Tea is a simple joy in life - many can't start the day without it and have a good old brew to get themselves in gear for the day ahead. It's the perfect way to catch up with friends or comfort those who might have had a bad day. But have you ever considered baking with tea? We've got some great ideas to show you how to use tea in baking from tea infused cakes and cookies to the best recipes that involve baking with tea bags. Read on to find out a brand new way to enjoy your brew.
But before we get into our favourite ways of baking with tea bags, here's 5 facts for you on the humble brew...
Of course we had to start with our current bake of the month - and it's one of our favourite tea infused cake recipes. Using a traditional English Breakfast Tea, we teamed up with the guys at teapigs who do a fantastic Everyday Brew Tea Temple. This flavour works fabulously for the humble tea loaf. Our Tea Loaf recipe combines apricots, sultanas and lovely crunchy pistachios. Soaking the dried fruit in tea makes them lovely and plump, adding a lot more moisture to the cake. Baking this one low and slow is the key to a delicious bake. You can now buy this kit from our website, while stocks last!
Often seen as an afternoon tea treat, Earl Grey is a very popular tea choice. It is infused with bergamot oil which is what gives the tea its robust flavour. Many people add milk to an Earl Grey tea, but it is actually common to add a slice of lemon instead. This is why we think it works so well for this beautiful Earl Grey, Lemon and Blueberry loaf from the lovely ‘Top with cinnamon’ blog.
Camomile Tea is fantastic for its calming properties, and can help regulate sleep. And cupcakes are scientifically proven* to cheer you up! So why not chill out with one of these delicious tea infused cupcakes with camomile and vanilla as a bed time treat?
*We haven't really tested this :)
Rooibos (pronounced “Roy-Boss”) is the perfect decaf tea. It has a rich and warming flavour. It can be enjoyed with milk, just as the traditional English Breakfast tea can be. It can also have some excellent health benefits, such as clear a headache or boost the immune system. Why not take these wonderful flavours and sample them in this delicious Rooibos and whipped coconut cream cake. This cake infuses tea within the sponge and also makes a delicious syrup which drizzles into the cake.
This might sound like one of the most unusual ways to bake with tea, but don't knock it 'til you've tried it! Jasmine tea is one of the most popular scented teas in China. It has a green tea base, but it is mixed with some white and black tea which results in it having a beautiful fragrant aroma. Like many other teas listed here, it has some excellent health and immunity benefits. We absolutely love this recipe for Jasmine and white chocolate Whoopie Pies. It very simply uses a Jasmine Tea bag to make the sponge and is filled with a delicious orange cream and topped with white chocolate.
Green Tea is probably the go-to tea for anyone on a health kick. It’s famous for its endless health properties. Scientists claim it can prevent cancer, reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease, help you lose weight and even improve the state of your dental health. So with all these amazing benefits, we haven’t even talked about the delicious flavour of green tea. It has a very earthy and cleansing taste, which works perfectly with this baking with tea recipe. Now you're convinced, have you tried baking with green tea before? Impress your friends with these impressive Green Tea Cupcakes. They have a very vivid green buttercream, which is due to the Matcha Tea Powder used. You can find the original recipe in the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook.
What are your favourite recipes for baking with tea? We'd love to hear your weird and wonderful advice on how to use tea in your bakes. Leave us a comment below!
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Angie
June 06, 2018
I always soak the bread and fruit for bread pudding in tea for about an hour.