Lemon Cake With Creamy Earl Grey Frosting Food

2-LAYER LEMON CAKE WITH EARL GREY TEA FROSTING

Steps:

• Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350 (F). Butter two 9 x 2 inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each pan with a round of buttered parchment or wax paper. Put the pans on a baking sheet.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups cake flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
• In another medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/4 cups milk and 4 egg whites. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together 1 1/2 cups sugar and 2 teaspoons lemon zest on low speed, until the sugar is moist and fragrant. Add 1 stick of butter to the lemon and sugar mixture and beat at medium speed until the butter and sugar are very light and fluffy. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract, then add one third of the flour mixture, still beating on medium speed.
• Beat in half of the milk and egg mixture (from the third step), then beat in half of the remaining ingredients until incorporated. Add the rest of the milk and egg mixture, beating until the batter is homogenous, then add the last of the dry ingredients and continue beating until just incorporated.
• Divide the batter between the two pans and smooth the tops with a rubber spatula. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cakes are well risen and springy to the touch. A toothpick inserted in the center of each cake round should come out clean.
• Transfer the cakes to a cooling rack and cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them, and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up.
• While the cakes are still warm, poke both rounds all over with a fork. Make the lemon glaze by stirring together 1/4 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons lemon juice in a small bowl. Use a rubber spatula to divide glaze evenly and spread all over the tops of each cake round.
• When the cakes have cooled, frost each cake with Earl Grey tea frosting (recipe follows).
• Beat 2 egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until the egg whites are foamy and thick. They should have the ability to mound, but not peak -- if they've started to peak, you've overbeaten the egg whites.
• In a saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar, 1/3 cup strongly brewed Earl Grey tea, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Boil for 3 - 4 minutes, or until all the sugar is dissolved.
• Begin beating egg whites (from the first step) again and slowly pour in the boiling sugar syrup (from the second step) in a slow stream. Continue to beat on high for 4 minutes or until stiff peaks form.
• Add 1/4 black tea by the tablespoon, beating after each addition. Continue to beat until frosting reaches desired consistency -- it took me about another 3 minutes or so. The whole process should take around 7 minutes. Use frosting immediately.

TEA CAKES WITH EARL GREY ICING

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 24-cup mini muffin pans with paper liners. Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Whisk until smooth, then remove the bowl; keep the water simmering in the saucepan. In another bowl, whisk the sugar, flour and salt; mix into the melted chocolate. Add the eggs, one at a time, then whisk in the vanilla until smooth.
• Divide the batter among the prepared cups, filling each three-quarters of the way. Bake until the cakes spring back when touched, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool on a rack.
• Meanwhile, make the icing: Whisk the sugar, egg whites, lemon juice and salt by hand in the bowl of a stand mixer. Empty the tea bags and add the loose tea to the bowl, then set the bowl over the saucepan of simmering water and whisk until the mixture is hot and the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until the mixture holds stiff peaks, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large resealable plastic bag, snip the corner and pipe the icing onto the cupcakes.