The Asian Way to Make Boxed Cake Mix 10x Better

I'm always in need of a last-minute dessert and one of those things you can stir together at a moment's notice is a box of cake mix. And while you can pull off something really impressive following the directions on the package alone, I'm a Leo. That means even when I don't care to admit it, I will go the extra mile if it means I can impress (but I'm so humble.)

That's why when I saw another boxed cake mix hack on come up on my Reddit feed, my heart skipped a beat. And after giving it a spin for myself, this has to be one of my favorite cake mix upgrades to date. Why? It reminds me so much of the green tea-based desserts that I love, plus it's wildly simple. To make a box of white cake mix taste like it came from an Asian bakery, add matcha powder.

Related: The British Way to Make a Boxed Cake Mix 10x Better

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Why Add Matcha to Boxed Cake Mix

You may be familiar with matcha in drink form, perhaps in a matcha latte before. The finely ground powder made from a specific variety of green tea leaves is the base of matcha drinks and matcha-flavored foods.

When matcha powder is mixed into desserts—including but not limited to ice cream and chocolate—it becomes a natural form of green food coloring and instant flavor enhancer, imparting a very mellow, ever-so-slightly bitter earthiness that really complements and balances out the sweetness of sugar.

Matcha is a flavor from my childhood that I still hold dear. My first foray with the flavor came by way of the green tea chiffon cakes my mom would make on request for my or my brother's birthday. Whether you bake, cook or simply want to whisk up a matcha latte, a jar of good-quality matcha powder is worth the investment.

Related: The Surprising Ingredient Hoda Kotb Adds to Boxed Cake Mix

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How to Add Matcha to Boxed Cake Mix

In a post on the /Baking thread on Reddit, user StarTrippy posted a photo of their cake with the caption, "Birthday was a couple days ago. I'm broke so I used a white box cake mix that I added matcha powder to. It ain't pretty but it's mine."

According to the user, all you need to do is take a box of white cake mix, add 4 teaspoons of matcha powder and proceed with the directions (add egg whites, oil and water) and bake. The cake on its own is a lovely treat, but the user who penned the original Reddit post also made a chai tea-infused whipped cream frosting. To make the additional component, you'll steep some chai bags in whipped cream, then whip the cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until it's thick and billowy.

Related: We Asked Dolly Parton for the Best Way to Upgrade a Boxed Cake Mix, and Her Answer Was Iconic

What I Thought of Boxed Cake Mix with Matcha

Listen, I enjoy a good white cake, but I would take this matcha-infused upgrade any day. The result is like the perfect cup of brewed tea in cake form. The cake is imbued with a flavor that's deeper, calming almost, and rich without being heavy. And it's not at all bitter. It's also the prettiest shade of green, which is a nice bonus. I made a chai tea-infused cream cheese frosting and it paired really well with the matcha cake. This is a tea cake if there ever was one—and no one will ever guess it came from a box.

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