SOUR CREAM SEED CAKE WITH EARL GREY GLAZE

Sour Cream Seed Cake with Earl Grey Glaze image

Provided by Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 1h2m

Yield 8 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/4 cup poppy seeds
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
3/4 cup strong, freshly brewed Earl Grey tea
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) cool unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Steps:

Combine both kinds of seeds and 1/2 cup of the tea in a bowl. Let soak to absorb and soften while you prepare the other ingredients. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and set aside. Cream the butter until smooth in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer). Add the sugar and cream together until soft and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix.
With the mixer running at low speed, add a third of the dry ingredients and mix. Then add half of the sour cream and mix. Add another third of the dry ingredients and mix. Add the remaining sour cream and mix. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Add the seeds with their soaking liquid and mix until smooth. Pour into the pans and bake until firm in the center, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pans.
To make the glaze, whisk the remaining 1/4 cup of tea and the confectioners' sugar in a bowl until smooth. When the cakes have cooled, turn them out onto a work surface. Give the glaze a stir. Dip the bottom (the narrower side) of each cake lightly into the glaze until coated. Turn over so the glazed side becomes the top and set aside to harden.