Green Tea Latte Cupcakes

I totally dropped the ball on Cinco de Mayo. But I'm a mom, and ain't no body got time for that. But I do love celebrating anything as long as it comes with a treat for myself. Because, I deserve it dammit! It was a long work week....and a rough Friday working at home with the kids. Torrential rains, potty training and editing a movie marathon spot don't really mix. But I digress...

Tres Leches cake has always been an all time favorite. The first recipe that I made for it was probably about 10 years ago, from "The Joy of Cooking" cookbook. It was so simple, yet a real crowd pleaser. Soft sponge cake drizzled with a heavenly mix of 3 milks: Evaporated, Condensed, and Whole milk. I mean, com'mon. Sweet, creamy and well, juicy. The milk sank into every crevice and seeped into every crumb. Sweet milk oozed out as you pierced it with a fork. Love, Love Love.

I love milk. All kinds. But after drinking skim or almond milk all of my adult life because it was "healthier", I was reintroduced to whole milk after my kids turned one. Thats when they can drink cows milk. And since kids need the fat, most doctors reccommend whole milk.  I'd forgotten how much creamier full bodied it is. I drink it because my kids do, and I refuse to buy another type of milk for just us. But I'll take the extra fat, because fat is flavor and as long as its in moderation...why not add some more flavor!?

Evaporated milk has a great concentrated milky aroma. At Chinese dim sum, we love to pour it as a topping on almond gelatin with mixed fruit. It takes it to a whole other level. If they don't have it on the cart the next time you go, don't be shy, ask for it. You won't regret it.

And Condensed milk... my absolute favorite. It's thick, sweet and creamy. I put it in my coffee, drizzle it on shaved ice (the more the better) and dip bread in it. It's amazing with a pillowy soft Chinese steamed bun. AMAZING....

But back to the cake, I didn't want to stop at tres leches cake. Why not flavor it with green tea!? Bitter green tea, with sweet condensed and evaporated milk. OMG. It's a latte! I adapted the Berry Mascarpone cake recipe from Life, Love and Sugar that I used for my mom's birthday cake. The cake is fluffy and moist. I like cake recipes that use oil instead of butter. I find that they produce a springier cake with a soft tender crumb. I reduced the sugar in the recipe... because sugar in moderation people! But I also wanted the green tea's bitterness to stand out. 

Once the cakes cooled, I poked a hole out of the middle of the cupcakes with a piping tip, made a luscious concoction of the aforementioned milks and poured it right in. Letting it soak into all the little pockets of the cake.

Then I topped it with a marscapone whipped cream also adapted from Life, Love and Sugar. A dusting of green tea powder, and you have a bitter sweet, magnificently milky, green tea latte cupcake! The best part is that letting it sit, just makes it better and better. So save some for tomorrow....if there's any left.

Green Tea Latte Cupcakes

*Cake Recipe adapted from Life, Love and Sugar

Yields: 24 Cupcakes    Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 cup Sugar
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup water
• 3 1/2 tsp green tea powder, plus extra for dusting

For the Drizzle

• 1/4 cup condensed milk
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup whole milk

For the Frosting

• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 tbs powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 8 oz. mascarpone cheese

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350F; Line Cupcake tins

2. Combine all the dry ingredients (Flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt)in a large mixing bowl. Set Aside.

3. Combine all wet ingredients except the water (Milk, eggs, vanilla, vegetable oil) in a bowl. Add wet ingredients into the dry.

4. Mix until all combined. Add green tea powder and mix to combine.

5. Slowly pour the water in the batter. Careful as it might splatter. The batter is very liquid, but don't worry, it's suppose to be.

6. Pour batter into lined cupcake tins. I like to pour it into a large measuring cup with a spout first to help make this step a bit neater.

7. Bake for 15-17 minutes.

8. Once cakes have cooled, cut a hole into each cupcake. I used a piping bag tip to do this. Set aside.

9. Mix all three milks together with a whisk. Slowly pour the milks mixture into each hole of the cupcakes. 

10. Make the frosting by whipping the heavy cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla. Once it reaches soft peaks, add the mascarpone cheese. Whip till it reaches stiff peaks. 

11. Pipe Frosting onto the cupcakes using a star tip.

12. Dust with reserved green tea powder and enjoy!

13. Keep Left overs in the fridge.