Matcha Brownies

 Matcha Brownies are a delicious and unique take on the classic brownie. These brownies are made with matcha powder, which gives them beautiful green color and a distinctive flavor. If you are a green tea lover, you're going to LOVE this recipe!

Matcha is one of those trendy ingredients that a lot of people are curious about, but might not know how to use, other than making tea.

These brownies are the perfect way to use up your matcha or introduce matcha to your taste buds. They're soft and chewy, with a kick of flavor from the matcha powder.

They're so easy to make that you'll be able to whip them up any time you get a craving for brownies.

Plus, I cannot get over the vibrant green color! Absolutely gorgeous.

These matcha brownies are one of the most unique desserts I've ever made.

The green tea flavor / matcha flavor is earthy, salty, sweet, and delightfully indulgent.

What Is Matcha?

Matcha or matcha green tea powder is prepared from finely crushed green tea leaves.

This gives the brownies their distinctive flavor while also lending them a lovely grassy aroma (I mean that in the best way possible)

If you enjoy green tea, this delectable dessert is right up your alley!

Why Does This Recipe Work?

The combination of sweetness and earthy matcha makes for a brownie that is simply irresistible.

The brownie is soft and ultra chewy, while the matcha adds a unique earthy and slightly sweet flavor.

These brownies are also incredibly moist and fudgy and totally satisfying.

Soft and Chewy Matcha Brownies

This brownie recipe was made to be soft and chewy, and the delicious matcha powder adds exceptional flavors and richness.

By using melted butter, more brown sugar than white sugar, you get a more dense, chewiness to the brownie.

Paired with a high quality matcha powder, you get a very tasty, rich, green tea flavor.

Ingredients You Need For Matcha Brownies

Flour

The brownies' substance is provided by the flour. The brownies would be a gooey, greasy nightmare without it. To create these, I used all-purpose flour.

Matcha

What is the best matcha to use for brownies and baking?

Matcha grades vary, but they are generally broken down into ceremonial and culinary grades. The first is for drinking (originally for tea ceremony), whereas the second is for cooking.

I prefer to use ceremonial grade green tea in my baking since it has a superior color and flavor (culinary grade tends to be more bitter).

In addition, matcha oxidizes rather quickly, therefore, it's critical to obtain fresh matcha (not close to the expiration date) and consume it as soon as possible.

Baking Powder

There is only a tiny amount of baking powder in this recipe to provide a little of leavening. This will help to develop the perfect amount of crumb to your brownies.

Brownies shouldn't be overly leavened because they'll be more cake-like if you do, so just a small amount is needed here.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is not a typical ingredient you'd find in brownies, but the 2 teaspoons added to this recipe ensure an extra soft and chewy bar.

Salt

Salt balances the sweetness of the brownie. Paired with the butter, sugar, and bitterness from the matcha, salt rounds out the flavor giving the brownie a hint of umami taste, making the brownie more rich and complex.

Unsalted butter

I prefer to use unsalted butter for baking because different types of butter have varying amounts of salt. The addition of the salt is a lot more predictable if you do it yourself.

You can certainly use salted butter if that's all you have on hand, but be sure to omit the added salt in this recipe to ensure the final result is not too salty!

Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar

As mentioned, in order to get an ultra chewy brownie, you want to use more brown sugar since it has a higher moisture content than white sugar.

This recipe uses a blend of both, however there is more brown sugar than white. I used light brown sugar for this recipe; dark brown sugar might have too much of a molasses flavor which could muddle the matcha taste.

If you don't have any light brown sugar, you could instead use coconut sugar, white sugar mixed with a little bit of honey, maple syrup or agave. 

Eggs

Eggs are the most versatile ingredient in baking. They can be used as a binder, tenderizer or strengthening agent for recipes.

They will also help prevent dryness by adding moisture where needed!

This recipe uses two eggs which adds just enough binding power, moisture, and richness to the recipe.

Vanilla extract

Many sweets taste better with a hint of vanilla, and green tea brownies are no exception.

Vanilla extract is the secret to making sweet baked goods taste better. It also enhances all other flavors in your recipe, adding more sweetness without having to add extra sugar.

Vanilla is the little something extra that makes sweet baked goods really pop.

Without it, cookies and cakes can become boringly flat - so add this ingredient carefully!

This Recipe Does Not Use Chocolate

To be clear, there is not chocolate in this recipe. I know, I know! Are they really brownies?

Well, did you know that blondies and cookie bars are pretty much the same thing? Since this recipe doesn't use chocolate, it would cross over into the blondie category, but brownies just has a better ring to it! 🙂

In my opinion, actual cocoa powder would not taste well with the matcha, and I ended up not even using white chocolate because the end product was too sweet (since white chocolate is mostly sugar!)

You could definitely add some white chocolate chips to this recipe, but I really enjoyed the brownies without them.

Having said all that, I understand if you feel like I'm cheating while still considering this a 'brownie' even though there is no form of chocolate in the recipe.

The reason I'm still calling it a brownie is because it lives up to the name in every other sense. It is thick, fudgy, chewy, and completely satisfying!

How to Make Matcha Brownies

This Matcha Brownie recipe can easily be made! Just read the instructions and tips below.

This recipe comes together in a flash and as just as easy as making boxed brownies!

It all starts with adding the sugars to the melted butter.

Then, add the eggs one at a time while mixing well after each addition.

Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and matcha in a separate mixing bowl.

To make sure you don't bite into a clump of bitter green tea powder in your brownie, sift the dry ingredients together by using a whisk once they've been added to the bowl.

Matcha has a tendency to gather clumps, so this step is crucial!

Add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, taking care to start off by folding the batter together gently. It's best to avoid overmixing as we don't want to develop a lot of gluten.

If the batter is looking a bit dry and shaggy, you can add about ¼ cup of milk or almond milk to loosen it back up again.

You'll know when the brownies are finished baking because the center will be set and the edges will look brown and golden. Remove them from the oven and immediately transfer them to a cooling rack to prevent them from overcooking due to the pan's residual heat.

Tips for Making the Best Matcha Brownies

Follow these tips to make the best fudgy matcha brownies:

Be sure to use good quality matcha powder for the best flavor.

Use melted better and the written ratio of white sugar and brown sugar.

The added cornstarch will help ensure a soft and fudgy brownie.

Do not overmix your batter once the dry ingredients are added! This could form too much gluten and make the matcha brownies tough.

Top your brownies with white chocolate chips or chopped nuts for a fun twist.

How to Store Matcha Brownies

They're delicious when served warm or with ice cream on top at room temperature!

You may keep these brownies at room temperature for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Can I freeze matcha brownies? Yes! You can freeze matcha brownies or freeze for up to 3 months.

FAQ's

How Do I Ensure My Brownies Stay Green?

The color of your brownies will be influenced by the grade of matcha you use. I used ceremonial grade matcha, which is high-quality matcha.

Also, do not overbake! Overbaking the brownies will result in a yellowish brown color on the entire top of the brownie (the inside should stay perfectly green though!) If this happens, you can always dust powdered sugar or more matcha on top!

Do These Brownies Have Caffeine?

Yup! Although, it's not as much when you divide the recipe per brownie.

1 teaspoon of matcha powder will contain approximately 70 mg of caffeine. There are a total of 6 teaspoons in this entire recipe, which gives us 420 mpg of caffeine.

Split that amount 9 brownies and you have about 46 mg of caffeine per brownie, about the same as a cup of green tea!

So, if you're looking for a delicious and energizing treat, matcha brownies are a perfect choice!

Is Matcha Good For You?

Yes, matcha is very good for you, but you probably don't want to isolate your consumption of matcha to brownie form. 😉

Matcha tea is a powerful mental booster with the ability to stimulate alpha brain waves, which are responsible for soothing your mind and allowing you focus without difficulty.

The caffeine from matcha will keep yourself effortlessly alert, as will the sugar boost from the brownies.

How to Make Vegan Matcha Brownies?

Although I have not tried it, you can make some swaps in this recipe to fit a vegan lifestyle.

You can omit the butter with vegan butter or coconut oil and the eggs can be replaced with flax or chia eggs.

How to Make Gluten-Free Matcha Brownies?

I have not made these with GF substitutes, but I can say that I've always had good luck on other recipes when swapping the all-purpose flour for a high quality gluten-free flour (like the one from King Arthur Baking Company).

If you need to make these gluten-free, I would also check that the other ingredients you're using are certified GF.

Can I Make These Brownies Ahead of Time?

Yes! These brownies can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature until you're ready to serve.

I hope you enjoy these matcha brownies! If you make them, be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creation. Until next time, happy baking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER BROWNIE RECIPES

• Oreo Brownies
• Brownie Cake with Peppermint Marshmallow Frosting

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