develop the gluten and toughen the cake.
  6. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
  7. Prepare Espresso Mixture: In a small bowl, dissolve the espresso powder in the hot water and set aside to cool completely.
  8. Make Frosting: In the standing mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the ½ cup butter with the powdered sugar and heavy cream for about 2 minutes until smooth and fluffy. Adjust powdered sugar and cream quantities to achieve a thick but spreadable consistency.
  9. Incorporate Espresso: Pour the cooled espresso mixture into the frosting and mix until evenly combined, imparting a subtle coffee flavor to the buttercream.
  10. Frost the Cake and Add Caramel Swirls: Spread the espresso buttercream evenly over the cooled cake. Using the back of a spoon, dip into the caramel sauce and create gentle wave motions over the frosting to add decorative, flavorful caramel swirls throughout the top surface.

Notes

  • Make sure all wet ingredients like eggs, butter, sour cream, and buttermilk are at room temperature to ensure smooth mixing and a tender crumb.
  • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute with ½ cup milk plus 1½ teaspoons lemon juice, let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
  • For a stronger coffee flavor, increase the espresso powder up to 1½ teaspoons in the frosting.
  • The cake can be baked one day ahead and stored tightly wrapped at room temperature.
  • Use high-quality spices for the best chai flavor; freshly ground cardamom and cinnamon are ideal.
  • Adjust the amount of caramel sauce according to personal preference for sweetness and decoration.

Nutrition

Keywords: dirty chai cake, chai spice cake, espresso buttercream, chai spice dessert, caramel swirl cake

Find it online: https://victoriablair.com/dirty-chai-spice-cake-recipe/