Step 1: 🍰 Preheat the Oven

• Preheat your oven to 170ºC/340ºF in a conventional oven. Also, prepare a 20 cm (8 inch) baking pan by lining it with parchment paper.

Step 2: 🍂 Sift the Dry Ingredients

• In a bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and a flavorful mix of spices, including cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and a touch of black pepper. Don't forget the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this spice-infused mixture aside.

Step 3: 🧈 Cream the Butter and Sugars

• In a large bowl, using either an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer, combine the room-temperature butter, granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar. Mix them together on medium/high speed for about 3 minutes until they form a smooth blend.

Step 4: 🥚 Add the Eggs

• One by one, add the eggs into the sugar and butter mixture, mixing well after each addition. Make sure everything is nicely combined.

Step 5: 🌪️ Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients

• Now, scrape down the sides of the bowl and gradually add half of the previously sifted flour mixture to your batter. Continue mixing on low speed until it's just combined. Then, add in the sour cream, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract, ensuring not to overmix. Finally, incorporate the remaining half of the flour mixture into the batter.

Step 6: 🌀 Fold Gently

• Using a rubber spatula, give the batter a gentle fold to ensure all ingredients are fully incorporated.

Step 7: 🍽️ Divide and Bake

• Divide the cake batter evenly between the two prepared baking pans. Bake them in your preheated oven for about 28-30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Note that these cake layers maintain a light color even when done.

Step 8: ❄️ Cool the Cakes

• Let the cakes cool on a wire rack. After 5 minutes, carefully remove them from the cake tins and allow them to cool completely.

Creating the Cream Cheese Frosting

Step 9: 🧀 Prepare the Cream Cheese

• If you're in Europe, remove excess moisture from your cream cheese by placing it between paper towels.

Step 10: 🧁 Sift the Sugar and Cream the Butter

• Sift the powdered sugar, and in your stand mixer, use the paddle attachment to cream the butter, powdered sugar, and dark brown sugar on high speed for 3 minutes. Don't forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl and give it an extra mix for 1 minute.

Step 11: 🍯 Add Cream Cheese and Vanilla

• Add the vanilla bean paste and cream cheese to the butter mixture. Combine them on low speed for 1 minute. Afterward, remove the bowl from the stand mixer and manually beat the mixture with a spatula or wooden spoon to eliminate any air bubbles in the buttercream.

Assembling Your Chai Cake

Step 12: 🔪 Level the Cake Layers

• Begin by trimming the tops of your cooled cake layers to create flat surfaces.

Step 13: 🍰 Place the First Layer

• Position the first cake layer on your serving dish or cake board, ideally on a turntable for easier decorating. However, if you don't have a turntable, no worries; you can still decorate your cake without it.

Step 14: 🎂 Add the Buttercream

• Spread three generous scoops of the cream cheese frosting onto the first cake layer using an offset spatula to achieve an even layer.

Step 15: 🍰 Stack the Second Layer

• Place the second cake layer on top of the frosting-covered first layer.

Step 16: 🎂 Apply a Thin Frosting Layer

• Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting, using a spatula to achieve a "naked" look. Scrape down the sides of the cake for a clean finish.

Step 17: 🍂 Decorate with Spices

• Give your Chai Cake a touch of elegance by dusting it with a sprinkle of cinnamon, star anise, and adding cinnamon sticks for a charming garnish.

Step 18: 🍰 Store and Serve

• To store your layered cake, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you're ready to enjoy it, allow the cake to come to room temperature. It can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days.
• Now, savor the flavors of your homemade Chai Cake – a delightful treat that perfectly balances the warmth of chai spices with the creaminess of frosting. Enjoy every slice! ☕🍰