Light up your halloween celebration with these buttery matcha cupcakes topped with “melting wax” white-chocolate drizzle.
These matcha cupcake candles are as elegant as they are playful. Soft, buttery cupcakes meet vibrant Japanese matcha for a flavor that’s subtly sweet and naturally balanced.
Each one is finished with a creamy buttercream frosting and a white-chocolate drizzle that mimics melted candle wax—making them a show-stopping centerpiece for any celebration.
Matcha Pro Tip: Use our Chef’s Choice Matcha for the brightest green color and a smooth, clean umami finish that perfectly complements the sweetness of the cake and frosting.
Recipe
Matcha Cupcake Candles
Prep
45 min
Cook / chill
80 min
Ready in
125 min
Makes
12 cupcakes
You'll need
Cupcake tin, paper liners, electric mixer, wire rack, piping bag or zip-top bag, thin candles
Ingredients
Method
01
Prep the oven. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
02
Beat the eggs and sugar. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugar on high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
03
Add the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, matcha, and baking powder. Add to the egg mixture and mix on low until just combined, scraping the sides as needed.
04
Fold in the butter and milk. In a small bowl, combine melted butter and milk. Add a spoonful of batter to this mix, stirring until smooth, then fold back into the main batter.
05
Fill the liners. Divide evenly among liners, filling each about two-thirds full.
06
Bake. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07
Cool the cupcakes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack and cool completely.
08
Whip the butter. Beat butter on medium-high speed for about 5 minutes until pale and fluffy.
09
Add the powdered sugar. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat another 5 minutes.
10
Finish the buttercream. Scrape down the sides, then beat 8 more minutes until light and airy.
11
Melt the white chocolate. Melt white chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring until smooth.
12
Fill the piping bag. Transfer to a piping bag or a small zip-top bag with the corner snipped.
13
Slice the cupcakes. Remove cupcakes from liners and slice each in half.
14
Stack the candles. Layer halves with buttercream between each tier to create your desired “candle” height.
15
Frost and chill. Frost the entire surface and refrigerate for 1 hour to set.
16
Add the candle. Insert a thin candle in the center, leaving the wick exposed.
17
Drizzle the wax. Drizzle melted white chocolate around the top edge for a melted-wax effect. Chill briefly, then repeat the drizzle to build layers.
18
Light and serve. Light the candle, serve, and enjoy.
The bottom line:
Each cupcake offers a gentle energy boost from matcha’s natural caffeine and L-theanine, promoting calm focus without the jitters of coffee. Matcha also provides antioxidants, particularly catechins, that support overall wellness while adding earthy depth to these sweet treats.
