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One of the things I want to do in 2015 is push myself toward new adventures. I know that sounds sort of cheesy and dumb but I really want to make new things.
Most of us love doing what we do well. Me included. Being sucky at something doesn’t feel that great.
On my list is a whole variety of things I want to be better at, including but not limited to, decorating cakes. I feel like I can crimp a pie, I got that! But decorating cakes…oof…not so much. Cake decorating requires a ton of practice. A TON. So, consider this my first example of what I want to get better at.
I love the cake recipe. It’s chocolatey and rich and decadent. The frosting is really interesting and it doesn’t hurt that the green color is really beautiful.
Have you seen Molly’s cakes?! GOOD GRACIOUS! That is one woman who decorate a dang cake. Baby steps, my friends, baby steps! This is my first step at getting better at it.
I’ve actually considered buying a bunch of box mixes and just practicing with quick cakes. I think I might do that.
In the interim, here is this naked cake thingy, which is great if your cake decorating skills aren’t the best.
Just an FYI: for this cake I splurged and used really good Valhrona cocoa powder. You don’t need to do this (this recipe will also work with normal ol’ cocoa powder but it did add to the richness and dark color). I used this type of Matcha powder and found it at Whole Foods.
Triple Layer Chocolate Matcha Cake
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
- 2 2/3 cups sparkling water
- 1 1/3 cups dark unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup, plus 3 tablespoons (155g), unsalted butter, cubed (plus more for cake pans)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3 large eggs
Frosting
- 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons matcha powder
- 2 teaspoons whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Generously butter the inside of three 8-inch cake pans. I didn’t line the bottoms with a circle of parchment, but if you’re nervous about it, feel free to line them! If you want the cake layers to be very flat and even, see the link below for “baking flat cake layers.”
- In a medium saucepan, heat the sparkling water, cocoa powder, and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the white sugar and brown sugar and whisk until dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together.
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until just beaten, then whisk them into the cooled cocoa mixture until combined. Gently fold the flour mixture into the cocoa mixture. The batter will be slightly lumpy–do not overbeat, as it could cause the cake to be tough.
- Divide the batter amongst the prepared cake pans and bake for about 30 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, until a small skewer inserted into the cakes come out clean. Transfer the cake pans to a wire rack to cool completely for about 10 minutes, until the cakes begin to separate from the sides of the pans. Turn over onto a wire rack and tap the bottom of the pan a few times until it releases. Cool cakes completely before assembling and frosting. Just an FYI: feel free to make the cakes the night before. Cakes will be moist and delicious for up to 2 days if wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
- To make the frosting, add the butter to the bowl of a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment. In a separate bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and matcha powder together. Beat the butter until smooth and then add the powdered and matcha powder, in a few batches, to the butter. Pour in a teaspoon of milk and beat until smooth. You may need to add an additional teaspoon of milk to get the right consistency.
- To assemble the cake, place the first layer on a plate or cake stand. Add a few spoonfuls of frosting and spread as evenly possible. Top with the second layer and repeat the frosting process. Add a few generous spoonfuls of frosting to the very top and smooth it out. This is a naked cake! If you want enough frosting to go all up the sides you’ll most likely need to double the frosting recipe. Slice and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This food looks appetizing.
HOLY POOPCAKES! This is fantastic. SPARKLING WATER IN A CAKE?! I have to try this ASAP. I’ve heard of people putting 7up and coke in cakes but, oh, I just don’t think I could do that. Sparkling water, I could do. And obvious, yes, matcha I could do too 😉 xoxoxo
I am in love with this cake. It’s absolutely stunning. Fantastic work!
What a fun cake! I took cake decorating from Michael’s fabric and crafts and it helped a lot…you should check it out. Definitely an exercise in patience!
Oh! Good idea!
this is all sorts of amazing…. i can’t even handle it. rich chocolate cake with perfectly green matcha icing. looooooooving it!
Hi, one stick of butter how many grams is?
One stick of butter is 133g and the three additional tablespoons weigh 42g. So the total butter needs to be 155g.
Hi Adrianna, the frosting needs 3 sticks unsalted butter, does that mean the frosting itself needs 399g?
Thanks
I want to watch you decorate cakes! I love looking at that kinda stuff…but I know myself well enough to know it’s not going to happen by my own accord…
That looks so beautiful! And I agree, the whole decorating a cake business can be super daunting!
Can I substitute the sparkling water with something else?
Sprite would work. The carbonation makes this a pretty light cake so it’s pretty necessary. But soda water would also work!
I have never cooked with Matcha before, but I am seeing it all over. It’s so good for you, I want to give it a try!
Kari
www.sweetteasweetie.com