It's quite funny when you think about it. I married into an Irish family but I don't think Mac and I have ever celebrated St Patricks' Day the entire time we have been together. It has been talked about, but the day seems to come and go and we don't do anything for it. Generally I don't even realise it is St Patrick's Day unless I am in town and see a group of inebriated people in green. Actually next Sunday, 17th March, is St Patrick's Day. In fact, I already know that once again this year I won't be celebrating St Paddy's Day. Instead I'm heading out to enjoy lunch with a group of very un-Irish friends.
Even though we don't celebrate, it doesn't mean I can't play around with green food. That is, food, for which green would not be the normal colour choice. I have wanted to make red velvet cakes forever and a day. I just have never gotten around to it. In fact I have thrown out a few past their due date cartons of buttermilk, just because my good intentions haven't come to fruition.
Therefore in my typical style, why not mess with a recipe that I am yet to even try? This time with buttermilk purchased I was on a mission. Green velvet cakes were born to get into the St Patrick's Day spirit.
They are basically the same as red velvet cakes, except obviously green food colouring is used instead of red. The only other slight change I made was I used green tea powder instead of cocoa, which is used in traditional red velvet recipes.
I decided to use green tea powder to keep the cakes as true a green as possible. Reflecting back, I think you could get away with using cocoa and still end up with lovely green cake. The green tea flavour does get lost, so save your matcha for more delicate dishes which will make the flavour shine.
Printable Recipe
St Patrick's Day Green Velvet Cakes
Ingredients
- 250 grams plain flour
- 8 teaspoons (2 Tablespoons) green tea powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 100 grams butter softened
- 200 grams caster sugar
- 4 teaspoon (1 Tablespoon) green food colouring
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 175 ml buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
- 300 grams icing sugar sifted
- 125 grams cream cheese softened
- 125 grams butter softened
- 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
- green sparkles or sprinkles to decorate
Instructions
- Preheat oven 170 degrees C and line muffin tins with papers.
- In a medium bowl combine flour, green tea powder and baking powder.
- In a large bowl cream butter and sugar until soft and pale, then beat in food colouring and vanilla.
- The mixture will be a vivid green. Beat in a spoonful of dry ingredients and then one egg. Add some more dry ingredients and then another egg. Then beat in the remainder of the dry ingredients.
- Beat in buttermilk and vinegar.
- Distribute batter between 18 lined muffin tins. Cook for around 20 minutes, test with skewer to see if it comes out clean. These cakes won't go brown, or at least they shouldn't.
- For the icing beat icing sugar, cream cheese, butter and vinegar in a large bowl until smooth.
- Once cakes are cool, cover with icing and decorate.
Measurement Notes
All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.
Do tell dear Belly Rumbles' reader, do you celebrate on St Patrick's Day?
Lauren
I have never made cupcakes before and gave these a go yesterday for today's festivities in work and they turned out DELICIOUS!! Everyone commented on how yum and moist they were. This is a recipie I will use again and again 🙂
Sara
Fantastic to hear Lauren! So glad they were enjoyed by all.
Linda
Gives me feeling of St.Patrick Days fun and festivity
Ramen Raff
I want some of that velvet goodness!!!
Food is our religion
Naww Sara!! you always have some of the best ideas for 'festive' celebrations. Love the colour!!
GourmetGetaways
Lol! I always have good intentions of making something green and celebrating but I never do 🙁 I really should try a little harder... especially if there is a pint or two in it for me 😉
I love these green cupcakes, just beautiful 🙂
Renata
We don't celebrate St, Patrick's day in Brazil, but I do find it so interesting to see the wave of green food in the foodie world. Your super green velvet cupcake looks so yummy!
The Hungry Mum
these look amazing! Red velvet cake is my fav 'special occasion' cake but I am just like you RE the buttermilk situation. Ditto for cream.
Sara
I have found out since, that buttermilk can be frozen!
Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul
I love the Irish! Wow! These look beautiful Sara...the green is so vibrant. Happy St Pats Day!
Sara
Thanks Peter. It really is a green green green cake, totally fun, not my normal style of cooking.
vegeTARAian
Woah, I love this!! Velvet anything is crazy good
Sara
Hehe thanks Tara 🙂
john@heneedsfood
You know, I had a red velvet cupcake once and wasn't all that excited about the flavour but with your use of buttermilk and matcha I reckon I'd prefer this green version. Great colour!
Sara
It was an interesting research as I realised not everyone uses buttermilk, so many recipes out there. The colour is pretty vivid 🙂