Matcha Brownies

There’s a moment when a dessert jumps from being homey to a little bit sophisticated—and that’s exactly where these matcha brownies live. With a buttery texture and earthy green tea flavor, they’re both indulgent and refined. They’re the brownie that grew up, traveled a bit and came back with better taste.

Calling these “brownies” is a tad misleading. They’re technically blondies since there’s no cocoa powder in the batter. The matcha tea powder adds a lovely green hue, and brings a distinct earthy, slightly grassy flavor to these bars. Like cocoa powder, it absorbs moisture, resulting in a fudgy, rich texture. We add white chocolate chips to make them extra special, but you can leave them out (or use regular chocolate chips). Make a batch of these chewy treats for any occasion, whether you need a unique bake sale treat or a simple afternoon snack.

Matcha Brownies Ingredients

• Butter: Unsalted butter is key to this matcha brownie batter, providing rich flavor and the perfect chewy texture.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds balanced sweetness and creates a chewy texture. Use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar; the darker sugar will add a more robust flavor.
• Vanilla extract: A splash of real vanilla extract adds depth to these matcha brownies.
• Eggs: Eggs help the matcha brownies rise while baking. Bake with room-temperature eggs for the easiest incorporation.
• All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour provides structure to the brownie batter.
• Ground almonds: A few tablespoons of ground almonds enhance the texture and flavor of these treats.
• Matcha: Matcha powder is easy to find at most grocery stores and online. Look for culinary-grade or ceremonial-grade matcha, as it’s the best option for baking.
• Baking powder and baking soda: Leavening agents like baking powder and baking soda help baked goods rise and contribute to a chewy texture.
• Salt: Just a touch of salt balances the sweetness and taste of the matcha brownies.
• White baking chips: Stir white chocolate chips into the batter as a lovely complement to the matcha flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven and prep the pan

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a greased 13×9-inch pan with parchment paper, letting the ends extend up the sides. Grease the parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix the butter, brown sugar and eggs

In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar and vanilla until they’re blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking to blend after each addition.

Step 3: Finish the batter

In another bowl, mix the flour, ground almonds, matcha, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Stir the dry ingredients mixture into the butter mixture.

Fold in the white baking chips.

Step 4: Bake the brownies

Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake it until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes (do not overbake it). Cool the brownie completely in the pan on a wire rack. Lifting with the parchment, remove the brownie from the pan and cut it into bars.

Matcha Brownies Variations

• Add a drizzle: Top the matcha brownies with a drizzle of additional melted white chocolate. Or consider layering on white chocolate buttercream frosting.
• Use chocolate chips: Not a white chocolate fan? It’s a wonderful pairing for matcha, but you could use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips in the batter instead.
• Incorporate nuts: The flavor of matcha pairs so well with a variety of nuts. Stir chopped pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts or walnuts into the matcha brownie batter to add a touch of crunch.

How to Store Matcha Brownies

Preserve the flavor and soft, chewy texture of your matcha brownies by storing them in an airtight container or a zip-top bag.

How long do matcha brownies last?

Keep matcha brownies stored at room temperature for up to five days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Can you freeze matcha brownies?

Just like you can easily freeze brownies, you can store matcha brownies in the freezer. Store them in an airtight container, in a freezer bag or wrapped in a layer of storage wrap and a layer of aluminum foil. Keep matcha brownies in the freezer for up to two months and thaw them at room temperature.

Matcha Brownies Tips

How do you make these matcha brownies gluten free?

Ground almonds and all-purpose flour are the structural building blocks of these matcha brownies. Ground almonds are naturally gluten free, so you can easily swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour to make gluten-free matcha brownies.

Where can you buy matcha for matcha brownies?

You can use any type of matcha powder in these matcha brownies. Look in the tea aisle at your local grocery store, or choose a matcha from a specialty tea store. Matcha can be affected by heat and other ingredients, so it’s best to use culinary-grade or ceremonial-grade matcha for baking.