Matcha Cake Food

MATCHA MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease two 20cm cake tins (one should be at least 8cm deep) with oil, and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Tip the egg yolks, caster sugar and vanilla into a large bowl, and the egg whites into a second large bowl. Combine the flour, almonds and 1 /4 tsp salt in a third bowl.
• Using an electric hand whisk, beat the egg whites until doubled in size and holding soft peaks. Transfer the beaters to the egg yolk bowl (no need to clean the beaters first) and whisk until the mixture is thick and pale. Lift the beaters and drizzle the mixture around the bowl - a ribbon should sit on the surface for 2-3 secs.
• With a large metal spoon, transfer a spoonful of egg white to the yolks, and mix to loosen the consistency. Add the remaining whites and gently fold into the yolks, trying to retain as much volume as possible. Stop before the mixture is totally combined. Sprinkle the flour and almond mixture evenly over the surface, then drizzle the cooled butter around the edge of the bowl. Fold everything together until just combined, making sure you scoop the spoon right down to the bottom of the bowl to catch the butter and any pockets of flour. Divide the mixture between the cake tins, level the surfaces, then bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 22-25 mins. Test the cakes are done by inserting a skewer into the centre - it should come out clean. Cool in their tins on a wire rack for 30 mins, then remove the tins and parchment, and leave to cool completely.
• Boil the kettle. Put the gelatine in a bowl of cold water and set aside to soften. Pour 150ml cream and 50ml hot water into a saucepan. Add the matcha powder and whisk over a gentle heat until well combined and steaming. Remove from the heat. Squeeze the water from the gelatine leaves and add them, one by one, to the hot matcha cream, whisking until they're dissolved. Pour the warm cream into a bowl and put in the fridge to cool to room temperature - don't leave it too long or the gelatine will set.
• Line the deepest of your 20cm cake tins with a double layer of cling film, ensuring the sides are well covered. Put one of the sponges in the tin, flattest-side down. Pour the remaining 450ml cream into a bowl and add the icing sugar. Whip until the cream is holding soft peaks, then fold through the cooled matcha cream. Scrape the cream into the cake tin and level the surface. Put the remaining sponge on top, flattest-side facing up, pushing the sponge gently into the cream. Wrap the tin in cling film and chill for at least 4 hrs.
• Put the cream, chocolate and matcha powder in a saucepan and heat very gently, stirring until the chocolate has melted and the matcha is well mixed in. Set aside to cool and thicken for 10 mins. Remove the cake from the fridge and unwrap the tin. Invert the cake onto a cake stand or plate and remove from the tin and the cling film. Using a palette knife held at a 90-degree angle to the side of the cake, scrape around the edge to remove any excess mousse and give the cake a smooth finish. Using baking parchment, create a tight collar, sitting about 2cm taller than the cake. Pour the cooled chocolate glaze over the top, smoothing it to the edge - the collar should prevent it from dribbling down the sides. Chill for 30 mins more, or for up to 24 hrs.
• Carefully pull off the parchment collar. Hold a chopping board (or another object with a straight edge) over half the cake and dust the exposed surface with icing sugar. Arrange fresh cherries and cherry blossom or another edible flower on top, if you like, and serve immediately.

MATCHA GREEN TEA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch baking dish.
• Combine eggs, 2 egg whites, and 3/4 cup egg whites in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until thick and doubled in volume. Add ingredients one at a time, beating 15 to 30 seconds after each addition, in the following order: sugar, honey, flour, baking powder, matcha, vanilla extract, butter, and buttermilk. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes.

MATCHA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line and grease three 6-inch cake pans with parchment rounds.
• Add the unsalted butter and granulated sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on a high speed with a whisk attachment for a few minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula. The mixture will become lighter in color as air is whipped into it.
• Add the egg whites, and mix at a medium speed until they're incorporated.
• Sift the dry ingredients (cake flour, baking powder, matcha powder, and salt) into a separate bowl.
• Add half of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, and mix on a low speed until just incorporated.
• Add the sour cream, oil and vanilla extract. Mix at a low speed until combined, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed!
• Mix in the remaining dry ingredients on a low speed.
• Divide batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. I like to use a digital kitchen scale to weigh my pans, to make sure my layers will be the same height.
• Bake for 34-37 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Rotate pans halfway through to help them bake evenly.
• Allow the pans to cool for 10 minutes, then run an offset spatula around the perimeter of the pan to separate the cake from the pan.
• Place cake layers into the freezer for 45 minutes, to accelerate the cooling process. Once the layers are fully cooled, carefully flip the pans and remove the layers from the pans.
• Use a serrated knife to level the tops, and trim the sides to remove any caramelization.
• While the cake layers bake and cool, make the fluffy buttercream frosting.
• Place the room temperature pasteurized egg whites and powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl if you plan to make it with a hand mixer).
• Mix on a low speed to combine.
• Once incorporated, mix on medium high with a whisk attachment for 5 minutes until stiff peaks have formed.
• Swap the whisk attachment for a paddle attachment. This will help make your buttercream be smooth once it's fully made.
• Mix in pieces of room temperature butter on a low speed in 2 additions.
• Once the butter is incorporated, mix on medium speed for an additional 5 minutes.
• Add in 1 Tbsp of vanilla extract and 1/2 tsp of salt. Mix until the buttercream is fluffy and smooth.
• If your frosting breaks in the beginning when you add the butter, don't worry! Just keep mixing it, and it should come together in a few minutes.
• Stir for an additional few minutes by hand with a rubber spatula to get it silky smooth. Set aside.
• While the cake chills with its second coat of frosting, make the matcha white chocolate ganache.
• Heat heavy cream in a heat proof bowl in the microwave for 45 seconds, until it's just beginning to bubble.
• Gently pour white chocolate chips into the heavy cream, making sure they are fully covered with cream. Allow the mixture to sit for 1 minute.
• Stir slowly until the cream and white chocolate are combined. Some bits of chocolate may not be fully melted yet. Heat the mixture again for 20 seconds, and stir.
• Repeat as necessary until all the white chocolate bits are fully melted and incorporated.
• Mix in the matcha powder. Let the mixture cool until desired viscosity is reached (barely warm to the touch).
• If it seems too thin or thick, you can add a touch more chocolate chips or heavy cream! The type of cream and white chocolate that you use can affect the consistency, so feel free to adjust as needed.
• Stack and frost cake layers on a greaseproof cake board, using a dab of frosting to help stick the first cake layer to the board.
• Add an even layer of buttercream on top of the first cake layer. Stack and frost remaining cake layers.
• Spread a thin coat of frosting around the cake, to fully cover the cake layers.
• Smooth using a bench scraper, then chill the cake in the fridge (30 minutes) or freezer (10 minutes) until the frosting is firm to the touch.
• Add a second, thicker layer of buttercream frosting to the cake, and chill the cake again in the fridge (20 minutes) or freezer (5 minutes) until the frosting is firm to the touch.
• Use a spoon to add the ganache drips around the cake with the white chocolate matcha ganache.
• Place the remaining frosting into a small piping bag fit with an Ateco 869 frosting tip. Pipe dollops around the top of the cake, and dust with an extra bit of matcha powder.

GREEN TEA CHIFFON CAKE

Steps:

• Gather all the ingredients and preheat the oven to 340ºF (170ºC). For a convection oven, reduce cooking temperature by 25ºF (15ºC). You will also need a 17cm (7") chiffon cake pan. Make sure you use the correct chiffon cake pan. The best types are the aluminum ones with a removable base (Do not use non-stick bakeware for chiffon cake - it will not work). Do not grease the mold because the cake needs to cling on the sides and center of the pan for support as it rises or it will collapse.
• In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks and add ⅓ of the sugar. Then add oil and water and whisk all together till combined.
• Sift cake flour, matcha, and baking powder together and add to the egg yolk mixture in 3 separate times. Whisk until totally incorporated and make sure there are no lumps.
• Using a stand mixer, whip the egg whites on medium low speed (speed 4) till opaque and foamy and bubbly.
• Add ⅓ of the remaining sugar and continue whipping. After 30 seconds or so, increase the stand mixer speed to high (speed 10) and add the remaining sugar slowly in small increments. It takes about 2 minutes (since you changed the speed to speed 10) until stiff peaks form.
• To check on stiff peaks, pull up your whisk and see if the egg whites go straight up (stiff peak) and just the tip is soft enough that it folds over, like taking a bow.
• Add ⅓ of the beaten egg whites into the flour mixture using a spatula until the mixture is homogeneous.
• Fold in the rest of the egg whites in 2-3 increments and mix gently but quickly until the mixture is homogeneous.
• Pour the mixture into the ungreased 17cm (7") chiffon cake pan. Tap the pan a few times on the kitchen countertop to release the air bubbles.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• The cake must be cooled upside down; stick the pan on a tall heavy bottle, leave until cake is completely cool before removing it from the pan.
• Use a thin sharp knife or thin offset spatula and run it around the cake.
• Place the serving plate on top and flip over. The cake will pop out easily. Enjoy!

MATCHA TEA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a cake mold.
• Mix the flour and the green tea powder.
• In a separate bowl, blend butter and sugar with your hands until fluffy. Then add the flour + green tea little by little.
• Add the eggs.
• Blend well until mixture is completely smooth.
• Pour dough into mold and bake for about 35 minutes or until edges start to be golden and tip of knife inserted comes out dry.

MATCHA ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.
• Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Combine the butter, cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the matcha, almond extract and vanilla. Gently stir in the flour mixture with a wooden spoon until it's just incorporated, being careful not to overmix.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the almonds evenly over the top, if desired. You can put as many or as few of the almonds as you like or none at all! I think it adds a wonderful crunch to the top of the cake.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 40 to 55 minutes.
• Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack. Meanwhile, quickly put together the glaze while the cake is still pretty hot.
• For the glaze: Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and almond extract in a small bowl. Whisk in some water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is smooth and loose. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake with a spoon and brush the sides using a pastry brush. Cool until the glaze creates nice sugary crust on the outside.
• Enjoy!

GREEN TEA (MATCHA) CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease the bottom and the sides of two 20-cm diameter with melted butter. Cover the bottom and sides of both pans with parchment paper, and grease the parchment papers once again with melted butter. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until well combined and soft. Add in the egg yolks and continue mixing using the electric mixer until well combined and creamy.
• In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and matcha powder using a whisk. Pass the mixture through a sieve to make it uniform. Add the flour mixture into the butter-sugar-egg yolk mixture 1-2 tablespoons at a time and fold using a rubber spatula until they are well combined. If the batter is too dry to fold, add a couple of tablespoons of milk to moisten it up.
• In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites using an electric mixer until it reaches soft peaks. Add the egg whites 1/3 at a time into the cake batter and fold gently using a rubber spatula.
• Pour half of the cake batter into one baking pan, and the other half into the other baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes. To check, stick a toothpick in the middle of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, then the cake is ready. When the cakes are baked, remove immediately from the pans and let cool at room temperature.
• To make the white chocolate frosting, mix together the butter, confectioner's sugar, melted white chocolate, salt, and milk in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer until well combined and creamy. Refrigerate if it's not being used immediately.
• To assemble the cake, place one cake layer on a flat surface and spread the frosting on top. Place another cake layer on top of the frosting. Finish by covering the top and sides with frosting. Top with matcha powder.