Description
Warm Brown Sugar Chai Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting brings those comforting spice notes right to your kitchen table. Your family will savor each tender slice of this delightful dessert that blends classic chai flavors with sweet, creamy frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 8 ounces cream cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons chai spice blend
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting Ingredients:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare your oven by heating to 350°F and greasing a 9-inch round cake pan thoroughly with butter.
- Grab a medium bowl and sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chai spice blend until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream ½ cup butter and 1 cup brown sugar for 3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and airy.
- Add 2 large eggs individually to the butter mixture, blending completely after each egg.
- Mix 1 tsp vanilla extract into the batter until smoothly incorporated.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients and ¾ cup buttermilk into the batter, stirring just until everything combines.
- Transfer batter into the prepared cake pan, using a spatula to create an even surface.
- Slide pan into the 350°F oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick.
- Remove cake from oven and let it rest inside the pan for 10 minutes.
- Carefully transfer cake to a wire rack and allow it to cool completely.
- Beat 8 oz cream cheese and ¼ cup butter together until silky and uniform.
- Slowly incorporate 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and ¼ tsp salt into the cream cheese mixture.
- Whip frosting until it reaches a light, fluffy consistency.
- Apply frosting evenly across the top and sides of the completely cooled cake.
- Optional: Dust the frosted cake with an extra sprinkle of chai spice for a decorative touch.
Notes
- Use freshly ground chai spices for the most vibrant flavor profile in your cake.
- Room temperature ingredients help create a smoother, more evenly mixed batter that bakes consistently.
- When measuring flour, spoon it into the measuring cup and level with a knife to avoid dense, heavy cake layers.
- For a gluten-free version, swap the all-purpose flour with a reliable gluten-free flour blend and add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum to help bind the cake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 416 kcal
- Sugar: 42 g
- Sodium: 311 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg