Still Life Spice Cake

Makes: Two 8” Cake Layers

Servings: 10-12

Ingredients

200 g Dark Brown Sugar

100 g White Sugar

4 Eggs (Room Temperature)

240 g Milk

113 g Unsalted Butter

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 Tbsp Vanilla Bean Paste

6 Tbsp Dona Still Life Loose Leaf Tea (Divided)

300 g All Purpose Flour

2.5 tsp Baking Powder

0.5 tsp Kosher Salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and line two 8” cake pans with parchment.
2. Heat 240 g Milk on stovetop or in microwave until steaming (not boiling). Add 3 Tbsp of Dona Still Life Tea. Steep for 6-8 minutes, strain out tea into a heat-proof bowl or measuring cup.
3. With the remaining 3 Tbsp of Dona Still Life Tea, grind using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle until ground to a medium consistency.
4. In a medium bowl, combine together ground Dona Still Life Tea, Flour, Baking Powder, Salt. Whisk together until combined.
5. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, add 4 Eggs at room temperature.
6. With the mixer on medium speed, slowly add Dark Brown and White sugar. Mix on medium-high speed for 7 minutes until eggs are light and fluffy.
7. While Eggs and Sugars are mixing, add Butter to Infused Milk and return to the microwave. Heat in 30 second increments until butter is melted and mixture is warm (not boiling).
8. Once Egg and Sugars are light and fluffy, reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients in 3 additions, mixing just until incorporated after each addition.
9. Once fully incorporated, slowly pour in warm Infused Milk and Butter, as well as Vegetable Oil and Vanilla Bean Paste. Once combined, scrape sides of bowl and mix for an additional 30 seconds.
10. Add batter to two 8” greased and lined pans. Tap lightly on the counter to remove air bubbles.
11. Bake for 28 minutes on a medium rack in the oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
12. Let cool for 10-15 minutes. Once cooled, remove from pans and allow to cool to room temperature, or wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4-24 hours.

Cakes can be enjoyed with a light vanilla whipped cream, buttercream, and filling of choice. Best enjoyed at room temperature.