Edna Ferber once said that Christmas isn’t just a season, but also a feeling. But what turns this snowy season into a feeling filled with love and warmth? Is it the melodious carols and songs that echo the neighborhood or the smell of fresh cakes and cookies swimming in the air? Is it the excitement of finding the perfect present for your loved ones or the sight of those luminescent lights that encase your home? While the list of all the feelings that make you bubbly on the inside and the outside are endless, there is one thing that even the ‘Christmas Grinch’ looks forward to every year: The opportunity to try out unlimited Christmas recipes. Especially something with like the unique flavour of Earl Grey tea.
Though the list of traditional Christmas recipes is considerable, no rule says that you cannot incorporate a few new ones. The year 2018 was all about fragrant citrusy and spicy foods and drinks. Therefore, it is best to end this year on a spiced up yet citrusy note as well.
Earl Grey tea is one of the most famous flavoured blends out there, so much so that its reputation precedes it. Made with the finest of black tea leaves and hints of bergamot orange oil, earl grey was one of the very first flavoured teas ever created. Every tea lover has tried this tea at least once in their lifetime. And it is not a huge surprise that it is used as flavourings in many foods and drinks like cookies, cakes and even festive drinks.
#1 in Christmas Recipes: Special Earl Grey Tea Cocktail
When it comes to Christmas recipes for drinks, there is nothing better than a boozy mix of tea, spices and fruit juices, served hot or cold.
Course: Drink
Cuisine: Continental
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 People
Ingredients
1. Cinnamon Stick- 1 stick
2. Cloves (Whole)- 1 ½ tsp
3. Sugar – 2 ½ tbsp
4. Water- 3 cups
5. Earl Grey tea- 3 tsp
6. Lemon Juice- 1 tbsp
7. Orange Juice (room temperature)- ½ cup
8. Pineapple Juice (room temperature)- ½ cup
9. Apple Cider Vinegar- ¼ cup
10. Dark Rum- ½ cup
Instructions
1. In a saucepan, boil water with sugar, cloves, cinnamon and apple cider vinegar.
2. Once boiled and the spice flavour infused, add earl grey tea and give it another boil.
3. Turn off the heat and let the tea brew for 5 minutes.
4. Strain the tea into another container, then add lemon, orange and pineapple juice.
5. Lastly, add rum into the drink once it cools down a bit.
6. Pour the drink into cups or glasses and serve garnished with cinnamon sticks and orange or lemon wedges.
Recipe Notes
1. Adding rum is optional. If you wish to have an alcohol free drink, then feel free to skip the rum.
2. You can substitute dark rum for light rum as well.
3. Can be served both hot or cold.
#2 in Christmas Recipes: Earl Grey Tea Cake
Who doesn’t love a fuss-free tea cake on a demanding festival like Christmas? While your hands are full of errands like buying gifts and meeting old friends and family, the idea of an easy to make tea cake is indeed tempting. Inspired by Keiko Ishida’s Okashi recipe book, this earl grey tea cake is one that is a must in your list of everlasting Christmas recipes.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Continental
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 4 People
Ingredients
Tea cake:
1. Plain flour- 150 gms
2. Baking powder- ¼ tsp
3. Butter- 150 gms
4. Castor sugar- 130 gms
5. Glucose- ½ tbsp
6. Eggs- 3
7. Salt- A pinch
8. Earl Grey tea- 5 gms
9. Almonds (finely ground)- 15 gms
10. Whole milk- 1 tbsp
11. Lemon zest- 1 tsp
For lemon dressing:
1. Sugar- 50 gms
2. Hot water- 100 ml
3. Lemon juice- 2 tbsp
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 170C. Line a 19 x 9 x 8cm loaf tin with parchment paper all sides up.
2. Sift flour and baking together twice, set aside.
3. Beat butter, castor sugar and glucose together until they are light and fluffy. Gradually add eggs and beat well. Then add salt, tea leaves, ground almonds, lemon zest and milk. Mix well.
4. Add flour mixture and fold through completely using a spatula. The surface of batter should be glossy and smooth.
5. Pour batter into prepared loaf tin and bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
6. When the cake is done, de-mold cake and peel away the parchment paper. Place cake on a wire rack and brush with lemon syrup while it is still warm.
7. Leave to cool completely before serving.
Recipe Notes:
1. If storing, wrap with cling wrap.
2. The baking time may vary according to your oven.
More about Christmas recipes with Earl Grey tea
There is no denying that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Not only is it a time to spread love and joy, but also to rejoice the little things in life- whether that’s a bite of a decadent dessert or a sip of a simple yet flavourful cup of tea, or maybe the softest hand knit sweater. Every year, as Christmas makes way into our households, we pull out our socks and line our tables with the best of Christmas recipes from our grandma’s journals. While the regular Christmas dinner includes glasses of eggnog, roasted chicken, some Christmas pudding and gingerbread cookies, Earl Grey tea and tea cakes are a rather unique choice of Christmas recipes as well. No matter what you choose to serve this Christmas or any other Christmas, you must always remember that it is essential to present everyone with happiness, joy and love.
