Spicy Chai Latte Cakes

 

 This isn't want I intended to make. At all. I didn't want cake. I didn't want cupcakes. I wanted a pretty holiday roll. But sometimes things don't work out the way you planned. Then you have to think on your feet and figure something else out. Figure out a plan B. (man, it's hard enough to think of a plan A let alone a plan B) Especially when the results are as wonderfully flavorful as these Spicy Chai Latte Cakes. 

It all started a few months back when a gal at work asked if I could make a chai tea cake for her. I said sure....but had no idea what I was going to do since I'd never had one. Another gal at work gave me a box of chai tea to help me out. But I still wasn't quite sure what I was going to do. Then another gal at work pulled out a tub of a powder mix from Trader Joes called Spicy Chai Latte that gets mixed with some hot water and apparently makes a wonderful drink. It didn't take me long to head over to Trader Joes to purchase some of this mix since an idea was blooming in my head. 

The result, although the presentation wasn't as planned, was....a moist, simple, delicious dessert that's not too sweet yet waaaay satisfying. 

When I got home and opened the tub of Spicy Chai Latte mix.....I took a whiff and WOW!!! It was like autumn....all the flavors and scents that mean fall is here and winter is just around the corner. Holidays with family and friends, sharing and enjoying good company, good food and good times. 

All this from one little tub. Ya, it's that good!!

Spicy Chai Latte Mini Cakes (or make it into cupcakes or a full blown cake)
Printable Version

1 box yellow cake mix (I used a butter recipe yellow mix)
1 1/4 cups hot water
1 stick butter, room temperature
3 eggs
1/2 cup instant spicy chai latter mix

Spicy Chai Latte Frosting
Printable Version

8oz cream cheese, room temperature
4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons instant spicy chai latte mix
Cinnamon for garnish

 

Don't you wish you could smell this? There's a combo of cinnamon, clove, cardamon, anise, ginger. Heaven, I'm tellin' you.

Preheat the oven to 350'. Prepare your cake pan or cupcake stuff. Me? Since I was planning on making this into a roll....I greased a jelly roll pan and covered it with a sheet of parchment paper.

Mix together the hot water and spicy chai latte mix. Beat together the cake mix, latte/water mixture and butter. Add the eggs and beat on low speed for 30 seconds than turn the speed up to medium and continue beating for an additional 2 minutes. Pour into you pan or cupcake tin and bake as directed on the box:

2 - 8" rounds: 33-38 minutes
2 - 9" rounds: 28-33 minutes
24 cupcakes: 20-25 minutes
bundt pan: 47-52 minutes

I baked mine for about 20-25 minutes in the jelly roll pan

Poke it in the middle with a toothpick...if it comes out clean, it's done.

`While it's cooling, make your icing. Cream together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and spicy chai latte mix and stir until well combined and smooth. Set aside to let the flavors get all comfy and personal with each other.

Once the cake is completely cooled, you can start with the icing. Umm....just an FYI: this is so nice and moist that if you place your hand on the cake to test for coolness.....

You just might end up with a little something to lick off your hand

Once I removed my cake from my jelly roll pan, I realized something wasn't right. It was just a bit too thick for rolling

It was too wide for a sheet cake and too good to scrap. That's when got out my cookie cutter and went to town

Although it left a bit of "waste"...which I will use for a triffle :)

I turned these little round cakes into double layered mini cakes.

Perfect in size and fun to eat