When Lucas works from home, he makes his and hers kale smoothies every morning. On days he goes into the office, he’s usually in such a rush that breakfast is coffee to go. Unless there’s half a dozen matcha green tea muffins cupcakes sitting on the counter – then he grabs two.
Full disclosure, this is absolutely cake and not muffin, but since it’s topped with black sesame streusel instead of frosting, it’s masquerading as a breakfast pastry. I eat it for dessert a la mode. I didn’t actually realize Lucas was eating cake for breakfast until all of the cupcakes went missing halfway through the week. Missing into his belly.
As he tried to get dressed for work on Tuesday morning, Lucas woke me up in a scurry to tell me that I apparently washed every pair of his pants the night before and they were all still wet in the washing machine. Seeing nothing I could do to help at that hour, I instead laughed at the idea of him going to work pantsless and went back to sleep.
In my defense, I sorted the laundry on Saturday and it took him until Tuesday to realize that all of his jeans were in the pile. A true testament to how infrequently he wears pants. Just sayin’.
When I called him later that day to find out how he avoided an Emperor’s New Clothes situation, he matter-of-factly replied, “I wore a pair of your pants.”
I nearly died, y’all. He actually could fit into my pants, so I believed him (and felt mortified) for a split second. I guess he tossed a pair of his jeans in the dryer and wore them a tad damp to work instead.
At least he had matcha cupcakes to eat on his way out the door.
Laundry: 0, Breakfast: 1.
When developing this matcha cake recipe a couple of months ago, I lazily added black sesame streusel to the top of the test batches instead of whipping up frosting – fully intending to go the whole nine yards with black sesame frosting on the final version. Seven batches later and I still protest that this cake doesn’t need frosting. The crispy sugary black sesame crumble adds exactly the right subtly sweet component. Nothing lazy about it.
Yes, I said seven batches. The first batch – made as cupcakes – was exactly the cake I wanted…only they lacked the vibrant green of the matcha cupcakes of my past. With a bit of brainstorming, Alanna suggested acid as a factor and recommended buttermilk or lemon juice. The buttermilk cupcakes stayed brown, but the lemon juice batch turned out festively green! Except I forgot the baking soda in my testing frenzy so they didn’t fluff up as much as the nearly-perfect first batch.
The fourth – and intended final – iteration that included the lemon juice and the missing baking soda went back to brown! Alanna was right about it needing acid, but the culprit was actually the presence of acid’s chemical opposite – alkaline. Baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, is purely a chemical alkaline. In baking, more alkaline means more browning.This is why we use baking soda to brown chocolate chip cookies or darken a chocolate cake. SCIENCE! Made up of baking soda, a built-in acid, and a bit of corn starch, baking powder is less likely to cause browning in baked goods.
Batches five & six went back to the original recipe and replaced the baking soda with 3x the equivalent in baking powder and adapted cupcakes into cake. If you’re wondering about that nail in the middle – it’s a metal rose nail meant to evenly distribute heat so the center of the cake cooks just as fast as the edges.
Just for funsies, I made one final batch with way too much baking powder to test the equilibrium of the chemical reaction (imagine the volcano science fair project or mentos+diet coke experiment, but in cake form).
Long story short: for green matcha cupcakes, baking powder FTW! (But not too much)
Black sesame and matcha were meant to be married. Bitter green tea goodness and nutty black sesame rolled up in sweet matrimony. With strong earthy undertones, both of them show restraint from being overly sweet, which I think makes them all the more enticing…and helps with their occasional crossover into breakfast territory.
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- 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons brown rice flour (for non-gluten-free version, see note)
- 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons gluten-free oat flour (I make my own by grinding gluten-free oats in a food processor or blender until fine)
- 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons millet flour
- 2 tablespoons sweet rice flour (glutinous rice flour)
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch or tapioca flour
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
- 2 teaspoons matcha powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1½ tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon milk (I use non-fat)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons gluten-free oat flour
- 1 tablespoon whole black sesame seeds
- 1½ teaspoons ground black sesame seeds (using a mortar and pestle)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line the bottom and sides of a 6-inch round cake pan with parchment paper (if you're lazy like me, just press a big piece of parchment paper into the pan). Alternatively, if you're making cupcakes, line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Whisk the brown rice flour, oat flour, millet flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, matcha powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Prepare the streusel topping by mixing all of the ingredients together in a bowl until evenly combined and clumpy when pressed together. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and honey until light and fluffy.
- Scrape down the sides and beat in the vanilla and eggs.
- Mix in the milk and beat until smooth.
- With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.
- Pour the cake mix into the prepared cake pan or divide it among 8-10 cupcake liners, filling each ⅔ full. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping over the cake/cupcakes.
- For cake, bake until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean, 40 minutes. For cupcakes, bake for 24 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Sarah | Broma Bakery -
These colors are so beautiful together, it’s like a still life painting! Absolutely gorgeous, Sarah!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Sarah!
Sheri -
My stomach is growling after looking at this…This is a perfect recipe for St. Paddy’s Day!
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert -
This cake is gorgeous, Sarah! You always come up with the best gluten free treats!
suki -
we used to eat cake for breakfast. i think it’s because asian cakes are less sweet. but my poor sister – her birthday is in november around thanksgiving. so the parents would buy a giant sheet cake for all the relatives who came over for thanksgiving. most people would eat a tiny teeny slice if any because they would be completely full from the rest of the meal. guess who had to eat the birthday cake for breakfast for a week+? :/ yeah, nobody buys such a big cake anymore.
damp jeans seems terrible to me. ;-)lol
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness -
I am obsessed with matcha right now! This looks awesome!
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl -
Yum! I love the texture of that cake!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
I can’t believe he wore your pants!!!!!!! hahahahaha!!!!! this is my favorite story ever.
Sarah @ Snixy Kitchen -
Bahahaha he didn’t ACTUALLY wear my pants – he just SAID he did.
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter -
This cake is gorgeous, Sarah! Love the sesame and matcha combo! Thanks for testing out all those batches for us – I loved learning the science behind the browning and hearing about the laundry story hehe :)
Lisa / Good on Paper -
sarah, you’ve outdone yourself again! holy shit (can i say that here?) that looks SO good! love black sesame and love that lucas almost wore your pants. :)
Sarah Menanix -
Haha you can totally say that here. This is basically the same cake as those cardamom coffee cake muffins I made for you…but with matcha and black sesame:)
ellie | fit for the soul -
This looks soooo perfect!!!! My favorite flavors! Are you actually me from a past life or somethin’? Hehe, I kid I kid. But omgness poor Lucas! Greg would have honestly been going berserk in panic mode, while I would have curled up in a corner feeling so apologetic and not come out for a week. I absolutely can’t stand it when I forget to dry clean Greg’s work clothes since he’s up in front of people at least once a week. I’m more so the type who’s like, “ehhhhh no one will notice the stain”. But not him, lol :P
Sarah Menanix -
Bahaha – I like how you feel apologetic and I instead LAUGH at him. You’re a much better wife than I am;) I love that our flavor obsessions are so similar!
Vetonica -
Beautiful recipe! Looks scrumptious! Ok if Roy could fit in my jeans I would be mortified plus they would look like Capri pants on him! I love the way Lucas just goes with it! His a good Guy!
Veronica -
sorry I meant Veronica
Traci | Vanilla And Bean -
This is so deliciously scrumptious; for breakfast, I agree or dessert, or a snack! All of the above cake! Can’t wait to pick up the Matcha tomorrow.. finally heading to whole foods! The streusel is deliciously unique and is stunning against the cake. Your crumb is gorgeous and perfect. I’ve enjoyed walking through your process as you tested and then created this fabulous cake for us; pants, science and all! Thank you for this! Well done my dear Sarah! :D
Sarah Menanix -
Yay! I’m so excited for you to finally get some matcha (are you going to Trader Joe’s while you’re at it??;). Thank you so much for your sweet words, Traci! The black sesame streusel is definitely my favorite part to eat too!
Thalia @ butter and brioche -
WOW is all I have to say about this incredible cake Sarah. The matcha and black sesame combination is just genius. Pinned!
Min -
Haha!!! I’m dying here…you and Lucas should start a comedy show ;). I’ve been in Lucas’ position many.many times as Tim does all the laundry around here. I’m pretty certain I fit into Tim’s pants, but I shall not go there. And he actually makes kale smoothies? On his own?!? Tim would just make hers and eat this GORGEOUS cake. I’m always so inspired by your dedication and tenacity in the kitchen. Last time we spoke, you were getting ready for Disney World! Can’t wait to hear all about it and more ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Haha I can BARELY fit into Lucas’s pants (as in, they are too SMALL), but they look terrible on me;) Yes! He loves kale smoothies – he’s so particular about what he puts in them too – like the bananas MUST be frozen.
Ahh! Disneyworld was such an amazing whirlwind – we rode all the rides, ate all the food, and got none of the sleep!
Kim -
this looks amazing! i can’t wait to try it…but, i would love to know what GF matcha you use? I am having a hard time finding a real GF brand. Many thanks!
Sarah Menanix -
Great question – there’s a great gluten-free matcha you can order off Amazon!
Chris @ Shared Appetite -
I’m with Lucas… I would totally eat these for breakfast and call them “muffins” as well. But then again, that’s why I’m a fatty hahaha. And that black sesame streusel?! Holy cow it’s super creative!!!
Sarah Menanix -
Bahahaha – that’s why I’m a fatty too;)
Erin @ Texanerin Baking -
I’m really regretting it took me so long to come check out your blog! I just found my new favorite food photographer (I didn’t even have one before!) :) I’ve been sitting here for a few minutes trying to think of what to say but I can’t come up with the words. I’ll just say your photos are absolutely gorgeous! And who designed your page?! LOVE it.
The cake looks great, too – I’m just overwhelmed by everything else!
Sarah Menanix -
Erin! This is the nicest note! Thank you so much (and your husband too:) for the sweet words – you’re making me blush over here. That means so much to me! I actually designed and built my page myself:) So thank you!! <3 <3
Erin @ Texanerin Baking -
My husband just came in the room, looked over my shoulder, and I got in about 4 words before he interrupted me to say, “Her photos are beautiful! Tell her that!” :D
Carla (@charliesue) -
Oh! This cake! This cake and I are best friends. Thanks SO much for sharing, we had a very tasty *breakfast* the next morning. :)
Natalie C. -
This looks amazing! Will I be able to use a standard 8 inch round cake pan?
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you! While I’ve never tested it in an 8-inch round cake, I imagine it’d work just as well. The cake will be a little bit thinner, and you might need to reduce the cooking time a couple of minutes – I’d just check every couple minutes starting at 30 minutes! Please let me know if you end up making it in an 8-inch round pan!
laurasmess -
This is AMAZING. I seriously can’t wait to try your recipe!!! Love anything with black sesame (i’m progressively learning to appreciate matcha but it’s taking a while, haha) x
Catalina -
I’m dying to make these… though i have no sweet rice flour… any substitutions you would recommend?
Sarah Menanix -
Though I’ve never tried it, I would recommend substituting an all-purpose blend like Bob’s 1 to 1 blend for all of the flours (3/4 cup total) – then you just need to buy one flour! Alternatively You could try upping the xanthan gum to 1/2 teaspoon and replacing the sweet rice flour with more tapioca starch. Let me know what you try and how it works!!
Budhika Sangakkara -
Hi! do you think it’d be ok to substitute all the flours except rice flour and oat flour with Almond flour?
Sarah Menanix -
To be honest, I’m not sure! My guess is no because almond flour is much heavier, oilier, and denser. If you’re just trying to reduce the number of flours, I’d replace all of the flours (including the xanthan gum) with ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon sweet rice flour, ¼ cup oat flour, ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons millet flour (I haven’t tried it with this cake, but this is a mix I’ve used with other cakes with success!).