Green Tea-Chocolate Steamed Cupcakes
Steamed cakes are very popular amongst the Asians and there are various recipes of making steamed cakes. This technique may originate from the time when an oven was not readily available in Asian countries but a steamer was always available and a cheaper alternative means to an oven. The Chinese has been making all different sweet and savory cakes by using a steamer and the technique spread to various Asian countries. Indonesians also make steamed cupcakes, which is called "Bolu Kukus", using various ingredients like coconut milk or flavored sodas for flavor or pandan leaves juice for color and flavor. I have tried making steamed cakes before but it was a long time ago I don’t even remember when it was. After looking at my friend’s picture of steamed cakes, I decided last Sunday was the time to do it.
The original recipe calls for coconut milk for the liquid ingredient and a pandan or chocolate or mocha paste for flavor. I made a first batch using a mocha paste which I bought in Indonesia, but it turned out that I didn’t particularly care for it in my cakes. I decided to try combining green tea and cocoa powder, which is a popular choice nowadays. I kept the coconut milk in it and the cakes turned out very good indeed. Now, the success of steamed cupcakes is measured by how big the cakes will puff up. They have to bloom like flowers from the hot steam to produce what Indonesians calls a successful steamed cupcakes. The first time I opened my steamer lid, they puffed very big, I was afraid that they bloomed too much. But once they cooled down, the puffiness came down a bit and they were perfect.
So here is the recipe for the cakes, may the bloom force be with you! 
Green Tea-Chocolate Steamed Cupcakes
Makes about 9 "bolu kukus" cups
250 gram all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
225 gram granulated sugar
2 large eggs
150 cc coconut milk
1/2 Tablespoon emulsifier
1 Tablespoon green tea powder
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
Sift together the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside. Prepare individual "bolu kukus" cups by lining them with parchment paper.
With an electric mixer, cream together sugar and eggs until batter is ribbony and pale in color, about 5 minutes. Add the emulsifier and cream until almost white in color and very thick. Add flour and coconut milk alternately.
Divide the batter into two batches, one-third will be mixed with green tea powder and two-third will be mixed with cocoa powder. Using rubber spatula, mix these powder separately in two bowls until well combined.
Prepare a steamer, filling it with water and have ready a towel to cover the inside to the steamer lid. Heat the steamer in high heat until the water boils very rapidly. Keep it in medium heat while you fill the cups with batters.
Using a big ice cream scooper for the cocoa batter, drop a scoop into the cup, filling until about three-quarter high. Using a small ice cream scooper or a tablespoon for the green tea batter, drop a scoop or a tablespoon of batter on top of the chocolate batter. Tap the cup to the surface to let the batter settle. Do the same for the rest.
Place all the cups inside the steamer, line the top with towel and close the lid carefully. Increase the heat again to high and once the water return to boil, set the timer for 10 minutes. At the end of the timer, open the lid carefully while holding the towel altogether. Makes sure the water drops don’t come into contact with the cakes. Turn off the heat and cool the cakes in a wire rack.
Source: adapted from Natural Cooking Club website
mau coba deh! thanks for sharing!
Comment by Roossy Tirta — November 4, 2009 @ 5:06 am
Can you use something else besides coconut milk ?
you can use regular milk or soymilk, and also water. but if you use water, the result won’t be as rich as using coconut/regular/soymilk.
Comment by Stephanie — November 5, 2009 @ 7:44 pm
Cantik!! Apa kabar, Liz? Daku lagi pura2 sibuk….
Trish
gue lagi sakit batuk pilek nih sama badan pegel2
Comment by patricia — November 5, 2009 @ 11:08 pm
Where do you get those steamer cups and what are they called?
Hi Lauren, thank you for visiting my blog. Those steamer cups were bought in Indonesia because they’re used specifically for Indonesian steamed cupcakes called Bolu Kukus. And those cups really called bolu kukus cups. If you really want to try the recipe, you can use small baking cups.
Comment by Lauren Meranda — November 11, 2009 @ 8:59 pm
Rasanya? sounds like a really sexy combination. Eh itu sauce bowl nya cantik banget
rasanya ya berasa ada coklat dan green tea Dhit
. itu bowl dibeli di Jimbaran 
Comment by Dhi — November 16, 2009 @ 2:12 am