11 easy matcha dessert recipes to make at home
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Matcha is such a delight to bake with that it’s inspired matcha dessert ideas around the world. I’ve even had matcha-flavored Mexican sweet bread (pan dulce).
Because of its fine, powdery texture, matcha has also been adopted in intricate and delicate French desserts like macarons and crepe cake. Without infinite patience, expert know-how, and pastry chef talent, many of these desserty masterpieces are difficult to replicate.
So I put together this list of easy matcha dessert recipes that combine the wondrous flavor of matcha with desserts you can make at home without hassle and fancy equipment.
Japanese food blogger, Yuto, has a delicious lineup of matcha recipes on his blog. This matcha ice cream recipe uses 5 simple ingredients and doesn’t require an ice cream maker or special equipment, so you can make it on the fly. I also featured his hojicha (roasted green tea) ice cream recipe in my list of hojicha dessert recipes to try.
2. Matcha red bean mochi
By: Sift & SimmerSift & Simmer is another go-to food blogger of mine featuring tons of matcha dessert recipes and other Asian sweets. Michelle’s matcha mochi can be filled with red bean paste, which you can make using her recipe or buy at the store. If you’ve never had fresh mochi the day it’s made, you definitely don’t want to pass this up as your next treat to accompany a matcha latte. Chef’s kiss.
3. 4-ingredient whipped dalgona matcha
By: Wow, It's Veggie?!For a level up on matcha lattes, I’d suggest trying dalgona matcha. Apart from coconut cream (which gives the fluffy texture), milk, sugar, and matcha, you’ll definitely want an electric hand mixer. Unless you have an army of helpers looking for an arm workout, manually whisking will take ages to achieve the signature dalgona floof.
Recipe: wowitsveggie.com/dalgona-matcha
4. Matcha marble pound cake
By: Just One CookbookI regularly use Just One Cookbook for all sorts of Japanese recipes, but I’ve made this matcha marble pound cake too many times to count. This isn’t a recipe to do on a whim, as you need to keep many ingredients room temperature before starting to get the perfect texture and moisture. If done right, you get the most delicious pound cake with just the right amount of sweetness.
5. No-bake matcha cheesecake
By: HidaMari CookingHidaMari uses YouTube to share satisfying recipes with step-by-step instructions and and an easy-to-follow format. This matcha cheesecake recipe is no-bake and uses a freezer instead. Because ingredients are listed in the metric system, I’d recommend having a scale available to measure out the precise amounts needed.
Recipe: youtube.com (Recipe in the video!)
6. Matcha shortbread cookies
By: Senbird Tea
Image from Senbird Tea
Senbird Tea is a Japanese tea company near and dear to my heart due to their close relationships with each and every tea farmer they work with. They have a few matcha dessert recipes, one of which is this lovely shortbread cookie that incorporates a sweet matcha base and the milky top reminiscent of a matcha latte.
Recipe: senbirdtea.com/matcha-shortbread-cookies-with-a-honey-milk-glaze
7. Easy matcha latte
By: Oh, How CivilizedThis matcha latte recipe is as simple as latte recipes get with 4 ingredients, although you can swap out honey for the sweetener of your choice. Written by certified tea sommelier, Jee, Oh How Civilized walks you through exactly how to master the perfect latte froth and get that sought-after coffee shop quality.
Website: ohhowcivilized.com/matcha-latte
8. Baked matcha mochi donuts
By: Okonomi KitchenMochi donuts, often called pon de ring, are easily recognizable by their unique ring shape made of five connected donut balls and topped with a glaze. The sweet glutinous rice flour gives mochi donuts a chewier, denser texture than regular donuts. This matcha mochi donut recipe is baked for a healthier spin on a guilty favorite with a delicious matcha theme.
9. Japanese style matcha pudding
By: All Day I Eat
Japanese-style pudding called purin is a custardy delight with a layer of black sugar syrup on top. Pat Tokuyama from All Day I Eat shares a delectable homemade pudding recipe that uses eggs, sugar, milk, matcha, and vanilla as another inventive matcha dessert that you might not yet had the chance to taste.
Website: alldayieat.com/recipe/matcha-purin-japanese-style-custard-pudding-with-matcha-tea
Biscotti are often overlooked in the dessert world, but I honestly think they’re one of the greatest treats to enjoy alongside tea or just have as a snack. They’re often much less sweet than cookies, making them harmonize well with matcha because the sugar doesn’t compete with matcha’s subtle flavors. Matcha Konomi’s matcha biscotti recipe incorporates almonds for a nuttier, earthy spin.
Website: matchakonomi.com/blogs/recipes/almond-matcha-biscotti-recipe
11. Matcha milk jam
By: Steeped Dreams
Milk jam is a bit like dulce de leche or caramel, but with a milkier texture and more subtle flavor, making it the perfect candidate to tie in tea flavors like matcha. Use it as a spread on toast or a topping on any favorite dessert like ice cream. In the original recipe, I use hojicha, but it’s just an easy swap for matcha powder to make the matcha milk jam variety!
Website: steepeddreams.com/blog/hojicha-milk-jam-recipe
Matcha baking FAQs
What kind of matcha should you bake with?
You may have heard of different matcha grades like culinary, ceremonial, and barista. As shared by the owner of Japanese Green Tea Company, matcha grading terms are, in the end, just marketing terms. In fact, those classifications don’t even exist in Japan. Per the accepted definition, however, culinary grade matcha has a bolder flavor meant to mix with other ingredients and a lower price point. Ceremonial grade is better reserved to drink on its own to enjoy the more complex, subtle flavors.
Where to buy culinary-grade matcha?
Seriously though, save the expensive stuff for a delightfully frothed bowl in the morning. If you’re looking for a more cost-effective culinary-grade matcha to use in baking, cooking, and even lattes, check out my list of where to buy the best matcha online to reference.
Does matcha lose its health benefits when baked?
Another reason for using lower grade matcha in baking and not the highest quality powdered green tea is because its health benefits will change during baking. I’ve written about how adding milk to tea can potentially lower antioxidants as shown by studies, which is one of the most celebrated matcha health perks. It turns out that the baking process can also decrease antioxidant content in matcha [1] [2].
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[1] Phongnarisorn, Benjapor, et al. “Enrichment of Biscuits with Matcha Green Tea Powder: Its Impact on Consumer Acceptability and Acute Metabolic Response.” Foods, vol. 7, no. 2, 2018, p. 17., https://doi.org/10.3390/foods7020017.
[2] Sharma, Amber, and Weibiao Zhou. “A Stability Study of Green Tea Catechins during the Biscuit Making Process.” Food Chemistry, vol. 126, no. 2, 2011, pp. 568–573., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.11.044.
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