Around My Family Table

I believe getting together around the supper table is important for all families. Let me help you get there faster with my quick and easy, family-friendly recipes.

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About
    • Author Wendy O’Neal
  • Recipes
  • Homemaking
    • cleaning
    • easy crafts
    • gifts
    • hospitality
    • organization
  • Celebrations
  • Travel
    • travel tips
    • camping planning
  • Cookbooks
    • Smoke It Like A Pit Master
    • Smoke it Like A Texas Pit Master
    • Live Fire BBQ and Beyond
  • Shop

Recipes » Desserts » Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting

By Wendy O'Neal 7 Comments

Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

Whip up this Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting for a stunning and delicious dessert perfect for a tea party or weeknight dessert.

Whip up this Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting for a stunning and delicious dessert perfect for a tea party or weeknight dessert.

This Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting is a simple and elegant addition to your next party. I love the look of this cake, don’t you? It’s a little rustic and super easy to whip up. You can see the spongey cake and specks of vanilla bean in the frosting. The frosting to cake ratio is perfect- not too sweet and overly done.

Whip up this Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting for a stunning and delicious dessert perfect for a tea party or weeknight dessert.

I created this cake to celebrate Alice Through the Looking Glass. The beauty of a cake that is unfrosted on the sides (naked cake) is perfect accompaniment for Alice. She is unpretentious and her natural curiosity is a wonder in itself. That’s what makes her Alice and sets her apart. The same can be said for this gorgeous cake- we see it’s flaws, and therein lies the beauty.

Whip up this Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting for a stunning and delicious dessert perfect for a tea party or weeknight dessert.

My family was invited to a media screening of Alice Through the Looking Glass as part of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration this year. The movie is amazing and I think, it’s even better than the first. Johnny Depp is the perfect actor to play the Mad Hatter. Sacha Baron Cohen’s Father Time character is unbelievable and of course Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, & Helena Bonham Carter are just as good as they were in the first movie. I promise…no spoilers….but you will come away with a new love for Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts.

Whip up this Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting for a stunning and delicious dessert perfect for a tea party or weeknight dessert.

Continue to Content
Whip up this Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting for a stunning and delicious dessert perfect for a tea party or weeknight dessert.

Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting

Yield: 9
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Decorating Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Whip up this Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting for a stunning and delicious dessert perfect for a tea party or weeknight dessert.

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 yellow cake (box mix, homemade, or gluten free box mix
  • 2-4 Earl Grey Tea Bags

Frosting

  • 1 whole vanilla bean pod
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened*
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 tbls warm water (2-3)
  • 1 lb confectioners sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven according to your cake recipe. Spray 2 6-inch cake pans with non stick cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Brew a double strength cup or two of Earl Grey tea (enough to replace the liquid in your cake mix or recipe).
  3. Prepare cake as directed, but replace any liquid (milk, water, etc) in recipe with double strength tea and continue according to your recipe. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans and bake according to recipe.
  4. When cake is fully cooked and toothpick inserted in to the middle comes out clean remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack. Let cakes cool completely before frosting.
  5. While cakes cool, split vanilla pod and scrape out all the beans with a sharp knife.
  6. Beat together butter, shortening, 1 tbsp of warm water, and vanilla beans until smooth and creamy. Beat in the sugar gradually on a low setting. Scrape sides of bowl as needed.
  7. Mixture will be very thick. After all sugar is incorporated, add 1-2 more tbsp. of warm water and beat at medium/medium-high speed for 1-2 more minutes. Adding more warm water will continue to thin the frosting consistency and bring down the sweetness even more. Add as much as you like to get the appropriate flavor and consistency. Be careful, because a little goes a long way.
  8. The frosting can also be made several days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature, then mix well before using. Leftover frosting should be refrigerated.
  9. Frost cake as desired or fill center and then frost only the top to get the naked cake look.

Notes

*For dairy free cake, use all butter flavored shortening

Did you make this recipe?

Share and Tag @MyFamilyTable on Instagram...I'd love to see it. Or leave a comment!

© Wendy O'Neal
Great ideas for a Alice in Wonderland or Alice Through the Looking Glass party. Or even just a tea party!

More Alice Through the Looking Glass Tea Party Ideas

Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting from Around My Family Table

Chai Latte Cupcakes from Bread Booze Bacon

Pocket Watch Pops from Ashlee Marie

Beginner’s Guide to Tea from Celebrating Family

Queen of Hearts Tomato Tart from A Savory Feast

Asparagus Ricotta Puff Pastry Tart from A Joyfully Mad Kitchen

Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies from Feast + West

You Might Also Enjoy....

  • Pumpkin Dump Cake RecipePumpkin Dump Cake Recipe
  • Decadent Lava CakeDecadent Lava Cake
  • S’Mores Gooey CakeS’Mores Gooey Cake
  • Mango Gooey CakeMango Gooey Cake
  • Coconut Chocolate CakeCoconut Chocolate Cake
  • Pineapple Coconut Gooey Cake (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)Pineapple Coconut Gooey Cake (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
  • Mocha Latte Poke CakeMocha Latte Poke Cake
  • Spring Jello SaladSpring Jello Salad

Filed Under: dairy free, Desserts, gluten free

Grab One of My Cookbooks

« Berry Spritzer
Skinny Alcoholic Drinks for Summer »

Comments

  1. Jenna @ A Savory Feast says

    May 27, 2016 at 6:50 am

    This cake is so pretty! Lately I have been obsessed with making layer cakes. This is one I want to try!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Vanilla Bean Frosting - Around My Family Table says:
    October 2, 2018 at 8:42 am

    […] came up with this recipe when I created my Earl Grey Cake last year. Just look at all those vanilla beans in the frosting.  The flavor is so amazing.  It […]

    Reply
  2. Queen of Hearts Tomato Tart says:
    November 16, 2017 at 4:05 pm

    […] Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting from Around My Family Table […]

    Reply
  3. Asparagus Ricotta Puff Pastry says:
    May 27, 2016 at 7:10 am

    […] Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting from Around My Family Table […]

    Reply
  4. A Beginner's Guide to Tea says:
    May 27, 2016 at 5:01 am

    […] Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting from Around My Family Table […]

    Reply
  5. Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies » Feast + West says:
    May 27, 2016 at 5:00 am

    […] Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting from Around My Family Table Chai Latte Cupcakes from Bread Booze Bacon Pocket Watch Pops from Ashlee Marie Beginner’s Guide to Tea from Celebrating Family Queen of Hearts Tomato Tart from A Savory Feast Asparagus Ricotta Puff Pastry Tart from A Joyfully Mad Kitchen […]

    Reply
  6. Pocket watch cake pops - Alice through the looking glass | Ashlee Marie says:
    May 27, 2016 at 5:00 am

    […] Earl Grey Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting from Around My Family Table […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wendy’s Table

Welcome friend!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I love sharing my no-fuss {family approved} recipes, travel stories, and homemaking tips here.

Grab a chair and join me at my table. The coffee pot is always on!
[Wanna Know More...]

15 Minute Suppers eBook


Cooking101 eBook

explore recipes           explore home           explore celebrate           explore travel

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316 · Website Design by DIY Blog Designs

© 2010-2021 | All Rights Reserved | Privacy & Disclosure | About | Subscribe | Work with AMFT | Contact

Around My Family Table is owned & operated by Wendy O'Neal. All content & images on this site are copyright protected.