Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes

If you LOVE the flavor of green tea these cupcakes are for you!  Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.  Even if you are not a big Green Tea fan the flavor is so subtle even my kids loved them!  The delicate flavor of Matcha with the zest of lemon make the perfect flavor combination.

I have been on a total Matcha kick lately ever since I tried my first hot matcha tea latte on a recent ski trip.  Now it seems that Matcha is everywhere, but I digress.  I like to use buttermilk in these cupcakes as it yields a super fluffy consistency.  I like to use buttermilk in a lot of my recipes like my recipe for Cinnamon Vanilla Protein Pancakes!

The use of vegetable oil in the batter also helps to keep the cake umm shall we say less dry!  I am trying to stay away from the dredded M word.  You know the one! M-O-I-S-T!

Now that we got that out of the way let’s talk about these delicious fluffy cupcakes and how easy they are to make!

How to make Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes!

Step 1

Sift all dry ingredients into a mixing bowl.

Step 2

In a mixing bowl cream butter and sugar together

Step 3

Add oil, eggs and vanilla extract until fully incorporated

Step 4

With the mixer on low add half of the flour mixture then buttermilk then the rest of the flour mixture.  Mix until fully incorporated.

Step 5

Pour batter into prepared cupcake pan and bake for approx. 21 minutes

There you have it delicious Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes!  Making the frosting is super simple too and the lemon flavor just adds a tangy citrusy sweetness to the fluffy cake.  These are perfect for Easter brunch or spring entertaining!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Cake

• 2 Cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp Matcha Green Tea powder
• 1/2 Cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 Cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 Cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 Cup buttermilk

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/2 cup Butter (Softened)
• 8 oz. Cream Cheese (Softened)
• 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
• 1 heaping teaspoon of Lemon Zest
• 5 cups of Powdered Sugar

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F, place cupcake liners in cupcake pan and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and Matcha green tea powder.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until creamed together, and smooth. Add the oil, and mix together until incorporated. With the mixer running on low, add the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla extract.

Scrape down the mixing bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary. With the mixer still on low, add half of the flour mixture to the batter, followed by the buttermilk, then the remaining flour mixture. Mix just until completely incorporated.

Fill cupcake liners just under half full with batter (about a ¼ cup).  Bake for 21 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle.

Let the cupcakes cool a bit then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

While the cupcakes are baking make the frosting.

Juice and zest a large lemon. In the bowl of a mixer beat cream cheese, butter, lemon juice and lemon zest until blended.

Slowly mix in Powdered Sugar a cup at a time and continue to mix until sugar is incorporated.

Place frosting in a pastry bag fitted with whichever piping tip you desire and frost the cupcakes once completely cool.

Pin this recipe for Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes to your favorite Dessert or Cupcake Pinterest board to make for later!