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 ⅔ 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 ⅔ 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.
Monica
What a fun way to dress up a cake mix! The color is so vibrant, and I could see these being absolutely perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or a watch party for any game day for your favorite “green” team.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree the green theme in these matcha cupcakes is perfect in so many ways.
Gillian Thompson
As you know i’m a big fan of matcha cup cakes too.. Yours look so pretty with their two tone frosting. I’d say I enjoy baking more than cooking slightly because I have to cook a lot whether I feel like it or not, but baking I do to relax and enjoy, My bakes don’t always turn out perfect mind and it often reflect a state of mind. Don’t bake if you’re stressed or in a hurry!!! 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Well for some reason baking can put me in a state of “stress”. Especially if I am making a special cake or dessert…I want it to be perfect. Thank goodness I have found ways to fix imperfections…and I know the pros do too.
Sasha @ Eat Love Eat
This flavour combination looks great! Perfect for St Patricks Day.
Homemade & Yummy
They were fun to make…and did not last long in our house.
Kristen R.
I love the combo of mint and macha powder in this cupcake recipe! Really interesting idea, and they looks beautiful!
Homemade & Yummy
They sure did not last long in my house.
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
Love this flavor combo – and your decorations are adorable!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks….they were fun to make and did not last long here.
Marla Meridith
So fun for Easter and St Patricks Day!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes they do work well for both!!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
Loving the green tea flavor in this cupcakes. How creative!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you give them a try.
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed
I like the idea of almost from scratch recipes, we certainly need a rest from time to time and this is the perfect solution. Your green tea cupcakes look so pretty, I bet the matcha powder adds a lovely flavour.
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much….yes the tea does add a nice flavour….and I cannot wait for spring.
Natalie | Natalie's Food & Health
We all need a break from time to time, so I totally understand you 😉 You made this cupcakes look absolutely amazing Gloria. I love the colour and addition of matcha tea. Buttercream looks so delicious, adorable and cute. This cupcakes are perfect for St.Patric’s Day … and spring-welcome party! Sharing this off course!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much….they were a little bit of fun in the kitchen.
Manju | Cooking Curries
I love how you naturally colored it wtih the matcha. Looks delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
Matcha is in the cupcakes…gel colour in the frosting.
Molly Kumar
What a great roundup of green recipes and I’m so loving the Vanilla Green Tea Cupcakes. The double icing look so nice and perfect for St. Patricks.
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. It is in the anticipation of nice spring weather for sure.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
The color of the cupcake is just beautiful and I love the flavor of the green tea. I like that you used the store bought cake mix as it makes the job much easier.
Homemade & Yummy
Well we all need break sometimes….and you can still say it’s homemade!!
Hanady Awada | Recipe Nomad
I love your almost from scratch philosophy! Great way to add some color and style to a box mix! Recipe saved!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much….hope you give these a try.
Donna
I am with you – my slow cooker definitely comes out on the days when I NEED a break!! Definitely my magician in the kitchen 🙂 These cupcakes are the perfect little treat for St Patrick’s Day!!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. My family had no problem eating these treats!!
swathi
Love this green tea cupcakes , I am in search of good matcha tea powder, which brand you used., then I will give it try great for St.Patty treats.
Homemade & Yummy
I used Organic Traditions green tea powder.