Matcha is a type of green tea that has been used in traditional Japanese ceremonies for nearly 1000 years. Matcha, the leaves of which have been ground into a very fine powder, can be mixed in hot water and sipped, added to foods, or even made into a paste and used as medicine.

As it turns out, cake is medicine. Oh, it so is. It's also psychotherapy, but perhaps that is for another post. At any rate, this delicious layered green tea cake is going to take advantage of the lovely mild flavor of matcha, all the while delivering to you a super-sneaky dose of antioxidants.

Another of the characteristics of matcha is that it's a pretty adept multi-tasker, providing both a sense of wakefulness and calm when consumed. It is for this reason that you see it used by a lot of Buddhist monks prior to meditation.

But we of course, are going to use it for that other zen-like purpose - cake.

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Cake. Is. Medicine.

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

Things You Will Definitely Need - For The Cake

3 Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp matcha (I used Enzo Matcha)

1/4 c flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 Tbsp buttermilk

1/4 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 tsp canola oil

1 Tbsp egg beaters or 1 beaten egg

1 peach

For The Buttercream

1 cup powdered sugar

5 Tbsp butter at room temperature

1 1/2 tsp matcha

1/4 tsp vanilla an electric mixer (or a very strong arm and a good bit of patience)

Step 2: Mix Your Wet Ingredients

Place the egg (or egg beaters), buttermilk, vanilla, and canola oil (all of your wet ingredients) into a bowl and mix well.

Step 3: Mix Your Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and matcha. Stir to combine.

Step 4: Combine Your Wet & Dry Ingredients

Add your dry ingredients to your wet ingredients already in the bowl, being careful not to over-mix.

Step 5: Line a Mug and Decant Your Ingredients

Line a standard sized mug with parchment paper. Decant your mixture into lined mug.

Step 6: Nuke It!

Microwave for 60 seconds at 1000 watts.When the cake appears to be pulling away from the edges and the top looks dry, it is done.

Step 7: Decant and Cool

Allow to cool, then decant cake onto a plate. Slice horizontally into three equal parts.

Step 8: Now the Frosting...

Mix together dry ingredients, then add to butter and vanilla. Using an electric mixer (or some serious elbow grease), mix the buttercream until it is a silky smooth consistency, being careful not to overwork.