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earl grey chiffon cake

Earl Grey Chiffon Cake

This Earl Grey chiffon cake is light, soft, and gently scented with tea. It’s airy like a cloud, not heavy or buttery, and perfect with a cup of tea. Sweet, calm, and easy to enjoy any time of day.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Western
Calories: 260
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Earl Grey Tea
  • 4 Earl Grey tea bags or 4 teaspoons loose-leaf tea
  • ¾ cup hot water
Dry Ingredients
  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 1½ cups granulated sugar divide into two portions
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
  • ½ cup neutral oil canola or vegetable
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Egg Whites
  • 6 large egg whites
  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar

Method
 

  1. Brew the tea
  2. Steep the Earl Grey tea in hot water for 10 minutes. Cover while steeping. Let it cool fully.
  3. Prepare the pan
  4. Use an ungreased chiffon or tube pan. Do not line or grease it. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
  5. Mix dry ingredients
  6. In a large bowl, whisk cake flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  7. Mix wet ingredients
  8. In another bowl, whisk egg yolks, oil, cooled tea, and vanilla.
  9. Combine batter
  10. Add wet mixture to dry ingredients. Whisk until smooth and pourable.
  11. Whip egg whites
  12. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Slowly add remaining ½ cup sugar. Beat until soft peaks form.
  13. Fold carefully
  14. Stir one-third of egg whites into batter. Gently fold in the rest using a spatula.
  15. Bake
  16. Pour batter into pan. Smooth the top. Bake 50–60 minutes until the top springs back.
  17. Cool upside down
  18. Invert the pan right away. Let cool fully before removing.

Notes

  • Do not grease the pan. The batter needs grip to rise.
  • Make sure the tea is fully cooled before mixing.
  • Soft egg white peaks are key. Stiff whites can collapse the cake.
  • This cake tastes even better the next day.