Matcha cake recipes have been around since before we even knew what a cupcake was!
This Japanese dessert has become popular in recent years as people turn to healthier alternatives.
Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savory, this delicious treat will be your new favorite go-to.
We’ll show you how to make this tasty treat at home using our easy to follow matcha cake recipe below.
What Is Matcha Cake?
A matcha cake is a very traditional Japanese dessert made from rice flour, eggs, sugar, milk powder, cocoa powder, ground black pepper, and matcha (green tea) powder.
It’s also often called “chocolate mochi” because it looks just like chocolate mochi balls when baked.
The process used by Japanese chefs to create these treats differs slightly depending on whether they are making them for everyday consumption or for special occasions.
For example, ordinary cakes can be topped off with sprinkles, while cakes served during festivals might include fruits or other ingredients specific to the occasion.
You can find matcha cake recipes online across various websites, but here at HowToCookFood, we’ve compiled an amazing selection of matcha cakes that range from simple to complex.
Whether you want a simple one-ingredient matcha cake or a more elaborate three-ingredient version, we’ve got you covered.
What Is The Recipe For Matcha Cake?
This is a traditional Japanese dessert made from rice flour, eggs, sugar, milk powder, vanilla extract, and matcha (green tea).
Matcha is ground up leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, which gives it its color and distinctive flavor.
It’s commonly used in powdered form as a healthy alternative to coffee.
Matcha can also be brewed into an amazing beverage called matcha lattes, so if you like them, you’ll definitely enjoy these cakes too.
The first step in making this cake is preparing the batter by combining all of the ingredients together until well blended.
Next, pour half of the mixture into a greased 8×8 pan then spread evenly across the bottom.
Then add remaining batter on top, spreading it out equally.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until set and golden brown.
After baking, let cool completely before slicing and serving.
You can serve this cake warm or cold depending on preference.
If you want to keep things interesting, try adding some chocolate chips or sprinkling it with confectioners’ sugar when serving.
How Do You Make Matcha Cake?
This healthy alternative is made from all natural ingredients.
You can customize it so that it suits your personal preferences.
For example, if you want a sweeter version, add sugar instead of honey.
The key to making any type of cake is to use quality ingredients.
If you want to get the most out of your recipe, choose high-quality flour, eggs, butter, milk, and other baking essentials.
It may take some trial and error to find exactly which mix works best with your particular brand of matcha powder, but once you master the process, you’ll wonder why you ever ate store bought cakes in the first place.
Once these basics are covered, you can start mixing up the batter.
Once everything comes together, bake away!
Let us show you how to make a simple yet impressive matcha cake recipe.
What Are The Ingredients For Matcha Cake?
While there are many different types of cakes on the market today, most require eggs, oil, sugar, flour, and other common baking ingredients.
Matcha cake uses all these items, but it also includes one special ingredient — matcha powder.
This ingredient gives the cake its unique flavor and makes it much more nutritious than traditional baked goods.
You can find matcha powder in grocery stores, health food markets, coffee shops, bookstores, and online retailers.
It comes in various flavors such as white chocolate, vanilla bean, lavender, honeydew melon, mango, lemon, strawberry, orange, and others.
Some brands include caffeine while others don’t contain any stimulants at all.
You should always check the label when purchasing matcha powder so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
If you want to try making matcha cake at home without buying a bag of powder, see our homemade matcha tea recipe instead.
How Do You Prepare Matcha Cake?
To start making a batch of matcha cake all you need is a few simple ingredients including matcha powder, eggs, baking soda, vanilla extract, milk, butter and flour.
- Mix together the dry ingredients such as matcha powder and baking soda.
- You can use either regular or gluten free flour if needed.
- In another bowl, mix up the wet ingredients including the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and milk.
- Fold the two mixtures together until they form a batter.
- Pour the mixture into a greased and floured pan (we recommend parchment paper).
- Make sure not to over fill it because the cakes will expand when baked.
- Bake the cake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting or decorating.
What Is The Cooking Time For Matcha Cake?
This matcha cake recipe can be made in under an hour.
However, there are many factors that affect baking times such as oven temperature, humidity levels, and more.
For example, if you live somewhere where the weather is very cold, then baking times may need to be adjusted slightly.
The best way to find out what your final baking time should look like is by preheating your oven to its recommended temperature (usually 350℉).
Then, place your loaf pan inside and wait until it registers 165℉ on an instant read thermometer.
Once the temperatures reach their respective mark, remove the loaf pan from the oven and allow it to cool completely before removing the cake from the pan.
This step helps reduce any moisture loss while baking.
How Long Does It Take To Bake Matcha Cake?
This traditional Japanese dessert takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, including baking time.
You can use an electric oven (conventional ovens may also work) but if you want to get the most out of your matcha cake, try using a convection oven instead.
It cooks faster than standard models, so you won’t need to wait too long between steps.
What Is The Nutritional Value Of Matcha Cake?
The key to any good baked goods is quality ingredients.
When baking, it’s important to use fresh ingredients so they retain their natural properties.
Matcha provides an incredible boost to the overall healthiness of this vegan cake thanks to its high levels of antioxidants and vitamins.
These powerful compounds help improve digestion, prevent disease, increase energy, and reduce stress.
A single serving of matcha contains about 1.5 grams of protein per 3 tablespoons (45 ml), which helps promote muscle growth while also giving you more sustained energy throughout the day.
Furthermore, matcha contains polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
Polyphenols can strengthen bones, protect against cardiovascular diseases, and aid in weight loss by increasing metabolic rate.
So when you add these beneficial nutrients into one delicious cake, you get a powerhouse of healthy goodness.
What Are The Benefits Of Eating Matcha Cake?
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about matcha cake may be its health benefits.
Matcha contains antioxidants and other compounds that help it fight off disease.
When compared to regular teas, matcha actually has more antioxidant activity than black tea.
In fact, matcha has 20 times more antioxidants than green tea!
1. It Helps You Lose Weight
Eating matcha can have many different effects on weight loss.
For starters, it helps boost energy levels while helping burn fat.
That means if you’ve struggled to get rid of stubborn belly fat, then matcha might be just what you need to start losing some pounds.
Another benefit of drinking matcha is that it also helps reduce stress, which often leads to overeating.
If you struggle with anxiety, depression, or any kind of mental illness, then drinking matcha regularly can really help.
2. It Can Help With Blood Pressure And Cholesterol Levels
Regularly drinking matcha can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels by increasing nitric oxide production.
Nitric oxide increases circulation throughout the body, which improves cardiovascular function.
As a result, your heart rate decreases, meaning you can keep exercising longer without getting tired.
In addition to these beneficial effects on heart health, matcha can improve insulin sensitivity, which reduces diabetes risk factors like high glucose levels and increased inflammation.
3. It Has Anti-Cancer Properties
Research shows that matcha can fight cancer cells through multiple mechanisms.
First, it kills tumors directly because it is so concentrated in phytochemicals called polyphenols.
Polyphenols work to kill tumor cells by turning them into apoptosis (cell death).
Second, matcha can inhibit the growth of tumor cells by stopping DNA synthesis.
Lastly, matcha stimulates immune system defenses against cancerous cells.
Is Matcha Cake Healthy For You?
The short answer is yes – although it might not contain any extra sugar or fat compared to other cakes, that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of goodness packed into each bite.
In fact, many people enjoy matcha because it helps them get their daily dose of antioxidants and vitamins without actually having to eat an entire pot of vegetables (which can get boring).
It also contains L-theanine, which provides relaxing effects on the body and brain when consumed regularly.
If you want to learn more about the health benefits of matcha, check out these articles:
- How Does Matcha Tea Work?
- Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea & Matcha
- Benefits Of Matcha For Weight Loss
- Green Tea Health Benefits and How To Use Them
- 8 Amazing Things You Can Do With Matcha Powder
- 10 Ways To Get More Antioxidants Into Your Diet
- Matcha Green Tea And Its Many Uses
Equipment
- Round Cake Pans – 6 inch
- Cake Leveler Attachment
Ingredients
- ⅞ cup cake flour
- 2 Tablespoons matcha powder
- ⅞ cup white sugar divided
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar optional
- 6 eggs whites and yolks separated
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar (if using) until foamy. Then, add 13 of the sugar and beat on high until firm peaks form. When lifting the whisk, look for a slight drop in the tip. Place aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks, the remaining 23 teaspoon sugar, salt, water, honey, and vanilla extract. When lifting the whisk, fluffy pale yellow ribbons will form. The ribbon should be held in place for 3 to 4 seconds. Fold in half of the egg whites to the egg yolk mixture gently.
- Prepare the batter: In three parts, sift the flour, matcha powder, and baking powder into the egg yolk mixture, gently folding after each time. Matcha powder must be sifted because it clumps easily. After that, add the vegetable oil.
- Fold in the remaining 12 egg whites gently until well combined, taking care not to deflate the batter.
- Line two 6″ cake pans with parchment paper on all sides and the bottom. Pour in the batter and whack the pan twice to get rid of any large air bubbles. Bake for 27 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the crust is golden brown with a raised center.
- Before slicing, remove all of the parchment paper and cool completely on a cooling rack. For even slices, use a cake leveler. Make a layered cake or serve with whipped cream and fruit. Enjoy!
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My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.