Description
This Chai Cake is a cozy, spiced sheet cake with the comforting flavors of a chai latte—cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and more—topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. It’s simple to make, rich in flavor, and perfect for fall or anytime you need a warm sweet treat.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.
3. In another bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
4. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in three additions, alternating with milk, starting and ending with the dry mix. Mix until just combined.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
7. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan.
8. For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then beat in vanilla and cinnamon.
9. Spread frosting over the cooled cake and sprinkle with additional cinnamon if desired.
Notes
For deeper chai flavor, steep 2 chai tea bags in warm milk for 10 minutes before using it in the batter.
Ensure your butter, eggs, and milk are at room temperature for even mixing and the best texture.
Let the cake cool completely before frosting to avoid melting the cream cheese frosting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of cake)
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg