The cold Minnesota winter is harsh and unforgivable. This comforting, delicious chai cake is the perfect way to warm up your heart. Chai has hints of allspice and cardamom, so it’s a classic winter and fall tea. This cake is delicious and when it’s paired with the cinnamon cream cheese frosting, it will leave you wanting more. Though this recipe requires time and patience, the hard work pays off and has a delectable outcome.

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ tsp salt
• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• ⅓ tsp ground allspice
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• 1 ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¾ cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 1 cup granulated brown sugar
• ½ cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 ½ cups milk or heavy cream
• 3 tea bags

Instructions:

• Before starting the cake, create the chai milk by warming up your milk over a stove top on medium heat. Once the milk is at a warm temperature (you should see steam), add in your tea bags and let that marinate for 5-10 minutes. Make sure the milk doesn’t burn and mix frequently. 
• To begin the cake mixture, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease your baking pans (three 6-inch baking pans). 
• In a bowl, combine dry ingredients and whisk until evenly distributed. 
• In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar on medium speed until they are a pale color and fluffy. Then, change the speed to low and add your eggs and vanilla. 
• Alternate adding the chai milk mixture and the dry ingredients. Once fully incorporated, you are ready to bake! 
• Add the mixture to your pans and cook for 30-40 minutes. Near the end, frequently check with a toothpick. 
• Let cool on a cooling rack and then begin the cream cheese frosting.

Note: The order in which you make first does not matter — you can make the frosting, then the cake or vice versa. (It can be hard to focus when you can smell the sweet cake cooling!) 

Frosting ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cup cream cheese (8 oz), full fat, chilled
• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 3 tsp vanilla
• Cornstarch or meringue powder (optional) 
• 2 tbsp cinnamon 

Frosting Instructions:

• Cream your butter until pale on medium speed, then reduce the speed. 
• Add the powdered sugar slowly, approximately one cup at a time. 
• Slowly incorporate the cream cheese. 
• If the frosting is too runny, add cornstarch or meringue powder to thicken the frosting.  

Finally, you are ready to decorate! Make sure the cakes are cool, or the frosting is going to melt. The possibilities are endless for décor! Dust with cinnamon for an extra touch. Go crazy! Enjoy!