To make an Earl Grey Tea Cake that serves 50 people, you’ll want to plan for a larger cake or multiple layers. Below is a recipe that incorporates the aromatic flavors of Earl Grey tea, making a cake that’s subtly perfumed and uniquely delightful.

Ingredients

• 540g all-purpose flour
• 450g granulated sugar
• 250g unsalted butter, room temperature
• 360ml milk
• 4 large eggs
• 5 Earl Grey tea bags (or 5 teaspoons loose leaf tea)
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

For Earl Grey Milk:

• Infuse 360ml of milk with 3 Earl Grey tea bags (or equivalent loose leaf), heated and then allowed to cool. Remove tea bags after steeping for about 10 minutes.

For the Glaze (optional):

• 200g powdered sugar
• 2-4 tbsp brewed Earl Grey tea (strong)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans:

• Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F).
• Grease and flour two 9×13 inch pans or similar.

1. Infuse the Milk:

• Heat the 360ml of milk until just below boiling. Remove from heat, add the 3 Earl Grey tea bags, and allow to steep for about 10 minutes. Squeeze out the tea bags to extract maximum flavor and discard them. Let the milk cool.

1. Mix Dry Ingredients:

• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

1. Cream Butter and Sugar:

• In another large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This takes about 4-5 minutes with an electric mixer.

1. Add Eggs:

• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.

1. Combine Ingredients:

• Alternately add the dry ingredients and the infused milk to the creamed butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.

1. Bake:

• Pour the batter into the prepared pans, dividing evenly.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

1. Prepare the Glaze:

• While the cake is baking, mix the powdered sugar with 2-4 tablespoons of brewed Earl Grey tea (make it strong) to create a pourable glaze.
• Adjust the consistency with more tea or sugar as needed.

1. Cool and Glaze:

• Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
• Once cool, drizzle the Earl Grey glaze over the top.

This recipe should be sufficient to serve about 50 people if you cut each cake into 25 pieces. The sizes can be adjusted according to your needs. The inclusion of a fragrant Earl Grey glaze adds an extra layer of flavor, making this cake a memorable treat for tea enthusiasts.