This Earl Grey & Limoncello Cake is a feast not only for the eyes, but also the soul. Brushed with an infused syrup, sprinkled with nuts and sugar, this tea cake makes for an unforgettable dessert.
This cake deserves an award. Is that...pretentious of me to say?
I don't care because I am so in love with it.
I have always been a fan of Earl Grey cookies, I figured why not make a cake? It is elegant and just plain luscious.
With a sweet, citrusy pungent note of Limoncello, this cake is more than just beautiful. It is decadent.
You know you are foodie when you see a bouquet of roses and want to turn them into a dessert.
After the cake was finished cooling, we made a syrup infused with Earl Grey tea and Limoncello, then brushed it all over the cake.
With any remaining syrup leftover, I brushed the flowers and leaves then sprinkled them with sugar. They dried and crystallized beautifully.
Still, this cake needed something more...
Slivered almonds and a sprinkling of icing sugar finished this stunning dessert.
All that was needed was some tea...and if so desired, a dollop of whipped cream.
Earl Grey & Limoncello Cake
- Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
Earl Grey & Limoncello Cake:
- 11/2 cups plain flour
- 11/2 teaspoons baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon loose Earl Grey tea
- 1 cup white sugar
- 4 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons shortening
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoons Limoncello (I used Limoncello di Capri)
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Earl Grey Syrup:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons Limoncello
- 1 teaspoon loose earl grey tea
For garnish:
- Slivered almonds
- Fresh Roses
- Sugar
- Earl Grey Syrup
- Icing sugar
Instructions
Earl Grey & Limoncello Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and grease a 9" cake pan.
- In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder, salt, and tea leaves.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat sugar, oil and shortening until smooth and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating in between each addition.
- Add vanilla and Limoncello.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Add milk until a smooth, thick batter forms.
- Pour and smooth into the prepared cake pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Remove and let cool in the pan on a cooling rack. Once completely cool, turn the cake over to a cake plate. With a thin knife, poke the cake several times.
Earl Grey Syrup:
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, cook down sugar for a 1-2 minutes just until it turns golden. Add Limoncello and tea leaves. Cook until a thick syrup forms. Brush the syrup over the cake generously and the sides.
- With the remaining syrup, brush the roses and leaves, then sprinkle with granulated sugar.
For garnish:
- Place the crystallized flowers and leaves in the center of the cake. Sprinkled the slivered almonds along the edge of the cake and then dust lightly with icing sugar.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
Toodles,
Tammy<3
sandie says
Oh my goodness that is so beautiful!
Louise says
Oh Tammy, this cake is utter perfection! It has my vote:) I can just imagine the delicate goodness.
Thank you so much for sharing, Tammy...Sending warmth and hugs to Mom:)
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
What a beautiful cake! Next time my sister comes to visit, I need to make this for her.
tanna says
Oh, it is a work of art, Tammy!!! blessings ~ tanna
Miranda @ Cookie Dough & Oven Mitt says
I can't blame you for being in love with this cake. It's gorgeous! I love those big beautiful roses that you garnished the cake with. I love earl grey tea!
Heather / girlichef says
I absolutely agree - this cake is gorgeous! Plus, the flavors are so enticing, I'd definitely love a slice.
Brandi says
Such a beautifully decorated cake. I love the roses. I bet it was amazing!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
This gorgeous cake has Mother's Day written all over it!
Ginny Hartzler says
So so glorious and indulgent. And BEAUTIFUL!! I have never heard of Earl Grey anything except tea. So this is a first for me. This kind of makes it a tea cake! Wish I could taste it.
heather @french press says
I definitely agree - this cake deserves an award on it's beauty alone, but I am sure it is just as delicious
Comedy Plus says
Tammy, this cake is beautiful. Very appealing.
Have a fabulous day. 🙂
Living the Gourmet says
Thank you Sandee! xoxo
Big Daddy Dave says
Tammy, This is a beautiful cake. Imagination at work, that's for sure! My better half would love this...with 2 of her favorite things as ingredients...Lemoncello and Earl Grey tea. I'd never heard of anything baked using tea in it either. Thanks and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Living the Gourmet says
Thank you so much, Dave!! I wish I could send you and Laurie some of this! 🙂
xo
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
What a glorious cake! I love how you decorate the cake, so simple yet so chic and elegant.
Cate | Chez CateyLou says
This cake does deserve an award!! It is so gorgeous, and the flavors sound amazing. I love Limoncello!
Susan says
I want to run out and buy some roses to make this right away 🙂 It's so pretty! I'd never seen a recipe using loose Earl Grey tea before but I love the idea and I have some in my pantry. I was wondering what the specks were in the cake until I read the recipe. The limoncello makes it tea with lemon 🙂 Love it!
Liz says
Tammy, what a show stopper! Those roses are spectacular! I'd love a big slice of this gorgeous cake with my afternoon tea for a double tea treat. xo
Amy @ So There by Amy says
Stopping by from Tuesday's Table. This looks and sounds amazing! Wow!
Gorgeous photography, and I love recipes that use tea. I will have to try this sometime. Thanks!!
Audrey says
I have been wanting to try cooking with tea and this looks lovely.
Dottie Sauchelli-Balin says
Dear Tammy,
I am behind so trying to catch up with everyone's blog posts. OH MY Goodness! This cake is outstanding! I think you should win a prize, such a beautiful presentation as well as being so decadent. I love when tea is used in cakes or other recipes. Earl Grey us one of my favorites. Love Limoncello and what a flavor this must have. I really think you have outdone yourself this time! Love the almonds on top and the flowers just make this cake spectacular. Have to attempt this recipe someday...Thank you for sharing...Have a blessed week dear friend...
Dottie 🙂
Nicole Neverman says
This cake sounds absolutely delightful! My Fiance would LOVE this. I will have to make this for him 🙂
nipponnin says
Beautiful! I love earl grey tea (mine is decaffeinated kind). Great pics and a wonderful recipe.
Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch says
What a gorgeous looking cake!
Alida says
Gorgeous!! This is a fabulous cake Catherine, it looks so soft and fluffy and your presentation is lovely. Ciao cara!
Julie says
Wow you cake looks amazing and so pretty! I bet it's so yummy and delicious!
Daphne says
Good Afternoon Tammy, Oh my word, your Earl Grey and Limoncello Cake is a work of art, it is absolutely stunning. I love limoncello and I love Earl Grey tea, so this combination is perfect for me..... as for the roses I would have to pop them into a vase so that I could enjoy them while eating a slice of your cake. I leave you with a smile on my face.
Have a lovely weekend.
Best Wishes
Daphne
Jerry E. Beuterbaugh says
The kid that won the last Masterchef Junior (Chef Gordon Ramsay) competition used Earl Grey tea in one of his dishes during the finals. I don't think I have ever had any (neither to drink, nor eat).
Marla says
This cake is much too pretty to eat, but would love to try it always. I have heard of Earl Grey tea - that is something new to me. Your cake is beautiful and sounds like it would be fit for kings. Your did a beautiful job on this and should be very proud of it. Thanks so much for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & twitted.
swathi says
Tammy delicious cake, Love to try a slice, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
This cake is just so beautiful. I definitely have pinned the images too many times.. I love it!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
This cake is beautiful. . .a pure work of art. The perfect companion to my afternoon cup of tea.
Sarah R. says
This looks DIVINE! Like something straight from a boutique bakery in a bustling metropolis. Bravo!! I'm thrilled you linked up with us at Snickerdoodle Sunday...hope to see you again this weekend with your latest makes!
Sarah (Sadie Seasongoods)
Angela says
This is a gorgeous looking cake. I really wasn't expecting it to be so light inside, the contrast against the golden crumb of the cake is beautiful. Well done.
Miz Helen says
What a beautiful cake! Hope you are having a fantastic week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Lucy @ BakingQueen74 says
Such a pretty cake! I love Earl grey tea in a tea loaf, but it looks so pretty here with the lovely decorations.
Nina says
This one is absolutely TOO GORGEOUS to eat!!! But it does look delicious, I just don't think I could actually cut into it ;o) Thanks for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop at Katherine's Corner. Looking forward to seeing what you share this week at the hop! Nina @ Vintage Mama's Cottage
Marla says
Just a note to let you know that I have chosen your post as one of my features for this weeks Real Food Fridays blog hop that goes live Thursday @ 7pm EST. Thank you for being part of Real Food Fridays and sharing with us. Looking forward to seeing you each week.
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
A work of art! Looks heavenly, Catherine! Pinned. Thanks for linking up at Best of the Weekend!
Laura@ Baking in Pyjamas says
What a gorgeous mix of flavour, this cake looks so pretty and delicious. This has been featured as one of my favourites over at Sweet and Savoury Sunday. Stop by, grab a button and link up again with us this week. Have a great day!
Mary says
This cake is gorgeous, and I love the way the bergamot notes from earl grey go with lemon. Totally deserves and award 🙂
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
This cake is beyond gorgeous! I'm a huge Earl Grey fan and also have made my own limoncello, so I could do it - except the roses part, which definitely intimidates me. Maybe I'll make it sans flowers and put a photos of yours in front:)
Sara @ Life's Little Sweets says
I could cry this cake is SO beautiful, bravo!