A healthy soft and airy candid ginger gluten free cake with tangy flavors! It’s low in sugar, with a hint of Early grey tea! Make it for a luxurious afternoon tea!
A cake and healthy? Yes it can be! Ginger is a healthy vegetable, yes it is! But it’s treated as spice or herb, since you can’t eat a whole ginger root! I was thinking of doing a lemon ginger tea recipe, with detailed health information about ginger (they are so many) like I did with the Arabic sage tea, and Arabic cinnamon drink . But I thought a candid ginger cake would be a different and better way to deliver the message (it’s cake of course it’s better!).
To be honest, I didn’t know why I bought candid ginger in the first place! I can’t resist dried fruit! Orange, apricot, raisins, I have them all in my cupboard. I also tried some pomelo, but wasn’t that good any way. Therefore, When I was in the market, I saw the candid ginger, and decided to have some. I added some to orange smoothie I made earlier this year, but they were a bit bitter for my taste, and spicy, as my kid described them. So, to have this ginger flavor in less harsh way, I thought chopping them fine, and mix them with lemon and tea in a cake form would be great, and it was!
Tea
If you are regular reader here, you will know how much I love tea, especially “early grey tea” is , I think it’s one of the best tea on Earth! Most favorite brand is the Twinnings, and I tried other brands as well, such as Restone , Ahmad tea, and Delimah. and I frequently enjoy a cup of herbal tea, I even compared it to coffee, the number one loved beverage, no sorry coffee , it’s tea!
Why do you need to add ginger to your diet
There are so many health benefits for ginger, it’s hard to mention all, here are few of them:
- It has an active bio compound called gingerol that has anticancer activities, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities as well.
- Also it has a compound that works as anti-microbial as well, and this study suggests that ginger can be used as supplementary medicine against bacteria.
- It can ease nausea and morning sickness for pregnant women with such a small dose.
- Small amount of ginger can reduce blood sugar level.
Lemon
The yellow popular tangy fruits, that contains vitamin C , that is necessary for improving iron absorption, and vitamin c boosts the immune system. It suits savory dishes and desserts as well, including cakes! I will talk more about lemon in depth in future posts, now I’ll leave you with this beautiful healthy cake!
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Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour 1 to 1
❓FAQs
1. Can I use regular black tea instead of Earl Grey?
Yes! Regular black tea works fine, though it won’t have the same floral aroma. You can add a few drops of vanilla or orange extract to mimic Earl Grey’s flavor.
2. Can I make it dairy-free?
Absolutely. Replace butter with coconut oil or vegan butter; just note it may slightly change the texture.
3. Can I reduce the sugar further?
Yes, you can. Try cutting the sugar by ¼ cup or substituting with coconut sugar. The candied ginger adds natural sweetness too.
4. What’s the best way to store it?
Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. It also freezes well — just wrap slices individually.
5. Can I make this cake with regular flour instead of gluten-free?
You can, but the texture will change slightly because this recipe already includes extra eggs for the gluten-free version. If you decide to use wheat flour, reduce the eggs to two and monitor baking time — it may cook a little faster.
If you’re switching gluten-free brands, make sure the flour blend is labeled 1:1 or cup-for-cup and contains xanthan gum (or another binder). That’s what gives gluten-free cakes the same soft crumb and elasticity as regular ones.
6. Can I skip the candied ginger?
You can, but it adds a beautiful, subtle heat. If you skip it, add a pinch of ground ginger for balance.
7. Is baking powder gluten-free?
Most baking powders are naturally gluten-free, but not all are certified. Some brands may include starch from wheat or be produced in facilities that handle gluten.
If you’re baking for someone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, always check the label for a “certified gluten-free” mark. Brands that use cornstarch or rice flour as the base are safe options.
🧑🍳 Kitchen Note
For an extra luxurious twist, drizzle a light lemon glaze over the cooled cake or serve it with a cup of warm Earl Grey. The flavors are calming yet uplifting — a little moment of peace in your day.
Candid Ginger & Lemon Early Grey Tea Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup strong early grey tea
- 2 Tb lemon zest
- 1 1/2 cup gluten free flour
- 2 Tb candid ginger chopped
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 stick butter
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup sugar
- a pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven at 375 f/ 180C
- Grease your baking pan.
- In a small bowl, add flour, baking powder, salt, and set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Add eggs, lemon zest, and beat until pale in color
- Mix the dry ingredients with wet ingredients, alternate between flour, and tea, always starting with flour and ending with flour too
- Add more lemon zest if desired.
- Roll the candid sugar with some flour and add it to the batter.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.
- Cool the cake completely before adding powdered sugar or any frosting
Notes
I've made a mistake of not knowing the size of my pan. I used tow loaf pan instead of one, and that made the cake thinner. I used a Tefal Loaf pan tin (12x25cm), For a better results, and good looking cake, please check your pan size before baking.
