Carrot Cake with Mascarpone Frosting and Chai Caramel and Tea Tasting at Twinings
A spectacular layered carrot cake with chai infused raisins, rich mascarpone frosting and addictive chai tea caramel.
Servings: 8 -10 servings
Ingredients
- For the cake
- Makes 3x20cm/8in layers or 4x15cm/6in layers
- 10 ½ oz (300g) soft light brown sugar
- 1 ¼ cups (300ml) rapeseed canola oil or melted coconut oil
- 3 large eggs
- 10 ½ oz (300g) plain all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda (= bicarbonate of soda)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- 10 ½ oz (300g) grated carrots about 3 large
- 3 ½ oz (100g) pecans roughly chopped
- 3 ½ oz (100g) raisins or sultanas
- 4 Twinings chai teabags
- cinnamons sticks and cape gooseberries physalis to decorate
- For the chai caramel
- ½ cup (125ml) chai tea see above
- 7 oz (200g) superfine sugar (= caster sugar)
- 4 ½ oz (125g) heavy cream (= double cream), heated in microwave for 30 seconds
- 4 ½ oz (125g) créme fraiche
- 2 tbsp butter
- Mascarpone frosting
- 1 lb (500g) full fat mascarpone
- 7 oz (200g) powdered sugar (= icing sugar)
- 3 ½ oz (100g) chai caramel
- 3-5 tbsp heavy cream (= double cream)
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Steep the chai teabags in 1 cup (250ml) boiling water for 10 minutes. Discard the teabags and add the raisins. Leave for a couple of hours or overnight until they are plump. Strain and keep the tea for making the caramel.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line 3 x 8-inch (20cm) or 4 x 6-inch (15cm) cake tins.
- Put the sugar, oil and eggs in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat for two minutes until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Sift the flour, spices, salt, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder into a bowl. Gradually add to the mixing bowl while beating on medium-low speed. Increase the speed once everything has been added and beat for a minute.
- Stir in the grated carrot, pecans and raisins and divide the batter between the prepared cake tins. Bake for 25 minutes or until the cakes are springy to the touch and coming away from the edges of the tins. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes before carefully turning out onto a cooling rack.
- Make the caramel. Bring the tea and sugar to a boil in a deep sided saucepan. Continue to boil for several minutes until it reads300°F (150°C) on a digital thermometer*. Reduce heat slightly and when the caramel reaches 350°F (175°C) take it off the heat and add the double cream - be very careful it will bubble volcanically! When it calms down a bit add the créme fraiche and butter and mix together with a balloon whisk until smooth. Cook for a further five minutes over medium heat until it thickens slightly. Cool before using.
- To make the frosting, put the mascarpone, icing sugar and caramel in your stand mixer. Beat together on the lowest speed setting until combined and then increase the speed and gradually add the double cream. Beat until the frosting is smooth and forms firm peaks - won't take long at all. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a plain round tip.
- Pipe a generous layer of frosting over each cake layer, drizzle with a little caramel and sandwich together. Add frosting around the sides and top and smooth using a pastry scraper. Chill and add a second layer of frosting for a totally smooth effect.
- Pipe some caramel around the perimeter of the cake letting it drip down the sides. Decorate with cinnamon sticks and physalis (cape gooseberries).
