Green Tea Layer Cake

"This cake is good enough for breakfast and lunch anyway."
"This is a light and moist cake that is not too sweet and has a refreshing green tea fragrance. The frosting uses cream cheese but has enough sweetness to mask the sour taste. The matcha (green tea) powder gives it a delicate green hue too. This cake can also be baked as a sheet cake in a 9x 13 inch pan or as 2 separate round cakes in two 8 inch round pans. Adjust baking time accordingly."

PREP TIME	15 Min
COOK TIME	40 Min
READY IN	55 Min
Original recipe yield 1 - 2 layer 9 inch cake

INGREDIENTS :

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons powdered green tea
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons powdered green tea
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 - 9 inch round pans. Sift together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking soda, salt, and green tea powder; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, oil, and eggs until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the yogurt, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 30 minutes before turning out of the pans.
4. To make Green Tea Frosting: Sift together confectioners' sugar and green tea powder. In a medium bowl, combine tea mixture with butter, cream cheese, vanilla and milk. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
5. To assemble the cakes: when the cakes are completely cooled, put one layer on a flat serving plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting over it. Place the other layer of cake on top, and spread frosting to cover the top and sides of cake. Dust with green tea powder if desired. Serve cold or at room temperature.

FOOTNOTE

Optional: 1 cup of adzuki beans (small red beans), soaked overnight and boiled until tender, can be folded into batter before it is put into the pans. Pat dry and allow to cool before use.