Need to make dessert, but don’t have a lot of time? These Easy Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes are just what you need. The perfect blend of sweetness and earthy goodness. A unique and flavourful dessert.
Matcha green tea powder is the secret ingredient in these pretty tea cupcakes. The mint-flavoured frosting just happens to pair perfectly too.
Everyone loves dessert. Sometimes made from scratch isn’t an option, especially if you don’t like to bake. These matcha cupcakes are made with a cake mix. Easy, simple and always delicious.
I love adding flavours of tea to recipes. Chia cupcakes are perfect with a latte. Mint tea works great in this watermelon cooler on hot summer days. Homemade lemon tea popsicles with blackberries are a great summer treat.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these green cupcakes can be found at the bottom of this post.
Ingredients For Green Tea Cupcakes
- vanilla
- boxed white cake mix
- matcha green tea powder
- icing sugar
- butter
- mint flavouring or some mint simple syrup
- green food colouring
Easy Matcha Cupcakes From A Box
No one will ever know you didn’t bake these cupcakes from scratch. Full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Prepare a muffin tin with liners and preheat the oven.
- Mix the cake mix according to the package directions.
- Add in the matcha green tea powder and additional vanilla.
- Fill the liners â…” full with batter and bake.
- Remove when done and allow to cool before frosting.
- Make the buttercream according to the recipe below.
- Add the green food colouring.
- Place frosting in a piping bag and have fun.
Suggestions/Recipe Tips
For decorating, I used a 1M and #32 tip to create cute spring-like flowers on top of these pretty cupcakes. You can make the frosting any colour you like. Change the flavouring too.
Vanilla cake mix or just a white cake mix is best if you want to see the green colour in the cupcakes.
You and use mint flavouring, or try adding some spearmint simple syrup instead.
Cupcakes will keep for 3-4 days in a sealed container. You can freeze unfrosted baked cupcakes for several months. When needed, defrost and top with buttercream frosting.
FAQ’s
Both are made from the same plant, but the cultivation and process are different.
Most green tea comes from China and is grown in the sun. Matcha comes from tencha leaves grown in Japan. The tea is shade grown in the final weeks before harvesting.
It has a sweet grassy flavour. Perfect for lattes, added to oatmeal, soups, hummus and of course baked goods.
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Here are a few more cupcakes to try:
- Sesame Street Cupcakes are a hit at any child’s birthday party.
- Love the flavour of Reese’s? You will want to make these filled cupcakes.
- These pretty purple Ube cupcakes are perfect for any celebration.
Vanilla Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 store bought cake mix (I used a White Cake Mix)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 teaspoons matcha green tea powder
For the Buttercream:
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- ½ teaspoons salt
- 5 cups icing sugar (sifted)
- ⅛ teaspoons mint flavouring
- milk (thin to desired consistency)
- green gel colouring (enough to achieve desired colour)
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to box directions. Line a muffin tin with liners.
To make the Cupcakes:
- Mix cake mix according to package directions.
- Add the vanilla and mix.
- Add the matcha green tea and mix well.
- Fill muffin liners â…” full with batter.
- Bake according to package directions. Test with cake tester. When done, remove from oven. Let cool for a few minutes, then transfer cupcakes to cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.
For the Buttercream:
- Using a stand mixed, cream the butter and salt until fluffy.
- Start adding the sifted icing sugar, about 1 cup at a time. Blend well each time.
- Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency of frosting.
- If you are going to make different coloured icing, divide buttercream into bowls. For this recipe I just removed some of the buttercream into a bowl, since I was using both white and green for the colours.
- Tint the buttercream to the desired colour.
- Place your desired tips onto piping bags, and fill the bags with buttercream.
- Pipe frosting.
Kylee
What a cute idea for St Patrick’s Day! I love the green – super festive.
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery
These are so beautiful and perfectly springy! I love that the color reflects the green tea flavor and isn’t just decoration. 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
We are certainly looking forward to spring.
Sarah @ The Fit Cookie
What a cute cupcake idea! The flowers on top are perfect for Spring 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks Sarah….they were fun to make.
Megan Marlowe
I am always looking for ways to use the matcha that I bought. I had plans to make matcha tea lattes on the daily and that just hasn’t worked out. I can’t wait to use it with these deliciously sweet cupcakes. And I know my kids will eat them because they’ve never turned down a cupcake!
Homemade & Yummy
I know my grandkids loved them….along with my husband.
Byron Thomas
Gloria, these cupcakes look so cute! I”m such a huge fan of green tea, so I’m loving the flavour profile. And, they are so festive; perfect for St. Patty’s Day!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks Byron…just something fun and easy for a change is great.
Kirsten @ Treat Yourself Sweeter
Loving it… I love the idea of the matcha, I love the idea of having the option of quick, box cupcakes for those days your short on time or … just feeling like you wanna cheat 😉 You are having a mild winter? We are having a milder summer over here too… I had on long sleeve top and pants the other day…. not that I am complaining, I am ready for the leaves to change colour 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
The weather is weird all over the place. Green tea works well in so many things. “Cheat” recipes are fun…and you can still say homemade too.
Elizabeth
What a great little trick! Cake mixes are good fun when baking with kids too, I find. Definitely less messy. 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Yes that is true. An easy way to say homemade and get away with it.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife
I am definitely looking forward to spring! These cupcakes look so festive and fun!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes fun to make and pretty to look at.
Christine McMichael
These look heavenly! Love that they involve green tea. Perfect for St. Patty’s day!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…love the GREEN they represent.
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade
What a great treat for St. Patrick’s Day! I like baking from scratch, but sometimes the box is necessary…and works just as well.
Homemade & Yummy
Everyone needs a break now and again.
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
These cupcakes are so pretty and perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. I like how you used the semi homemade approach since sometimes it’s nice to have a little break in the kitchen.
Homemade & Yummy
Sometimes we are strapped for time…and still want to make a statement.
Gillian Thompson
I just made matcha cupcakes, what a coincidence! I love how matcha naturally colours the cakes so beautifully. You’re look delightful I’m going to ice mine tomorrow. x
Homemade & Yummy
It is a fun ingredient to work with, and totally delicious.
Marie-Pierre Breton
Just got myself my first matcha kit… so far I only did a matcha latte and want to experiment more with it! This is the perfect recipe for it! Thanks a lot for sharing they look divine those little green cupcakes!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. Such a fun ingredient to work with.
amy
I’m right there with you – there is definitely a time and a place for boxed cake mixes. I love how big an impact these have with very little extra effort!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…sometimes we all need a break!!
Fred
Thanks for introducing me to Matcha green tea mix, I’ll get it the next time I go grocery shopping. I do love the design of your caupcakes and they look yummy.
Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome Fred. You can get it at any health food store….or online. The cupcakes were a hit with my grandchildren.