green tea cupcakesSt. Patrick's Day is definitely one of my favorite holidays, but I do have one complaint: There's not enough dessert. Holidays are supposed to be all about sugar! Cookies, cakes, pies, candy ... Irish soda bread is great, but there's no chocolate or frosting or marshmallows involved.

Luckily, you can serve just about anything on St. Paddy's Day as long as it's green -- like these Green Tea Cupcakes!

They'll fit right in with all the shamrocks and leprechauns, and the flavor complements a pint of Guinness surprisingly well.

Green Tea Cupcakes

Ingredients

Green Tea Cupcakes:

  • 2 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons matcha (green tea) powder
  • 2 teaspoons almond extract
  • 2 eggs

More from The Stir: Guinness Ice Cream Recipes for St. Patrick's Day

Green Tea Buttercream Frosting:

  • 1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon matcha (green tea) powder

Directions

For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with 24 cupcake liners.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until thoroughly blended.

Whisk together the milk and oil, and add to the dry ingredients. Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Add the matcha powder, almond extract, and eggs and beat again for 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour the batter into the pans, filling three-quarters of the way full. Bake until cakes test done, about 15 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool completely.

For the buttercream: Place the butter in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Add one-third of the sugar and blend well. Add in the remaining sugar one-third at a time, blending well between each addition. Add in the milk and matcha powder and beat until light and fluffy.