A Little Something Green for St. Paddy’s Day

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~ Irish Blessing

I love baking for holidays, as it’s a great excuse to bake something that I might not try otherwise and to bake with a theme. This is why I found myself pulling out a recipe for Green Tea Cupcakes to bake for St. Patrick’s Day. To be honest, I probably would have baked these eventually, as I love green tea, but the upcoming “green” holiday provided the perfect excuse to make them right away.

These cupcakes are infused with Matcha, which is a fine, green tea powder used in Japanese tea ceremonies. You should be able to find it at any tea store. If you’re unsure about spending the money on a full tin, check to see if you can buy it in smaller amounts. I was able to find a 2oz. bag of Matcha and I still have plenty of tea left over. As soon as I started to mix the Matcha with the rest of the batter, it immediately turned a gorgeous, light green. It also creates a rich, green tea taste. Something to keep in mind while you’re mixing the batter: these cupcakes are dense, not soft, as cupcakes typically are. After I put the cupcakes in the oven I checked the reviews on the recipe and saw that others had mentioned this as well. It answered the questions that I had while mixing the batter!

The cupcakes were a hit with my family. My niece scarfed hers down. Even my nephew enjoyed part of it, declaring the frosting “really good” and licking it all off.

What’s your favorite “green” treat?