This Chai-Infused Vegan Loaf is warmly spiced and fragrant, drizzled with a zesty Orange Cardamom Glaze. It's a perfect cake to enjoy with a cup of tea or as a comforting dessert.
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 3 ½ tbsp (50g) loose leaf masala chai tea, or tea from chai teabags
- 90 ml freshly boiled water
- ⅖ cup (100 ml) soy milk
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup (118 ml) maple syrup
- ⅓ cup (90 g) apple puree (unsweetened applesauce)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste, or 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp freshly grated orange zest
- 1 ¾ cup (220 g) plain flour
- 80 g light brown sugar, or coconut sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp each ground cinnamon, cardamom
- ½ tsp each ground ginger, nutmeg
- ¼ tsp allspice
- ¼ tsp sea salt
For the Orange Cardamom Glaze (optional):
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 4 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ tsp vanilla bean paste, or 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch loaf tin with parchment paper.
- Mix soy milk and apple cider vinegar to create vegan buttermilk; set aside.
- Steep chai tea in boiled water for 10-15 minutes, then strain to yield a concentrated tea mixture.
- Whisk together the concentrated tea, vegan buttermilk, maple syrup, apple puree, olive oil, vanilla, and orange zest in a bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, spices, and salt, ensuring no sugar lumps remain.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the glaze, mix powdered sugar, cardamom, orange juice, and vanilla until smooth.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake.
Enjoy the aromatic blend of chai spices and citrus notes in this Vegan Loaf, either as a delightful end to a meal or as a special treat throughout the day.
