

I don’t know what happened, but February 14th as a grown up is the day of spending money on overpriced fixed menus and edible arrangements. I’m not a fan of so-so dinners that cost at least $150 per person. (I felt the inner coupon-clipper in me come out even as I typed those words.) Can’t we just keep things simple?
For Valentine’s Day this year, I’m throwing things back to my younger days and creating a colorful treat that reminds me of all the candy and chocolate I used to get. So here’s some green tea cupcakes with chocolate chips, covered raspberry frosting, and topped with a luscious square of Ghirardelli Valentine’s Day Impressions.
I am particularly excited to partner with Ghirardelli to bring this treat to you because their chocolates are near and dear to my heart. The company is based in San Francisco, and if you’ve ever been to the city, you’ll probably know about that little place by Fisherman’s Wharf called Ghirardelli Square. My middle school was close by, and for 3 years, my daily bus ride would take me past that iconic Ghirardelli sign. I can’t tell you how much piggy bank money went to buying their delicious chocolate squares. I have no regrets.
Because I grew up on Ghirardelli, I turn to them when I need chocolate for my baked goods. Their baking products have that smooth-melting chocolate taste that I want in my treats. I get so many compliments when I use their baking chips to make chocolate bark!
Please tell me that you are ready to make this fun treat. I have been obsessed with green tea matcha powder lately because they add such a lovely taste and fun color to my food! I tucked in a lot of chocolate chips in these cupcakes so that you could get a hit of chocolate with every bite. As for the frosting, I purposely under-frosted them because that’s just my personal preference. I’m usually in it for the cake. But feel free to slather on the frosting to your heart’s desire!
Green Tea Cupcakes & Raspberry Frosting
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 TBS green tea matcha powder
- 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1 cup (190g) granulated white sugar
- 4 TBS butter, melted
- 1 cup (240ml) lowfat milk
- 1/2 cup (110g) lowfat yogurt
- 2/3 cup (110g) semi-sweet baking chips
Frosting
- 4 TBS (55g) butter, melted
- 8 oz (225g) lowfat cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups (240g) confectioner's sugar
- 2 TBS raspberry jam
- 1/3 cup (35g) fresh raspberries
- 12 Ghirardelli Valentine’s Day Impressions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and matcha powder.
- Using an electric mixer, mix the egg whites, sugar, butter, milk, and yogurt until well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Next, incorporate the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in several batches: add some flour to the wet ingredients, then beat everything with an electric mixer until everything is mixed. Repeat 2 more times. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the muffin tins. If it looks like the muffin tins are filled up and you still have a lot of batter leftover, just make one or two additional cupcakes. Bake for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack. Let them cool completely (about an hour) before frosting.
- When the cupcakes have cooled, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, mix the butter and cream cheese with a rubber spatula. You can also mix them with your electric mixer and the paddle attachment. When the butter and cream cheese are mixed well, add the confectioner’s sugar and mix well. I did this in 3 batches. Mix in the raspberry jam. Smash the fresh raspberries with a fork, and fold it into the frosting.
- Frost the cupcakes and top them with a square of Ghirardelli Valentine’s Day Impressions.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Sarah says
I love the combo of green tea and raspberry. Can’t wait to try it!
Lisa says
Thanks, Sarah! Let me know when you do!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
These are so sweet!!! Perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Lisa says
Thanks, Aimee! Love your Neapolitan donuts!
Amy @ A Healthy Life For Me says
Love that this includes Matcha Powder, who would of thunk it? Have a sweet Valentine’s Day!
Lisa says
Thanks, Amy!
Chandra@The Plaid & Paisley Kitchen says
Seriously yummy! I need to make these soon!
Lisa says
Thanks, Chandra! Let me know if you do!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
I used to love going to the Ghirardelli shop in San Fran when I loved there. Such a great place. Love all the fun colors in these cupcakes!
Lisa says
Thanks, Liz!
Anna | ANNAdventure says
Yum! These look really good :)!
Lisa says
Thanks, Anna!
Emily @SinfulNutrition says
The color reminds me of pistachio muffins..but without the funky food colorings! And so much better for you! So creative, Lisa!
Lisa says
Thanks, Emily!!
Kristin says
So glad to have found your site. These tea cupcakes look so divine, what a great idea!
Lisa says
Thanks, Kristin!
Elizabeth @ Enjoy Every Bite says
In elementary school Valentine’s Day was my favorite day of the whole year!! Love that you’re bringing back the good old days with these sweet treats. You can’t go wrong with Ghirardelli chocolates!!
Lisa says
Thanks, Elizabeth!
Danae @ Recipe Runner says
These cupcakes are so awesome Lisa! I absolutely love the green tea, chocolate, and raspberry combo! Valentine’s Day was definitely more fun as a kid!
Lisa says
Thanks, Danae!
Francesca says
Oh, Wow! No words to describe by desire to eat these right now!!! ๐
Lisa says
Haha, thanks, Francesca!
Maggie says
This is such a lovely recipe Lisa! I couldn’t agree more. Valentine’s day was much more fun when we’re younger and when everything was not commercialized.
These cupcakes are so moist and I love the pink frosting! It’s a perfect gift for the V-Day!
Lisa says
Thanks, Maggie!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
Photos are GORGEOUS Lisa!
I kind of want to go the Marina Wharf. I wonder why ๐
Lisa says
NOT for the chocolate and big sourdough bowls with clam chowder!!
Tamara says
Well darn it, if these don’t look fabulous! I would never have thought of pairing green tea with chocolate. Love the resulting colour combos!
Lisa says
Thanks, Tamara!!
Azu says
Love this muffins, especially the combination of colors. The chocoaltes are a plus. Great photos by the way
Lisa says
Thanks, Azu!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Green tea and raspberry! That is such a “me” combo ๐ Daring and delicious!
Lisa says
Haha, thanks, Rebecca!
Julia says
VDay was definitely more fun when we were kids…it’s all good times until you grow up and feel the pressure of doing all the utmost romantic things on the day. But these matcha cupcakes?! Holy smokes are they clever?! I’m a fellow green tea lover and have yet to bake with matcha. I bet it’s awesome with hunks of chocolate! And that raspberry frosting?! I’m swooning here. Just lookit those Ghirardelli squares…I haven’t seen those in stores yet – how fun!!
Lisa says
I know some people who get in the habit of exchanging valentine’s gifts, too! I struggle enough with birthdays and Christmases as it is!
And you’ve got to getcha matcha goin’, lady! I can imagine you whipping some winning recipes with that!
Yvonne [Tried and Tasty] says
These look delicious, I want one of those chocolate bars!
Lisa says
Thanks, Yvonne! Those Ghirardelli bars are absolutely delicious! Definitely try it if you can!
Rachel says
Oh my goodness… these cupcakes look delicious and PERFECTLY adorable at the same time! ๐
Lisa says
Thanks, Rachel!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
I’m a matcha fiend and I’ve been working on a matcha cupcake recipe too! I LOVE the idea of adding chocolate and pairing it with a sweet raspberry frosting. This is the kind of Valentine’s Day I could get behind.
Lisa says
YES! I can’t wait to see what you are coming up with!!
Vy says
Those cupcakes look yummy! Would you recommend another frosting to try besides raspberries?
Lisa says
Hi Vy! Sorry that I’m getting back to this so late! Strawberries, blueberries, or any other berry would work well for this!
Vanessa says
This is very yummy, I will try this recipe!
Lisa says
Thanks, Vanessa!
Lu @ Super Nummy Yo! says
Omgosh I love all your green tea recipes. So inspired ๐
Lisa says
Thanks, Lu!!
Joleen says
LOVE LOVE LOVE anything matcha flavored. Can’t wait to try the green tea pancakes too!! ๐
Lisa says
Thanks, Joleen! Let me know how they turn out!
Lisa, RD to Be says
Just made these and they are so amazing! Soft and fluffy. Thanks so much ๐
Lisa says
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Lisa! Thanks for letting me know how they turned out! Made my evening!
Sarah says
These look adorable…and delicious. Perfect! Thanks so much for sharing! ๐
Lisa says
Thanks, Sarah!