Earl Grey Cupcakes Recipe

If you’re a tea lover, these cupcakes are for you. They are basically the edible version of a london fog latte. You’re welcome! 😁

I made them gluten and dairy free, but below I also provide options to make them with regular flour, milk, butter and cream cheese.

Product brands I recommend for this recipe

It’s not critical to use these specific brands, but for the best and most consistent results, these are the ones I recommend.

• Robin Hood gluten-free flour
• Earth’s Own barista oat milk
• Omega nutrition aroma free coconut oil
• Violife vegan cream cheese
• Earth balance soy free buttery spread

Recipe substitutions or variations

Substitutions:

Gluten-free flour substitutions: Instead of using the Robin Hood gluten-free flour blend, you can also use white rice flour or any other gluten-free flour alternative. Whatever you decide to use, just make sure it converts 1 to 1 with regular flour. Often gluten-free flour mixes will say right on the label whether they convert 1-1. Some flour mixes will absorb more or less liquids than others and it could affect the consistency. Look for one that has rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch and xanthan gum for the most consistent results. Instead of gluten-free flour, you can also use regular white (wheat) flour for this recipe.

Oat milk substitutions: Instead of using oat milk, you can use any other type of dairy free milk such as coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, etc. You can also use regular cow’s milk.

Coconut oil substitutions: Instead of aroma free coconut oil, you can use regular coconut oil, a vegan butter substitute, or any other cooking oil of your choice. Or use regular cow’s milk butter.

Golden or brown sugar substitutions: Using golden or brown sugar for this recipe creates a super rich and moist texture and a beautiful golden color. But if you want your cupcakes to look lighter, swap out the golden sugar for white granulated sugar.

Loose leaf organic earl grey tea substitutions: For this recipe I used loose earl grey tea leaves that are super aromatic. You can also use earl grey tea bags. If you don’t do caffeine, you can also swap it out for decaf earl grey. Alternatively, you can swap out the earl grey for flavors that you find in your favorite teas. Culinary lavender in the cupcakes, lavender buttercream or lavender frosting would all be delicious. Word of warning here, most essential oils aren’t edible so be careful. Lastly, if you like vanilla cupcakes, just leave out all the afternoon tea flavors. As usual, the recipe is just a base. Make them however you like them using the flavors you love! Lemon zest! Ok, I’ll stop haha.

Dairy free cream cheese substitutes: Instead of using dairy free cream cheese, swap it out for regular dairy cream cheese.

Vegan butter substitutes: For the icing, you can swap out the vegan butter for regular dairy butter. If you are using vegan butter, avoid cashew based butters. The oil-based butters work best, consistency wise.

Variations:

Make these cupcakes with regular flour, milk, butter and cream cheese

Simply swap out the gluten-free flour mix for regular all purpose flour, and swap out the vegan butter, milk and cream cheese for regular butter, milk and cream cheese. You can also use butter in the cupcake batter instead of coconut oil. No need to alter the amounts the recipe calls for, as these ingredients swap out 1-1.

Make vegan earl grey cupcakes

Swap out the real eggs with flax eggs – mix 2.5 tbsp water with 1 tbsp flax in a bowl and let stand for 5 minutes until thickened.

Pro tips for this recipe: 

Use room temperature eggs, butter and cream cheese

Before you make your cupcakes and frosting, take your eggs, butter and cream cheese out of the fridge and put them on the counter a few hours before you start. This will make them easier to work with. 

This will also prevent your coconut oil from hardening up when it comes into contact with the eggs.

Make sure to melt your coconut oil

For the cupcake batter, make sure you use fully melted coconut oil. If you don’t melt it, you won’t get the same consistency of batter or finished product.

Chill your earl grey frosting in the fridge or freezer

Because this recipe uses earl grey tea in the frosting, the consistency is a bit more thin. Chilling your frosting in the fridge or freezer before frosting your cupcakes will ensure that it doesn’t just drip right off the edges! If you find your frosting is too thin, feel free to add more icing sugar until you reach your desired consistency.

Storage tips:

Keep these london fog cupcakes in the fridge for up to 1 week. They freeze very well and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months or so in a sealed container.

Tried my earl grey cupcakes with cream cheese frosting?

Please leave me a rating and review below, and post a picture of the dish to Instagram and tag me at @foodsnfeels 🙌

You might also like: 

If you liked this recipe, you might also like my other cupcake recipes:

• Cassava Flour Chocolate Cupcakes
• Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

If you are looking for more, download my free 7 day gluten free & dairy free meal plan!

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