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To celebrate Afternoon Tea Week Martha Collison has shared her Earl Grey Chocolate Loaf Cake recipe with us.
Why have a cup of tea and a slice of cake when you can have both
together? Aromatic Earl Grey tea is infused into every part of this
cake. It elevates what could be a bold and brash slab of cake into
something delicate and refined, with the tea creating a refreshing
backdrop. I like to sprinkle loose-leaf tea over the top of the
cake as the vibrant blue cornflowers pop against the creamy
caramel.
MAKES 1 LOAF CAKE PREP TIME:
20-25 MINS PLUS COOLING COOKING TIME: 35-40 MINS SPONGE
3 Earl Grey teabags
125g plain flour
125g caster sugar
100g soft light brown sugar
50g cocoa powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
60g butter, plus extra for greasing
125g natural yoghurt
1 egg
EARL GREY CARAMEL SAUCE
125ml double cream
1 Earl Grey teabag
1 quantity of Salted Caramel Sauce made with Earl Grey-infused
cream
Loose-leaf Earl Grey (with the blue flowers, if possible), to
decorate (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4, then grease the loaf
tin and line it with baking parchment.
2. Place the Earl Grey teabags for the sponge in a mug or small
heatproof jug and pour 150ml of boiling water over the top. Leave
to brew for 5 minutes.
3. While the tea is brewing, combine the plain flour, both sugars,
cocoa powder and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl.
4. Melt the butter in a bowl in the microwave or a small saucepan
and remove the teabags from the tea, discarding the teabags. Whisk
the yoghurt, egg and brewed tea into the melted butter.
5. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, whisking until a
smooth batter has formed. It will be fairly runny but don't worry -
this is normal. Scrape the batter into the loaf tin and bake for
35-40 minutes or until risen, and a skewer inserted into the centre
comes out clean.
6. While the cake is baking, make the caramel sauce. Gently heat
the cream in a small saucepan with the Earl Grey teabag until the
cream is steaming and slightly coloured by the tea. Pour it into a
small heatproof jug and set aside to infuse for 5 minutes, then
squeeze out the teabag and discard.
7. Make the Salted Caramel Sauce on page 152, using the infused
cream instead of the regular cream. Allow the sauce to cool briefly
before using.
8. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes in
the tin, then carefully remove it and transfer it to a wire rack.
Pour over the caramel sauce and leave it to set briefly before
sprinkling with loose-leaf Earl Grey (if using), slicing and
enjoying.
This recipe is from Crave by Martha Collison. For more info about Crave and to purchase here
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