Matcha and white chocolate cupcakes

Once again Catty, our matcha chef extraordinaire, has surpassed herself with this delcious recipe. Better still, matcha boosts your metabolism by 30-40% so you can have as many of these bad boys as you like without feeling a spot of guilt about maintaing a perfect bikini bod.

Matcha and white chocolate cupcakes
Cupcake:
120 grams plain flour
140 grams caster sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
40 grams unsalted butter at room temperature
120mL whole milk
1 egg
2 1/2 teaspoon matcha powder
70 grams white chocolate, chopped up

Cream cheese frosting:
300 grams icing sugar, sifted
50 grams unsalted butter at room temperature
125 grams cream cheese, cold

Matcha chocolate topping (totally optional):
100 grams white chocolate
1 teaspoon matcha powder

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F.
2. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder and butter in a bowl and beat on low speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined.
3. Gradually pour in the milk and beat until just incorporated.
4. Add the egg to the flour mixture and continue beating until just incorporated.
5. Add matcha powder and continue mixing for a couple of minutes until the mixture is smooth.
6. Stir in white choc, leaving a little bit to sprinkle on top.
7. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until 2/3 full then sprinkle remaining white choc on top.
8. Bake in pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the sponge bounces back when touched. A skewer inserted should come out clean. Leave to cool before frosting.
9. For the frosting, beat the icing sugar and butter together with an electric mixer. on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.
10. Add the cream cheese in one go and beat until it is completely incorporated. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed.
11. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Do not overbeat, as it can quickly become runny.
12. Spread evenly on top of cupcakes and let set.
13. For the matcha chocolate topping, melt 100 grams of white chocolate in a bowl over a simmering pot of water. When the chocolate is dissolved, stir in matcha powder. Spread on cupcakes immediately and let set.

Makes 12-15 cupcakes.