Skip out of the passive voice and take control of your life! If you’re not at peace with dumping who-knows-what into your food to achieve that lurid shade of green we’ve all come to know and love/dread around this time of year, but don’t want to appear snobbish in the face of all the festivities; don’t worry, there are alternatives.
How about Green Tea Cake with Blueberries; because that conniving, two-faced rodent of a groundhog said that it would be spring by now, and I’m going to bake a springtime cake as though it isn’t snowing like the dickens outside.
While ‘Culinary green tea’ is a distinction that concerns me, and I’m left wondering what other grades of green tea lurk in the shadows, it is readily available in Asian markets, as well as online super stores. It is indeed a powerful mojo, so make sure you have a steady hand while applying it. This recipe will give you a subtle green hue, accentuated by the fresh blueberries, and very much a calling card of the spring you were promised so long ago.
Vegan Green Tea Cake with Blueberries
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Vegan Green Tea Cake with Blueberries to join the St Paddy’s festivities in a subtle way.
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups (360 ml) Flour
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) Almond meal
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Baking powder
- 1 to 1 1/2 tsp Culinary grade green tea/ matcha powder
- 1 cup (240 ml) Sugar
- 1 and 1/4 cup (2.95 dl) Coconut milk
- 1/4 cup (.59 dl) melted Coconut oil (or canola/vegetable)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) Fresh blueberries
- Powdered sugar to dust
- Sliced almonds for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350° F/ 176° C and grease a 9″ round pan.
- In a large bowl, combine your coconut milk, oil, sugar, and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, combine your flour, almond meal, matcha powder, salt, and baking powder and mix until well incorporated.
- Add the dry to the wet in batches, mixing just enough to incorporate.
- Once the two are combined into a batter, toss in your blueberries and gently fold in.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 30 – 40 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Cake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 290
Once the cake has cooled, 15 minutes in the pan, then completely on a rack, decorate as you will. I dusted mine daintily with powdered sugar and sprinkled with sliced almonds before I devoured it.The end result is light and fluffy, the flavors grassy, with a well rounded sweetness. Green enough to happily join in the festivities, but not so green that you hate yourself in the morning. 
If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These
- Spring Strawberry Cake Roll
- Fluffy Banana Chiffon Cake
- Shiso Meyer Lemon Tart
- Apfel Kuchen: Traditional German Apple Cake
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “culinary grade” matcha powder and where do I find it?
The article notes that “culinary grade green tea” is a distinction the author finds interesting — it is matcha processed specifically for cooking and baking rather than for drinking as tea. The article says it is readily available in Asian markets as well as online superstores; this recipe uses 1 to 1 1/2 tsp, which the article describes as a “powerful mojo” requiring a steady hand to achieve the subtle green hue rather than an overpowering color.
Why does this cake use coconut milk and coconut oil instead of dairy?
The recipe calls for 1 1/4 cups (2.95 dl) coconut milk and 1/4 cup coconut oil with no eggs, butter, or dairy milk — making the cake naturally vegan. The coconut milk provides moisture and a subtle richness, while the almond meal (1/2 cup / 120 ml) alongside the flour gives the crumb a slightly nutty, tender texture.
How do I know when the cake is done?
Bake at 350°F (176°C) for 30–40 minutes, then test with an inserted toothpick — it should come out clean. After baking, the article says to cool for 15 minutes in the pan and then completely on a rack before dusting with powdered sugar and sprinkling with sliced almonds.
Perfection!