Drop of Disney

May the 4th be with you! Given today’s date, I knew this week’s treat would have to be Star Wars themed and I couldn’t resist re-creating one of the latest additions to the Star Wars universe in cupcake form. I watched The Mandalorian on Disney+ a few months ago and (like most) was captivated by the adorable child, otherwise known as Baby Yoda. These matcha flavored Baby Yoda cupcakes are filled with white chocolate chips and topped with matcha frosting and fondant ears.

Matcha is a flavor I’ve recently come to appreciate. While I do enjoy green tea, I hadn’t really been familiar with matcha flavored baked goods. I’ve since discovered the wonder of the smooth, slightly earthy and sweet flavor and have been playing around with different matcha breads and cupcakes.

These cupcakes have a light matcha flavor since I prefer a lighter matcha flavor. If you really like matcha, you could definitely add more powder in. I also really like the paring of matcha and white chocolate and so I added in some white chocolate chips, but if you prefer plain matcha, you can just leave the chips out.

The matcha was also the perfect color for Baby Yoda, but if you don’t like matcha and still want to make Baby Yoda cupcakes, you can also just dye your favorite vanilla cupcakes and buttercream frosting green, and follow the steps for the decorations.

To start, mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. For all of my matcha baking, I’ve been using matcha powder from Zen Spirit, which I found on Amazon. I don’t know a lot about the different kinds of matcha, but this one was recommended for baking and I had good results with it.

In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients. Then, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and beat until combined. If you’re adding the white chocolate chips, stir them in now. Then, pour the batter into a muffin pan lined with cupcake liners. For these cupcakes, I used one of my favorite cupcake liners, PaperChef parchment baking cups. I typically find them at Target and use them most cupcakes or muffins I make when I don’t need the liners to be a bright color. In this case, the natural parchment paper color matched Baby Yoda’s clothing color.

Bake the cupcakes at 350 F for 15-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 3 minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting and the fondant decorations. Quite honestly, I found these cupcakes to be just as good without the frosting, so if you’re not a frosting fan, you can also enjoy them plain. That being said, the frosting is tasty and necessary for the overall Baby Yoda look.

To make the frost, beat the butter until it’s creamy. Add the powdered sugar, matcha powder, and vanilla, and beat on low speed until combined. Once it’s combined, beat on high speed until its fluffy. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star (1M) tip. Set aside until ready to decorate.

To make the fondant ears, take a medium size hunk of white fondant and dye it green using green gel food coloring. I used the green that is part of this set from Wilton. You’ll need to use your hands to work the color into the fondant. If you don’t want your fingers to be green, you can wear some clean, food safe gloves. Roll the green fondant out on the a flat surface lightly dusted with powdered sugar. I find it helpful to use a fondant rolling pin or a small rolling. Then, using a sharp knife, cut out Yoda ear shapes. I did this freehand and was most successful starting with a straight line that curved around to make the bottom of Baby Yoda’s ear.

Transfer cut pieces to wax paper or other non-stick surface and repeat the process for the pink inner ear sections. Again, I used a medium hunk of white fondant that I dyed pink using the deep pink gel food color from Americolor. After you’ve cut pink sections out, place on top of the green ears to make the inner ear. If needed, attach the pink to the green using a damp finger. Remember to flip some of the ears over so that you have both left and right ears. I definitely forgot to do this and had to adjust mine.

Now, you’re ready to assemble! First, pipe a swirl of frosting onto the tops of the cupcakes. Then, add the ears on either side of the cupcake, gently sticking them into the frosting swirl. Add two pieces of dark colored dried fruit or candies to the front to make the eyes. I used dried blueberries, but anything dark and round will work!

Enjoy! May the 4th be with you!

If you’re looking for other Star Wars treats, be sure to check out my Chewbacca Cupcakes, Lightsaber Pretzels, and BB-8 Puffs!

Disclaimer: Links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn a very small amount from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting my blog!

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Baby Yoda Cupcakes

The force is strong with this one! Celebrate May the 4th with these Baby Yoda cupcakes! These matcha flavored cupcakes are filled with white chocolate chips and topped with matcha frosting and fondant ears!

Course Dessert

Keyword Matcha Cupcakes

Prep Time 45 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

Matcha Cupcakes

• 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons matcha powder
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup white chocolate chips (optional)

Matcha Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons matcha powder
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Decorations

• white fondant
• green gel food coloring
• pink gel food coloring
• dark dried fruit or candies

Instructions

Matcha Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and matcha powder. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and egg.
4. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and beat until combined.
5. If desired, stir in the white chocolate chips.
6. Pour batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling each cup ½ to ⅔ full.
7. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool for 3 minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Match Frosting

1. Place the butter in a medium bowl and beat until creamy.
2. Add the powdered sugar, matcha powder, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed until combined and then on high speed until fluffy.
3. Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.

Yoda Ears

1. Take a medium sized chunk of white fondant. Add a couple drops of green gel food coloring and mix, using your hands, until fully incorporated.
2. Roll green fondant out on a surface lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Using a sharp knife, cut out Yoda ear shapes about 1-inch long. Place ears on a wax paper lined surface.
3. Take a second medium sized chunk of white fondant. Add a couple drops of pink gel food coloring and mix, using your hands, until fully incorporated.
4. Roll out pink fondant out on a surface lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Using a sharp knife, cut out similar smaller ear shapes that will fit inside the green ear shapes.
5. Place cut out pink shapes on top green ears, using a damp finger to attach the pink to the green, if needed. Remember to flip some of the ears over so that you have both left and right ears. Set aside until ready to assemble the cupcakes.

Assembly

1. Pipe a swirl of frosting onto each cupcake.
2. Add a fondant ear to either side of the cupcake, sticking it into frosting.
3. Add two pieces of dark dried fruit or candies to the front of the cupcake to make eyes.