Green Tea Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Green Tea Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting 
Adapted from Sweet Kitchen
Makes 12 cupcakes
Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cake flour, not self-rising
• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh matcha powder
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, salt and matcha powder; mix on low speed until combined.
3. Add butter, mixing until the cubes of butter are peanut-sized or a little smaller.
4. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla.
5. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat.
6. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 2/3 full. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.
7. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:

•  8 oz cream cheese, at room temp
•  2 cups powdered sugar
•  1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.
2. Beat with an electric mixer until everything is fully incorporated and the desired consistency is reached. If the frosting is still too wet, then add more powdered sugar.  
3. Place frosting into a pastry bag with a cake decorating tip and pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

Have fun with your cupcakes and decorate them however you like. My cupcakes turned out beautifully. I'm no decorator, but the cake was very moist and fluffy on the inside. I thought black sesame went well with green tea, so I made a sugar tuile and sprinkled some black sesame on it. Great recipe.

Enjoy!
Little Sister