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Christmas Chai Spice Cake Recipe

4.4 from 84 reviews

This Christmas Chai Spice Cake is a moist and flavorful dessert that combines warm chai spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves with a tender buttery cake base. Perfect for festive occasions, it offers a delightful balance of sweetness and spice, making it a seasonal favorite that can be easily adapted for gluten-free or dairy-free diets.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (can substitute with gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (can be replaced with coconut oil for dairy-free version)
  • 1 ½ cups sugar (brown sugar can be used for a sweeter flavor)
  • 4 large eggs (for vegan, replace with ¼ cup applesauce or flaxseed)
  • 1 cup milk (use almond or oat milk for a dairy-free alternative)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Gather all your ingredients and measure them out carefully to ensure accurate baking results.
  2. Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour two 9-inch round cake pans to prevent sticking.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, this incorporates air for a tender cake.
  4. Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to fully incorporate them into the mixture.
  5. Mix in Milk: Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth and fully combined.
  6. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and salt to evenly distribute the spices.
  7. Incorporate Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing gently just until combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the cake.
  8. Divide and Bake: Evenly divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting or serving.

Notes

  • For added texture and flavor, consider folding in chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans, or dried fruits like raisins or cranberries before baking.
  • A light dusting of powdered sugar on top creates a simple, festive presentation.
  • Use brown sugar instead of white sugar for a richer, deeper sweetness that complements the chai spices well.
  • This cake adapts well to gluten-free and dairy-free diets by substituting appropriate ingredients as listed.
  • To make it vegan, replace eggs with applesauce or flaxseed meal and use plant-based milk and oil instead of butter.

Keywords: Christmas cake, chai spice cake, spiced cake, holiday baking, festive dessert, gluten-free cake, dairy-free option, vegan cake adaptation, cinnamon cake, winter spices