Japanese Matcha Green Tea Cake (Printable)
A light, fluffy Japanese sponge infused with vibrant matcha green tea, perfect for afternoon tea or an elegant finish to any meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (180 g)
02 - 2 tablespoons matcha green tea powder
03 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150 g)
06 - 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature (120 ml)
07 - 2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled (150 g)
08 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Decoration (optional)
10 - Powdered sugar for dusting
11 - Whipped cream or fresh berries
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, matcha powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and granulated sugar together until the mixture turns pale and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Add the melted butter and vanilla extract to the egg mixture and mix until well incorporated.
05 - Alternately add the sifted dry ingredients and the milk to the wet mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Fold gently just until combined; do not overmix.
06 - Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
08 - Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Dust with powdered sugar and serve with whipped cream or fresh berries if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The crumb stays impossibly soft for days if you keep it covered, which almost never happens with homemade cakes.
- It looks stunning with zero decorating skills because the matcha turns the entire cake a gorgeous pale green.
02 -
- Overmixing the batter once the flour goes in is the single fastest way to turn a tender sponge into something rubbery and dense.
- Sifting the matcha powder separately before adding it to the flour eliminates the bitter green clumps that no amount of whisking can fix later.
03 -
- Bring every cold ingredient to room temperature before you start because even slightly chilly eggs or milk will cause the melted butter to harden into tiny solid flecks throughout the batter.
- Tap the filled cake pan firmly on the counter three times before baking to force trapped air bubbles to the surface, which prevents ugly tunnels from forming inside the crumb.