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.