Matcha Cupcakes

I had a friend who wanted me to make some cupcakes and she requested for a unique flavour compared to the usual chocolate or vanilla flavoured ones. I had a pack of good organic matcha powder leftover from the time I make matcha creme brulee so I decided that green tea was an unusual one to try in a cupcake. So I started my quest to search for a recipe through one of my many cupcake recipe books. I found this relatively easy recipe. 

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp matcha green tea powder
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup plain yoghurt

Icing:
300gm icing sugar
50gm unsalted butter
1 1/2 tsp matcha powder
125gm cream cheese

Method:
- Preheat oven to 160 deg celcius.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and matcha powder in a bowl. Set aside.
- Combine sugar, oil and vanilla extract in a large bowl, cracking in one egg at a time and mix thoroughly.
- Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, then add 1/3 of the plain yoghurt and mix. Continue alternating between the flour and yoghurt until all has been added.
- Pour the batter into 2 x 12 cup muffin tins line with baking cups and bake for 20 to 25 mins. (This recipe can also be make into 2 x 8-inch round tins just bake for 40 mins)

Icing:
- Beat the icing sugar, butter and matcha powder in a mixer on  medium low speed until mixture comes together.
- Add the cream cheese and beat until it is completely incorporated. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy for at least 5 mins.
- Frost on cool cupcakes.


This flavour is an acquired taste, if you do not generally have match this flavour might come across as weird as describe by my kiddo and husband both of whom are not Asian so they probably might not know how to appreciate it. If you have not had matcha but is feeling brave, do give this recipe a try and judge for yourself.

Blueberry Crumble Slice

After six months of living in our new home, me and hubby felt that the house looks decent enough to invite guests over for a housewarming. So I started planning the menu which of course had to include desserts, I've been wanting to try this recipe ever since I found it. This is one of those simple recipes that cannot go wrong, so great for anyone to give it a go.

Ingredients:

Base
1 cup of Sugar
3 cups of Plain Flour
1 cup/250gm Cold Butter (cut into cubes)
1 large Egg
1 teaspoon of Baking Powder
Zest of one lemon
1 teaspoon Vanilla
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Fruit Filling
4 cups Blueberries (fresh or frozen your choice, in my case I use frozen ones and they turn out perfectly)
1/2 cup of Sugar
Juice of one lemon
1 tbsp Cornflour
1 tbsp Cinnamon

Method:
Place the cubed butter and sugar into the bowl of a food processor and whizz to combine to breadcrumb texture.

Then add in the flour and baking powder and whizz again.

Add egg, lemon zest and vanilla and process one more time.

The mixture should be soft and crumbly. Divide in two portions. (If you don’t have a food processor, use a scone knife to cut the butter through the sugar and flour, or rub it together between your fingertips.)

Press one half of the dough into the bottom of a baking paper-lined 28cm x 18cm (9 inch by 13 inch) slice tin. Don’t worry if it looks a little dry.

Now mix your sugar, lemon juice and cornflour together, and then mix thoroughly through your blueberries. Tip these over the base and spread out evenly with a spoon.

Mix the cinnamon through the remaining dough and then crumble over the top of the fruit, making sure to get the mixture right to the edges.

Bake in a moderate (160 degree celcius fan-forced or 180 degree oven) for 45 minutes until golden brown.

Cool in the tin before slicing.

As you can see this was a really straightforward recipe and great if you do not have time as it took me only 10 minutes to make and let the oven do the rest. My guest absolutely loved it. Like I mention earlier I use frozen blueberries and it did not compromise the taste in any way.