This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
A light, airy, green tea cake that has the best matcha frosting! This matcha vanilla cake will delight and surprise.
A green cake, a day late! But, St. Patrick’s Day is not actually the reason I made this cake. Today happens to be my Dad’s birthday! Or, what would have been his 63rd birthday. My Dad passed nearly 7 years ago, but I still make a cake every year to celebrate.
Last year’s cake was this lovely lemon cake – it was SO pretty and so luscious. If you need a spring-themed cake, I highly recommend it! Obviously, I highly recommend this cake too – if you like the taste of green tea, that is! I love it. My matcha no churn ice cream is still one of my favourites!
It’s a little funny that I’m celebrating my Dad’s birthday with a green tea cake, because I’m pretty sure he would have been fairly skeptical of it. Dad liked most sweet things (like Father, like daughter ;)) so I’m sure he would have come around after the first bite!
As much as I miss him, and as tragic as his death was, I have so many good memories of my Dad. You know when someone laughs so hard that they can’t breathe, no real sound is coming out, and their whole body is shaking in laughter? That was my Dad, when he heard something really funny or was trying to tell a funny joke that he just couldn’t get through without practically crying in laughter. This is how I like to remember him!
My Dad died by suicide, and I as write these words I cringe a little. It is very hard for me to talk about, but I am trying to do my best to make sure that we CAN talk about these things. I am trying to help change the stigma. The way my Dad died should not define his life. He was my favorite person in the whole world, and I will continue to remember and honor him as much as possible.
Thank you for reading this and sharing along with my journey!
So…should we talk about the cake!?
What goes into a matcha vanilla cake?
I am so happy with how the cake turned out. I like to use buttermilk in a lot of my cake recipes, as it helps to add just the right amount of fluffiness! I’m a big fan of buttermilk in general – I pretty much always use buttermilk for my pancakes, including these whole wheat blueberry buttermilk pancakes!
Along with buttermilk, using oil and 3 whole eggs ensures a nice, moist, cake. That’s right, I said it. MOIST.
To get that vanilla flavor in the cake, I strongly recommend you use vanilla bean paste. This is the one
How you make matcha frosting?
For the frosting, I like to use half vanilla and half matcha flavour. I use the vanilla buttercream in between the layers and cover the outside of the cake in matcha buttercream. Just writing these words is making me want to bake another cake and double the frosting. It’s so good!!!!
Oh, last note. I bake the cake in 2 cake pans, but I cut each cake in 2, to make a total of 4 layers. I like the way this looks, but you can definitely just keep it as 2 layers!
Hopefully you all had a festive St. Patrick’s Day weekend – and you don’t mind this little bit of extra green coming at ya!
I love matcha! If you do too, you’ve GOT to try my no-churn matcha ice cream. It’s terrific.
You might also like some of these other cake recipes from the blog:
Print
Matcha Vanilla Cake
- Total Time: 1 hours 60 minutes
- Yield: 1 cake 1x
Description
A light, airy, green tea cake that has the best matcha frosting! This matcha vanilla cake will delight and surprise!
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp matcha powder*
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup oil (grapeseed, canola)
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract)
- pinch salt
- 2 tsp matcha powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F, grease and lightly flour two 9″ cake pans. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and matcha powder. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until creamed together, and smooth (about 3-4 minutes). Add the oil, and mix together for another couple of minutes. With the mixer running on low, add the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla bean paste. Scrape down the mixing bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary. With the mixer still on low, add half of the flour mixture to the batter, followed by the buttermilk, then the remaining flour mixture. Mix just until there is no more flour visible.
- Pour the batter into the two pans, using a scale if necessary to ensure they’re evenly distributed. Bake the cakes until done, about 25 minutes; check to see if they’re done by inserting a toothpick in the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, remove the cakes from the oven. If not, bake for an additional couple of minutes. Cool the cakes in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare the buttercream. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium until light and fluffy. Add half of the powdered sugar, followed by half of the cream, all of the vanilla bean paste and salt. Add the remaining powdered sugar and heavy cream. Remove half of the frosting to another bowl. Add the matcha powder to the remaining frosting in the mixing bowl and mix on high until thoroughly combined.
- Assemble and frost the cake by placing one layer on a cake stand or cake circle, adding a layer of vanilla frosting, and placing the second layer on top. Use the remaining vanilla frosting to lightly coat the entire cake (this is your crumb coat). Ice and decorate the rest of the cake with the matcha frosting!
Cake will keep well at room temperature for 3-4 days. Leftovers can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Cake layers may also be prepared in advance and frozen for up to 2 months.
Notes
- I buy my matcha powder at Bulk Barn.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: cakes
- Method: oven bake
This cake is absolutely stunning Katherine and a lovely tribute to your father. I am so sorry for your loss, but you’re right, the way he died will definitely not define his life. That is clear in the beautiful and happy memories you have of him. Thank you for sharing those with us.
Thank you Leanne, I really appreciate that. I have so many good memories of my Dad! I hope you’re having a wonderful week, my friend.
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. They say time heals. Honestly I disagree with that statement – that’s not the time itself but how you face different events which ain’t (Sadly) always positive. And I also think this vulnerable post is a good way to deal with your loss. Needless to say, that’s a spectacular cake – love how elegant it looks.
I know exactly what you mean, Ben. It’s all about perspective, right? I appreciate your words, Ben! I do feel like a weight has been lifted by sharing my story. Thanks Ben!!
Your dad is so proud of this cake (from above) and you should be to. What a gorgeous cake! I think its so nice that you celebrate in his honor. I do things like that to, makes that special day not so lonely without our loved ones. Take care! 🙂
Aw, thank you Stacey. I like to think he is looking down on me and my baking, too! It’s nice to hear you do things like this too. Cheers, my dear friend!
Katherine, so sorry for your tragic loss. What a beautiful way of remembering your father and sharing the wonderful memories of his life with us. So proud of your strength and courage in opening up and knocking down the social stigma. And what a lovely way to celebrate his birthday – so gorgeous! Sending you love and a big hug, my friend! XO
Thank you Kelly, I really appreciate that! It is a hard thing to talk and open up about, but I think it’s important. I can feel that hug!! Thanks dear friend XO
Cheers to your dad! I’m sure he’s so proud of you and would be happy for such a wonderful tribute 🙂 And for your cake! It’s absolutely gorgeous and so, so special!
xo Ros
Thanks Ros – I think he’d be proud too. I like to think of him looking down and seeing my baking 😉 Cheers to you!
I was blown away by your post Katherine, what a beautiful tribute to your father, he truly sounds like such a wonderful man, I’m so very sorry for your loss. And your cake is just absolutely stunning.
Thank you Catherine. He was a wonderful person and I miss him SO much. I appreciate your kind words, my friend!
Awwww Katherine! I love that you still make a birthday cake for your dad even though he has passed. That is so sweet of you and a great way to celebrate him. I have never had a cake with matcha powder in it and I want a slice of this! Sounds yummy….but really this cake looks AMAZING too!!
Thank you, Kelly! He is never far from my mind 🙂 I think you’d love a matcha cake – you should give it a try some time!! Cheers, pal!
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad, but I love that you choose to not let that define him or tarnish your memories with him! And I’m sure he would be thrilled with this cake, because it looks amazing!!!
Thank you so much Kirsten!! It’s a super tasty cake, I wish I could share. Thank you for your kind words, my friend!
Sorry to read your father’s story but I get an impression you are strong and deal with it healthy way. The cake is amazing and totally worth of sharing. I wish you have a sunny week end, dear Katherine !
Thank you so much, I am dealing with it the best I can! I hope you also got some sun this weekend XO
Katie…this is the most beautiful and delicious looking cake I have ever seen! Granny made the best cakes and now you are following along in her footsteps 💞. I wish I would have been able to have a piece, as I love green tea too. I’m not sure how big of a hit it would be with the girls!🤷♀️ I’m sure your Dad would have been as proud as a peacock of your cake! You shared such a nice, although sad story of Stephen. We think of him on every birthday and wonder why every June 1st. You are right, the word suicide does make one cringe. If only we would have known that these thoughts were rolling around in your Dad’s head. We all would have tried to make some sort of positive difference to changes his thoughts. I love your tradition of baking a birthday cake. We are proud of the amazing Mom and adult you have grown to be! Love you 😘
Ah, Aunt Linda! Thank you so much. Granny really did make the best cakes – I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to top her carrot cake! If you like green tea, you would love the cake! My boys ate it, but I’m sure they were wishing it was chocolate or vanilla 😉 It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 7 years since Dad’s passing. I’m happy to hear you guys think of him as well, even though it is probably less than cheery thoughts sometimes. I very much appreciate your words! XOXO Love you guys too!