Exact quantities, then the method.
A glossy chai glaze that dresses up a plain loaf cake. Rather than a powder, it brews real masala chai with fresh cardamom and ginger into the milk first, then whisks that spiced milk with icing sugar into a thick, pourable glaze. Spooned over a loaf, it falls down the sides in brown streaks and sets to a firm, glossy coating.
Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for the Masala Chai Cake Glaze recipe. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/recipes/chai-tea/masala-chai-cake-glaze/
Enough to cover a 900g loaf, and best made fresh, as it does not keep once mixed. Lovely over a plain vanilla or lemon loaf.
You'll need
- 2 Tea India Masala Chai tea bags
- 150ml whole milk
- 3 green cardamom pods, gently crushed
- 2 fresh ginger coins, peeled (about 10g)
- 200g icing sugar, sifted
- 1 freshly baked 900g vanilla loaf cake on a cooling rack (or 12 fairy cakes)
- 1 small heavy-based saucepan (about 16cm diameter)
- 1 small fine-mesh tea strainer
- 1 medium mixing bowl
- 1 medium balloon whisk
- 1 small pouring jug
Method
- Stand the cooled loaf on a wire rack with a tray underneath to catch the drips.
- Pour the milk into a small saucepan with the crushed cardamom and ginger coins.
- Bring to a soft simmer, then drop in the chai bags, lower the heat and simmer gently for six minutes.
- Lift the bags out without pressing them, then strain the spiced milk into a bowl, catching the cardamom and ginger.
- Sift the icing sugar over the warm chai milk; sifting stops it going lumpy.
- Whisk for a minute to a thick, glossy glaze that coats the back of the spoon.
- Tip into a jug and pour over the loaf in slow circles, starting at the middle and letting it find its own way down the sides.
- Give it an hour to firm up to a glossy finish before you slice.
- Tip: brewing real chai with fresh cardamom and ginger beats a powder for flavour, and takes only a few extra minutes.
The tea it is made with, and what to make next.
Want the background, not just the brew?
Brewed with: Tea India Masala Chai, 40 Tea Bags 100g
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