• 250 ml 9 fl oz) boiling water
• 75 g (2½ oz) cocoa powder
• 350 g 12 oz) plain flour
• 350 g 12 oz) caster sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 250 ml 9 fl oz) milk
• 125 ml 4 fl oz) vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Matcha Frosting

• 325 g (11½ oz) salted butter, at room temperature
• 650 g (1 lb 7 oz) icing (confectioners’) sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp matcha powder
• 3 tbsp milk

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) or 160°C (315°F) fan forced. Grease and line two 20 cm (8 inch) or three 18 cm (7 inch) round springform cake tins.

Pour the boiling water into a measuring jug and add the cocoa. Whisk the mixture smooth and let cool while you measure out all the remaining ingredients.

Pour the remaining dry ingredients into the bowl of a standing electric mixer or use a large bowl and electric hand mixer.

In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla extract. When the cocoa mixture has cooled enough, whisk into the egg and milk mixture.

On a slow speed, add the liquid until combined. Beat for 1 minute on slow speed. Pour the mixture into the tins. It will seem very liquid, but will bake up very light. Bake for 35–40 minutes on the centre rack of the oven. Cool in the tins and then remove.

To make the matcha frosting, in the bowl of the standing mixer, whisk the butter on slow speed for 6–7 minutes until pale and fluffy. It’s imperative that your butter is at room temperature to get a smooth, silky texture. Add the sifted icing sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, keeping the speed slow. When finished, add the vanilla, sifted matcha and milk and keep beating until the mixture is very smooth. If it’s too thick, add another tablespoon of milk.

Place one cake on a serving platter. Spread a thick layer of frosting to sandwich the two or three cakes. Ice the sides first and then the top. If you want to get a perfect finish, try ‘crumbing’ the cake by first spreading a thin layer of frosting around the outside and top of the cake until everything is smoothed at the same level. Place in the fridge for 1 hour and the cake will set. Remove and then ice the cake with more frosting.