49 | 52 Earl Grey Cake with Chocolate and Hazelnuts

Earl Grey tea. Such a classic, right? And so good!

So when I saw this recipe for Earl Grey cake, I had to try it (obviously).

It just sounded like the perfect cake for a cold fall day.

Tea, chocolate, and hazelnuts.

Earl Grey Cake with Chocolate and Hazelnuts

From Brigitte 24/2015

For the cake:

3 bags Earl Grey tea

250 g (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) butter, softened

200 g  (1 cup) sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch of salt

4 eggs

200 g (1 1/2 cups) flour

1 1/2 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

50 g (1.7 oz) hazelnuts, ground

50 g (1.7 oz) dark chocolate, finely chopped

50 g (1.7 oz) dried figs or dates, finely chopped

50 g (1.7 oz) whole hazelnuts, finely chopped

For the glaze:

70 g (1/3 cup) sugar

4 bags Earl Grey tea

50 g (1.7 oz) dark chocolate

1 tablespoon dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon Earl Grey tea leaves (from the bag)

• For the cake, bring 180 ml (3/4 cup) water to a boil and add the 3 bags of tea. Let sit for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags.
• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
• Beat together butter, sugar, cinnamon, and salt until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. 
• Sift in flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Add ground hazelnuts and 125 ml of the prepared tea.
• Add finely chopped chocolate, figs or dates, and nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes.
• Let cool for 10 minutes, remove from pan, and let cool completely.
• For the glaze, bring to a boil 100 ml (1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons) water with the sugar and 4 tea bags. Let simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove tea bags, squeezing them well. 
• Stirring well, let the 50 g chocolate melt in the sirup. Let cool a bit and pour over cake, distributing it well. Sprinkle with chopped chocolate, hazelnuts, and tea leaves.

 

My modifications:

None.

The taste:

Like a chocolate cake. And a very dry one at that. With a teeny tiny hint of Earl Grey tea. If even. So all in all a big disappointment, I'm afraid.

Have you baked anything with tea yet? What and how was it?