Food blogs are funny. If you look at this picture, you might assume that I had a neighbor/ friend over for tea. In reality I was standing on a chair, trying not to make a lot of noise while my 3 year old napped away in his room upstairs. I was also trying really hard not to fall off said chair; I don’t have a good history with standing on chairs…
I was sorting my way through a pile of papers during Cooper’s nap when I found a little recipe card for this Earl Grey Chocolate Cake. It’s been waiting to be made since I clipped the recipe out in college. I was craving something chocolatey, I had all of the ingredients and wanted a cup of tea. It was a sign. I feel it’s important to always pay attention to signs like these. This cake came together in less than 15 minutes and it took about the same amount of time to clean it all up. I love that in a cake.
After the cake was done and sprinkled with powdered sugar, I had a pretend tea party in my kitchen where I drank one cup of tea and ate two slices of cake. You can’t let cake go to waste like that. When it’s exposed to air like that it’s got a short shelf life…or something.
Tea parties for one are where it’s at. Especially when a beautiful Earl Grey perfumed chocolate cake is your star dessert.
A fancy hat & gloves are totally optional.
And we’re off!
Gather your ingredients.
Look! I actually wrote this recipe on an index card once upon a time.
Time to steep your tea & melt the chocolate.
See how that happened? A tea kettle & a microwave were involved in this process.
Let’s take a moment to be seduced by the powers of melted chocolate.
Are you seduced. Yeah, I thought so.
Get the dry ingredients together.
Cream the sugar & butter together.
Add in your eggs.
Melted chocolate goes in.
Flour mixture happens upon wet mixture.
Alternate the tea & yogurt in the batter.
This is the fluffiest batter I’ve ever tasted.
Batter goes into a lubed pan.
Batter bakes into a cake.
Cake gets flipped onto a plate. Cake cools off. Tracy has a hard time not touching said cake.
Powdered sugar goes on top of this cake.
And we hold off eating it for one second so someone can take a picture.
Then we dig in! The end.
Earl Grey Chocolate Cake
serves 10
(recipe from Real Simple Magazine)
- 6 Earl Grey tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose Earl Grey
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted & cooled
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- confectioners’ sugar
Heat oven to 350° F. Coat an 8-cup fluted tube pan (that’s a bundt, right?) with cooking spray.
Brew the tea in the water 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags or strain the leaves and set the brewed tea aside.
Using a mixer, beat the butter, eggs, and granulated sugar until fluffy. Blend in the chocolate. Beat in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, yogurt, and brewed tea. Pour into pan.
Bake 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out with a few crumbs attached. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes.
Turn out of pan and cool. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.
Shutterbean Notes:
I melted the chocolate in the microwave for 2- 1 minute increments on high power!
2007 - 2012 shutterbean, All Rights Reserved.
148 Comments
say somethingTracy! It’s beautiful. I just bought a bright yellow bundt pan on etsy (to continue my yellow kitchen theme), I might have to make this cake this weekend.
I love that you have a yellow themed kitchen, K!
I love sweets made with earl grey, this looks absolutely wonderful!
You are totally ruining my no-sugar rule.
But that’s okay, it was a stupid rule anyway. (That lasted 3 days).
YUM.
3 days is really good!! Treat yourself…with some cake then!
I just love earl grey, but have never thought to add the flavour to chocolate! Great idea!
I showed this post to my husband. He apparently needs this cake. This is OK with me.
You’re husband is awesome. It’s a good thing you married him.
He was apparently very serious about the ‘needing’ of this cake. We rowed our car to the grocery store in the middle of a storm to pick up the few ingredients we were missing. We’ve been snacking on slices with tea after dinner. I love cake recipes like this with that extra ‘weird’ ingredient that adds interest. Especially chocolate cake recipes, cuz y’know.. chocolate.
I’m a fan of extra weird ingredients too. I think it’s cuz I like to see people’s surprised faces when they learn about what they’re eating.
I think I have all of the ingredients too! Also, was your chair a rolling chair? That would make it just that much worse…
Oh man. I’ve done that like twice in my life. NOT A GOOD IDEA.
Who doesn’t love a tea party?
I have been crazy about the combination of Earl grey tea and chocolate ever since my last visit to Brugge, Belgium. This recipe will certainly fill the cravings since that day, thank you!
so funny!
i just made a (vegan) chocolate earl gray cake and brought it to the office today!
small world!
your’s looks better, in all it’s eggy, yogourty glory, but mine was pretty darned good…for vegan!
The bergamot oil in earl grey tends to give me headaches (darn tyramine intolerance), but I’m going to try this with english breakfast … or assam … or ceylon … or any of the other dozens of black teas I have in my tea cupboard. I bet it will taste just as delicious!
I happen to have all the ingredients in my kitchen. Right. Now. *drool*
Also, I believe you made a mistake in the 10 servings thing. I see it serving only one. Meaning me and only me, one sitting with just one fork and No Sharing.
I could go for a slice of this cake right about now…and I will be wearing my fancy gloves:)
Hi Maria! What a fun treat to see your face while perusing the comments! Hope you guys are doing awesomely and congrats on the e-book!
Wow this sounds amazing and I agree tea party’s for 1 are the way ahead x x
I have been wanting to make an Earl Grey cake! I wasn’t thinking chocolate and I think I will still do a white cake one but this one looks divine! My favorite pic is the one before the powdered sugar and I LOVE powdered sugar.
That looks gorgeous. Tomorrow is my birthday and I am so going to make this cake. Tea, chocolate, it’s totally me
Thanks so much for sharing!
I don’t even like tea (it definitely tastes like dirty water) but you are making me want to consume it. Leave it up to you and chocolate.
Beautiful cake!! I need a bundt pan!
Today I mixed hot chocolate with chai tea and it was wonderful! I wonder if it would work in cake form like Earl Grey does for this cake!? Hmmm….
Aaaand, you’ve planned my next little get-together menu. Artichoke squares, spiced nuts and Earl Grey chocolate cake. Thank you! Can’t wait to make this cake.
This looks awesome – Great for when you cant decide wether to have tea or coffee – why not have both!?
Gorgeous. Love the photos (even with knowing that it was just you, having a tea party for one) =)
Have had a bunt pan for a while but have ummed and over what to make in it, after seeing this recipe I know what to make
Tracy, what do you consider a short shelf life? I cannot wait to make this cake!
Oh, wow, I want this now. I love chocolate cake itself and earl grey, but sometimes I don’t like frosting so this cake is perfect for me!
I love your bundt pan, by the way. The shape is so pretty!
This looks delish. I might have to make it for my tea-loving mother for her birthday (in June).
I laughed out loud (as I often do) reading your post just now. I sometimes wonder what non food bloggers think of our elaborate spreads and setups. Like, girl, you ate cake and then made another cake, and then made stew, and you ate all of that in ONE WEEK? And wait, your pretty napkins are just fabric scraps? What? Anywho. Chocolate and Earl Gray Tea are two of my favorite things and I think it’s only natural to eat two slices of cake when you’re having a tea party for one.
Mmmm…. this looks so good! I
I just started reading your blog, and have really enjoyed it. I love baking with unusual spices, and I love bergamot. I will be trying this one!!!
I really like how you write the name of all your recipes into the first picture. It makes it really easy to browse through them all and see exactly what you are making. Plus it is a chance to see more fun fonts!
My favorite tea AND my favorite thing married together in a fabulous cake?! I would have never thought! I am so making this. ps- wish I could join you for tea, makes me sad to think of you sitting at a tea for two by yourself! … but then happy for you that you got two pieces of cake
i want that SO BADLY… wondering how it tastes like too…
Okay, your sour cream chocolate bundt cake post and now this? I’m totally convinced I need a bundt pan in my life. Weekend to-do list sorted.
I’m loving all over this cake, especially the pics of the slices – the crumb looks so tender, fluffy, but tight.
That looks so moist and delicious! What a great addition to a cake! Pinned!
WOW!! I’m pretty much obsessed with the idea of making this cake today.
Gorgeous!!
… that cake is gorgeous.
So glad to find your blog.
It has finally cooled, and I ate some, and it is AMAZING!!
Great recipe!
I can’t wait to make this!
ummm…also: where did you get your adorbs red polka-dot plate??
So wishing I had a piece of this cake right now! You know, if you ever wanted to actually have a tea party where tea and chocolate are involved I could totally help you out
I literally gasped when I saw this cake. I LOVE EARL GREY. It seems like adding it to a chocolate cake would be similar to adding a cup of coffee (but better because it’s tea).
Don’t Bundt pans and powered sugar make everything pretty?
This looks too perfect to be real. My hubby loves Earl Grey tea & he loves chocolate. This’ll be really exciting as a treat for him!
Hi, just found your blog from Honey Kennedy. It’s gorgeous! I like this take on a regular chocolate cake…which can get a little dull…and I especially like that it’s in a bundt tin, as that making it will show that my buying a ridiculous bundt tin was a totally practical, necessary purchase.
Might have to try the standing-on-a-chair trick rather than just leaning over my food – but then I’m pretty clumsy and I might end up landing, camera and all, into the cake. We will see…
I clearly need a bundt pan…
just took it out of the oven….smells amazing. thanks tracy, you’re my hero
also made the cashews from last post….pretty darn good too
I was thinking how fun it would be to have a book club and do a tea party theme night! I am totally holding on to this recipe for when I can make it happen! Thanks!
Oh! A good way to use the tea that I bought for the Earl Grey Tea Cookies: )
This looks so yummy.
This cake looks so delicious! That picture of it sliced at the end has me wishing I could make this right away. And it’s so ladylike! Love it.
I need to make this, but I don’t have a bundt pan. Do you think I could I make it in a regular round or square tin – and if so, would I need to adjust the temperature/cooking time by much?
you could totally do it! I would just cook for a little less time.
Oh my gosh- that cake looks amazing. Yet another reason I need to get a bundt pan.
Oh, it’s so pretty and quite fancy! I need to get a bunt cake pan.
I love how you keep it real….tea party for one.
Wish I could’ve joined you!
You should really get a bundt ban!
Wish you could have joined me too!
All these beautiful pictures were worht standing on that chair, I will make this cake asap, will let you know how it turns out!
indeed!
I pretty much always love infusing tea into baked goods. I’m all into this, obviously. It sounds way too tasty.
It is!
this is in the oven. right now. so excited.
I AM SO EXCITED TOO!
The cake in the first picture is a C… for Cooper!
He already thought the cake was for him
hahahaha!
Tracy, I am on my knees thanking you for this cake–I have never, ever been able to make a cake with the right texture before, but this one came out moist and fluffy and PERFECT!! It has injected me with love and self-esteem. You are a rockstar.
Hi,
. I don’t know how many fans you have in Poland – now at least one 
I love your recepies – especially cocktails. I made the cake yesterday and it was a huge hit with my husband. Keep up the good work. I am sending you warm hugs from Wroclaw.
I have been reading your blog (and listening to the podcast) for some time now so it’s high time to comment
I’m giving it a try right now. I’ve split it in 12 cup-cake tins and one rectangular cake tin and hope all goes well! If it does I’m giving the cup-cakes tomorrow as a treat to my new shop neighbours (ie- the other shops in the area). I’m opening my own jewellery shop and hope this treat will warm the other shop owners so they’ll give me some information much needed about what I need to do..
Wow! What a great treat. HOW DID IT GO?!!
Don good
I burned it all and they didn’t rise… Don’t know what went wrong.. I was carefull. Does opening the oven too soon result in no rising?
Isn’t 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon baking powder too little for all that batter?
When raw it tasted great though.. I won’t give up!! I’ll give it another try.
Huh! That’s bizarre. It worked out for me a bunch of other people. Maybe your baking powder/soda needs to be replaced? You also shouldn’t open the oven while things are baking but I’m not sure that would do it. Is your soda/powder old?
oups… I mean’t “not” not “don”…
I am so pumped to make this cake – I love earl grey and who doesn’t love chocolate? I am stuck writing a grant application all weekend so this is going to be my reward. Thank you.
Mmmm…adore Earl Grey and chocolate…and pretend tea parties are some of the best ones!
I’m so impressed that you made, photographed and ATE this cake during Cooper’s nap. That’s the post I’m waiting for! How the heck did you manage that? I am embarrassed to say I have to stay with my little guys during 80% of his naps or he wakes up. I have such fantasies about all the cool things I will do when he can nap on his own…like eat cake.
p.s. Writing this in a nap.
I lucked out on that day! You never know how long a nap can be. Minimum is an hour & max is like 2. Cooper has lunch at noon and I usually will get things set up while he’s in his in his high chair and then when I put him down I get started. That’s how it works when I’m at home with him alone! It took a long time to find a rhythm but I got it down now!
What I learned is that you can’t be too eager to get something done. Murphy’s Law will take over!
It’s in the oven right now! Subbed half sour cream for half of the yogurt. (Only had 1/4 cup of yogurt) You’re right, super fluffy batter! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks
This isbsuch a great idea! I cant wait to make this cake. I’ve been wanting more recipes to use my hundred cane pan for!
Oh my goodness that last comment is what you get when typing on a touch screen! Seriously though I want to break out my bundt pan!
Found this recipe on pinterest! Cannot wait to try it! It looks and sounds fabulous! I’m hoping to try it as cupcakes…hopefully it works!
I wish I wasn’t sitting at work right now dreaming about this cake. This is next on my list to try out. And as always, I love your photos. LOVE.
Well, that’s the best cake batter I’ve ever tasted… Hopefully the cooked cake will be just as good! The bundt pan I have is really small, and I didn’t want it to spill over, so I made 1/2 dozen cupcakes with the extra batter. I’m so excited!!!
How did it go?! That batter…omg…don’t get me started.
Could I make this in a loaf pan? I haven everything I need except the bundt pan! Rats.
I saw the title of this post and literally gasped. I’m slightly in love with tea in baked things, especially if it’s Earl Grey! I swear the next time I get an hour and a half to myself, I’m going to bake the heck out of this cake. I’m drooling already….
This is a must-make on my list! Absolutely yummy!!!
Oh yum! I wonder if I can make this with wheat flour and date sugar… Heck, a little four and sugar can’t hurt once in a while.
I’ve made chocolate cake with chai before, but never earl grey… Must make for dessert tonight…
Oh my I will be making this!
Good lord! I am seduced! Can’t wait to try this – thanks for the fab instructions and the photography is amazing. Hope you were successful in your chair-standing-on!
Katie. xxx
I bookmarked this too because I need it in my life. There’s a pot luck coming up soon, I think I will be preparing this to knock everyones socks off! Chocolate and tea? It’s like…. a perfect world.
I made this cake today for Mother’s day – it was divine. Easy to make – and it looks fab – definitely worth buying a bundt tin. it is a lovely moist light cake and the addition of the earl grey tea gives it a really lovely slightly smoky taste. Yummy. And as for the cake batter – oh the shame of it I scraped the bowl clean. One to bake again.
Hooray! Thank you soo much for trying it.
Decided to make this one for my bf’s dad birthday. Now it s cool down outside, looking & smelling really good. So wait until this evening to try..mm mouthwatering now. Thanks for the recipe
happy birthday to your bf!!
Made it as cupcakes (took about half the time). Was totally memorized by the melted chocolate. Loved it. Probably will make it again. I’m so glad you kept that recipe after all these years; totally worth it.
Oh my. This sounds absolutely delicious! I’ve just about used my baking quota for today, but tomorrow’s a public holiday and I have some study I’m avoiding doing…
I finally gave this amazing recipe a try!! My family devoured it. Thank you so much for sharing. I did a little blog post about it too.
http://onesheepishgirl.blogspot.com/2012/04/weekend-baking-earl-grey-chocolate-cake.html
what great photos you have!!! I love it! I’m so glad it was a hit with your fam.
jus tot i asked – do you think this cake will go well with a different tea flavour , say, green tea or some other flavoured tea.
thank you
I’ve made this cake twice now, the first time it had a perfect hole through the center of the entire cake (not the bundt pan hole) but like an air bubble went all the way around it. It still tasted phenomenal, one of my favorite chocolate cakes ever. But the second time I made it about 1/3 of it bubble right out of the pan and into the bottom of the oven
I tried searching on google and found nothing that really fit with what’s causing this. Any ideas? I’ve made plenty of bundts before, I’m just not sure what would cause this… thanks!
The recipe was good but dry at the specified time of 50 minutes. I actally checked at 47 and took the cake out immediately to cool. We ended up eating only half of it as nobody asked for seconds, so I was really disappointed. I think I would add 1/4 cup more of buttermilk and start checking doneness at 40 minutes. Thanks for the great pics and recipe.
I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you! It worked out fine for me at the specified time and other people have had no problems. Is your oven calibrated properly?
Hi Tracy shutter bean
Amazing recipe and it tasted wonderful, apparently second helping was not enough for my family! Love it! Thank you for seducing us to bake with your lovely pics and baking it was worthwhile
Abby
I just made this! So yum. I did half the amount a sugar and a little drizzle of honey. Perfection. I’m a huge tea lover and the earl grey flavor comes through perfectly. Thanks for posting such a lovely recipe!
Found this looking for an unusual bundt cake for my kids’ school’s cakewalk, looks perfect. Although I will have to make mini bundts–all my pans are 10 or 12 cups! But anyway, this post cracked me up. I have so been there and done that! (the photography stuff).
hey, i was wondering whether i could add a different type of tea instead? like ceylon? it looks amazing! can’t wait to try baking it.
I halved the recipe and baking time and baked it in a 8 by 8 by 1.5 inch pan and the result was great. Thanks for the recipe!
The cake is very fluffy and the texture is great.
Cheers,
YH
From Singapore
Tracy, you’re KILLING me! I seriously can’t even type right now. The thought of Earl Grey and Chocolate in one cake is melting my brain.
Beatiful! I think I have everything I need in my pantry. And my husband wants it done tomorrow! He even offered his help with the mixing!
Thank you! That doesn’t happen very often haha
Hi. What’s the difference between baking powder and baking soda?
First time seeing your blog, saw a picture of chocolate cake then my hidden uncontrollable 3rd hand darted out and here I am.
Please excuse any odd questions because I am a horrible baker/cook but looove food.
Now I’ve forgotten my questi..oh, yeah I remember now. Can you use any kind of tea? And is it odd if you sit your cats in the other chairs at the table while having tea? (Found the dogs kept drooling over the cake, ick)
Well, that was two questions wasn’t it. Sorry about that.
I made it yesterday! It was a great success! Thanks!
My sister and I made it today. There is not much left after we had some and then her boyfriend had some too. Suffice to say it was delicious, and REALLY AIRY for a chocolate cake!
Love earl grey, love chocolate cake…I had a recipe a few years back that called for the addition of Bergamot (also in the tea). I am unable to locate the recipe and would love any suggestions. The cake held up as chocolate and the flavoring with the tea & bergamot was bold but not overpowering. It was SO good… would like to make it in the next couple of weeks. Thanks-
Did you make this cake? You should!
This cake is baking in my oven as I type…it’s my husband’s birthday treat! The batter was delicious. I can’t wait to try the finished product!
I loved this! Im going to do this now!!!! :3 but i didnt get how did you melt the chocolat
with tea? Hot water? Non of them? D:
Microwave!
Trackbacks & Pings
[...] Did you see this amazing Earl Grey Chocolate Cake recipe that Tracy from Shutterbean posted? YUM. I’m not usually wild about chocolate cake, but if [...]
[...] trying to convince me to make some chocolate cake, given these recipes from Joy the Baker and Shutterbean this week. Too bad we all know how I feel about chocolate…not that I think my coworkers would [...]
[...] Earl Grey Chocolate Cake from shutterbean [...]
[...] looking Earl Grey Chocolate Cake by Shutterbean. Go forth and bake it! The recipe can be found over there. (via) Leave a [...]
[...] Shutterbean recently posted this Real Simple recipe for an Earl Grey Chocolate Cake. And I was torn. Chocolate and Earl Grey? Yes. Dreamy combination. But Real Simple? Not for me. I sometimes want to buy it off a magazine rack, sure, because who wouldn’t want to “Organize Your Whole Life in 15 Minutes” or learn “25 Fast Healthy Breakfast Ideas You’ve Never Thought Of Before”? But those are false promises, or at most two-page spreads, and when I have actually purchased the magazine I have come away with the feeling that it was really just trying to sell me cleaning products all along. And I don’t really like to clean. [...]
[...] did not disappoint, either. It has seemed to me that tea inspired desserts have been popping up here and there lately, and I have to admit I’ve wanted to try my hand at these little puddings for [...]
[...] Chocolate Earl Grey Cake. Oh my Lord, tea in a cake? I might need to make this, like, [...]
[...] in the air (basically, I’m pretty sure this cake has a British accent). I came across this Earl Grey Chocolate Cake on Shutterbean a few weeks back and was instantly hit with the itch to get in the kitchen and make it. I had an [...]
[...] COCOA TEA TIME I have three words for you: chocolate earl grey cake. Tracy really is the queen of yum. (Earl Grey counts as one word in my [...]
[...] is Shutterbean’s recipe (and link) with the adjustment for gluten [...]
[...] recipe is from Shutterbean via HoneyKennedy Share this:DiggRedditStumbleUpon Filed Under: All House & [...]
[...] earl grey chocolate cake / juniper pickled onions Like this:LikeBe the first to like this post. Published: 2012/03/22 Filed Under: bodily functions [...]
[...] this Chocolate and Earl Grey cake that I spotted recently via Pinterest. I don’t have a fancy Bundt tin so a spring form cake [...]
[...] recept av olika svårighetsgrad och mycket säsongs- och högtidsbetonade recept. Vad sägs om Earl Grey-chokladkaka, jordgubbs- och getostbruschetta eller [...]
[...] Baking earl grey chocolate cake (Source: one sheepish girl). I’ve never been a huge fan of chocolate cake, but in the past couple years I’ve really found I enjoy it – in small slices. So when I saw Meredith’s post on earl grey chocolate cake, I wanted SO BADLY to eat it! It’s from a site called Shutterbean, which in turn took it from Real Simple Magazine. Funny how things get passed around, right? Recipe here. [...]
[...] although I’ve been trying to avoid it. Today I got my haircut (Cool story, Bro!) and made this amazing earl grey chocolate bundt cake. I would have taken a picture, but I already ate two slices. [...]
[...] Earl Grey Chocolate Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting, adapted from shutterbean.com [...]
[...] I baked an Earl Grey Chocolate cake a few weeks back. I loved the recipe, but I didn’t grease my pan well enough and it would not [...]
[...] et photos : http://www.shutterbean.com/2012/chocolate-earl-grey-cake/ Partager :FacebookRedditDigg Ce contenu a été publié dans Recette. Vous pouvez le mettre en [...]
[...] tried to bake an earl grey chocolate cake, but it stuck to my [...]
[...] (via Shutterbean) [...]
[...] Earl Grey Chocolate Cake - serves 10 (recipe adapted from Shutterbean) [...]
[...] from Shutterbean (originally from Real Simple [...]
[...] Earl Grey Chocolate Cake – This week I broke out the tea pot and have been making an enormous cup of strong earl grey with cream and a touch of sugar most mornings. This cake intrigues me to no end…once upon a time I had an Earl Grey truffle at the amazingness that is Theo. [...]
[...] Jessica from The Desert Abode made my my Chocolate Earl Grey Cake. [...]
[...] buy a bundt cake pan, if only for this cake (ok, maybe this one [...]
[...] I first stumbled upon this recipe, I was smitten and had to make it ASAP. Earl Grey tea and chocolate cake combined? Yes, please! It [...]
[...] at least for me because I am also not a big fan of (traditional black) tea. So when I saw this chocolate bundt cake flavored with earl grey tea over at Shutterbean I was intrigued. I mean, no I don’t like black tea, but it is no banana [...]
[...] sem se odločila, da ji raje spečem torto. Biskvit je čokoladni, recept za njega sem dobila tukaj, naredila pa sem nekaj sprememb, preprosto zato, ker nisem imela enakih sestavin. Earl Grey biskvit [...]