Matcha Chocolate Cupcakes

A packet of matcha which i bought has been lying in my food cabinet for quite some time. What can i do with it ? Pancakes ? Cookies or Cakes ? After surfing through the internet, i got an idea to make chocolate cupcakes with matcha cream cheese frosting.

Chocolate Cupcakes
(Adapted from Williams – Sonoma)

Ingredients: 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 ½ Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 Tsp baking powder
1/4 Tsp salt
3oz or 84 grams bittersweet chocolate,chopped
11 Tbs, unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs sugar
3 eggs, at room temperature
1Tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1) Preheat an oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper or foil liners.

2) In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Place the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl and set over but not touching simmering water in a saucepan. Stir frequently until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from saucepan and let the chocolate mixture cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.

3) Stir the sugar into the chocolate mixture until combined. Stir in the eggs on at a time, beating until combined after each addition, then beat in the vanilla. Gently fold in the flour mixture just until no traces of flour remain; do not over mix.

4) Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-fourths full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 22 to 24 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Then transfer the cupcakes to the rack and let cool completely.

5) When the cupcakes are completely cool, ice with matcha cream cheese frosting and decorate with fresh strawberry.

Matcha Cream Cheese Frosting

350g cream cheese
60g unsalted butter, at room temperature
100g icing sugar,sifted
2 ½ tsp matcha powder
Few drops of food colouring (optional)

1) In a large mixing bowl beat butter and cheese at medium speed until smooth.

2) Add half of the icing sugar, 2 1/2 teaspoon of matcha powder and beat until combined.

3) Gradually add remainder of the icing sugar until you get to the consistency and sweetness you like.

4) If you want to colour your frosting, always start with one drop of colouring and beat thoroughly. Add carefully, drop by drop, and beat after each addition until you get your desired colour.

The combination of flavours and colours were very well cooperated. Yum !