Matcha sponge cake is a delicious Asian dessert that creatively twists the classic western sponge cake recipe. Moreover, by adding green tea powder to a light and fluffy batter, it results in a baking treat that has a brilliant colour and unique flavour.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything to know about matcha sponge cake and also how to make it at home. We’ve tracked down the best tips and tricks for making your own matcha sponge cake. Our Japanese matcha sponge cake recipe makes it easy to achieve this unique dessert in your own kitchen!
The key to achieving the perfect matcha sponge cake lies in beating the egg whites. So, if you get the technique down, you’ll end up with a perfectly fluffy meringue. We’ve also provided vegan, keto, and gluten-free versions. Hence, you can enjoy this delicious Japanese dessert no matter what diet you follow!
So, want to learn how to make the best matcha sponge cake recipe? Read on!
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What is it made of?
Matcha sponge cake is a simple Japanese dessert made by adding green tea powder to a sponge cake. This ingredient adds a bright green colour and also a unique herb-like flavour that many people enjoy.
This Japanese tea powder is used in many recipes, ranging from matcha milk tea to pastries and more. Though slightly bitter, it adds a leafy umami that many people love.
This dessert is an excellent example of modern Japanese fusion recipes. These combine elements of traditional Asian cuisine and also modern global cooking methods. Like the pandan mochi waffle and mochi ice cream, this treat is a fusion of cuisines!
Matcha sponge cake calories
A single serving of our matcha sponge cake contains roughly 165 calories, 33 g carbs, and also 1 g fat. However, this can vary significantly depending on the recipe that you use.
Matcha sponge cake ingredients
Matcha sponge cake ingredients are fairly simple. You can probably find almost all of them at your local grocery store. The only ingredient that may be difficult to find is good green tea powder.
Matcha sponge cake ingredients include:
- Egg whites
- Cake flour
- Green tea powder
- Coarse kosher salt
- Caster sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
If you notice, the recipe does not use any butter or oils to create the fluffy texture of sponge cakes. Rather, our recipe relies on the protein networks of the meringue that is produced from the whisking of the egg whites.
How to make vegan matcha sponge cake
If you follow a vegan diet, you can still enjoy homemade vegan matcha sponge cake! The key is getting the right amount of air without the addition of eggs.
You can achieve this by swapping the egg whites for a few key ingredients. You will need 315 ml of soy milk, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and also ¼ teaspoon baking soda.
Other ingredients in vegan matcha sponge cake include:
- 350 g self-raising flour
- 200 g caster sugar
- 2 teaspoon green tea powder
- 180 g melted vegan butter or vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
While the regular non-vegan recipe above uses the meringue to make the cake become fluffy, the vegan version relies more on substitute ingredients. Specifically, the self-raising flour and combination of acid and baking soda help to make the final product fluffy.
How to make keto matcha sponge sake
If you follow a keto diet, there are several options for making a keto matcha sponge cake.
Firstly, you will need to swap the cake flour for almond or coconut flour in equal amounts. Please note that these alternative flours will make the resulting treat to have a slightly flavour.
In addition, you will need to use a keto-friendly sweetener. These include allulose, stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol. The measurements are as follows:
- Allulose: Use 70 ml for every 1 cup of sugar.
- Stevia: Use 1 teaspoon for every 1 cup of sugar.
- Monk fruit: Use 75 ml for every 1 cup of sugar.
- Erythritol: Use 75 ml for every 1 cup of sugar.
How to Make it Gluten Free
Making a gluten-free matcha sponge cake is easier than you think. All you have to do is swap regular cake flour for a variation without gluten. You may substitute using a one-to-one ratio.
There are many options for gluten-free baking. So, it is up to you to decide which one works best for your needs.
Here are a few gluten-free flour options you can choose:
- Commercial gluten-free flour
- Rice flour
- Oat flour
- Buckwheat flour
- Sorghum flour
- Almond flour (add one extra egg if using)
- Amaranth flour
- Arrowroot flour
- Corn flour
- Chickpea flour
- Coconut flour
- Tapioca flour
- Cassava flour
Cooking Tips
Why did my cake not rise?
It can be difficult to get meringue pastries to rise properly. For example, you may not have beaten the eggs long enough. Meringue sponges may also be flat if you mix them too roughly, beating out the air bubbles.
Why is my cake cracked?
One of the most common reasons that a baked item cracks is an oven that is too hot. This causes the outside of the cake to bake faster than the inside. It may also crack if you are using a pan that is too small.
Why is my cake deflated?
There are a few reasons why cakes deflate in the oven. The most common one, for example, is that they were beaten at too high a speed. So, to reduce this risk, beat the egg whites using an electric hand mixer on medium speed and cool the cake upside down.
Another reason may be that there were some remnant egg yolks in the mixture. The yolk part of the egg can cause the breaking down of the protein networks in a meringue. So, make sure to remove any yolks when preparing your egg whites.
What matcha cake design can I add?
There are countless ways to decorate your matcha sponge cake. For example, you can add a design on top with powdered sugar and more green tea powder. You can also decorate by adding whipped cream, fruit, or other items.
Easy Matcha Sponge Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 65 g cake flour
- 2 tbsps green tea powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 pcs egg whites
- 150 g caster sugar
- Powdered sugar (for sprinkling)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C. Sift together all dry ingredients except the caster sugar.
- Beat the egg whites on low speed using an electric hand mixer. When they turn white and begin to foam, increase the speed to medium-high. As you beat the egg whites, add the vanilla extract and also add one tablespoon of sugar at a time.
- Continue beating until the egg whites form stiff white peaks.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the egg whites, folding carefully with a spatula. Do not overmix.
- Pour batter into an ungreased loaf pan. Smooth the top.
- Gently drag a butter knife through the raw batter to remove any remaining air bubbles.
- Bake 25-30 minutes. Test the center with a fork or skewer to make sure it is done.
- Cool the cake upside down on a baking rack to keep it from collapsing. Decorate with powdered sugar.
Notes
- Be sure to use fresh green tea powder which was bought within the last two months. Older green tea powder may lose colour and flavour.
- When you beat the egg whites, keep the electric mixer at medium speed. This will reduce your risk of deflating the cake during baking.
- You will know that the egg whites are ready when they form stiff peaks. You can measure this by dipping the beaters into the meringue and drawing them out again. If the meringue forms “peaks” that stay in place, it is ready.
- Be gentle as you fold the egg whites and dry ingredients together. Use a silicone or plastic spatula. Do not stir, as this can beat the air out of the meringue.
- It’s important not to grease your pan when you are baking a meringue cake. Doing so can cause it to collapse when it comes out of the pan.
Nutrition
Calories have been calculated using an online calculator. Nutritional information offered on Honest Food Talks is for general information purposes and are only rough estimations.
Variations to Try Next
This simple treat isn’t the only green tea dessert you may want to try. If you want to use matcha in more baking, you can also try one of these recipes:
- Matcha sponge cake roll
- Green tea cotton sponge cake
- Matcha Victoria sponge cake
- Green tea powder sponge cake
- Matcha castella sponge cake
- Matcha tiramisu sponge cake
- Green tea marble sponge cake
Making a delicious matcha sponge cake doesn’t have to be difficult. With some practice, you can make this unique dessert in your own kitchen! It comes together in less than an hour. It is also easy to adapt to be keto-friendly, gluten free, or vegan.
If you want to learn more about matcha sponge cake and other great recipes, then follow Honest Food Talks on Instagram at @honestfoodtalks!
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