Vegan Earl Grey Tea Cupcakes
Soft vegan cupcakes made with Earl Grey tea steeped in oat milk, ready in about 45 minutes with a 15 minute steep.
Last updated: October 1, 2026
Ingredients
- 1 cup oat milk, unsweetened
- 3 Earl Grey tea bags
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup neutral oil, such as canola
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups vegan powdered sugar, for frosting
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, softened, for frosting
- 1/4 tsp dried culinary lavender, finely ground, optional
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, for frosting
Instructions
Heat oat milk in a small pot until steaming, not boiling.
Remove from heat, add tea bags, and steep for 15 minutes. Squeeze bags out, then cool the tea milk fully.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with 12 paper liners.
Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk cooled tea milk, oil, vanilla, and vinegar until combined.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir just until no dry streaks remain.
Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about two thirds full.
Bake 16 to 18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack.
For frosting, beat vegan butter until smooth, then add powdered sugar gradually with vanilla.
If using lavender, fold ground lavender into half the frosting to create a swirl before piping onto cooled cupcakes.
Pro Tips
- • Cool the tea milk to room temperature before mixing. Warm milk can melt the oil too fast and change the texture.
- • Squeeze the tea bags well. This pulls out more bergamot flavor without adding bitterness.
- • Go light on lavender. A little goes a long way and too much tastes like soap.
- • For a stronger tea taste, steep one extra tea bag or steep for 20 minutes instead of 15.
Recipe Details
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Final Thoughts
These Earl Grey cupcakes are a simple way to bring a tea shop flavor into a vegan bake. Steep the tea, keep the frosting light, and you have a batch that works for everyday snacking or a small gathering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different plant milk for these Earl Grey cupcakes?
Yes, soy milk or almond milk both work well. Oat milk gives the softest crumb because of its natural fat content.
Why does my tea milk taste bitter?
Bitterness usually comes from steeping too long or squeezing the tea bags too hard. Stick to 15 minutes and a gentle squeeze.
Can I skip the lavender in the frosting?
Yes, plain vanilla frosting works great here. The lavender swirl is optional and just adds a floral note.
How do I store leftover Earl Grey cupcakes?
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
