Ultimate Fudgy Matcha Brownies: Your Guide to Perfect Green Tea & Chocolate Bliss
Prepare to fall in love with these incredible fudgy matcha brownies! Combining the unique, earthy notes of premium green tea powder with generous chunks of your favorite chocolate – whether it’s rich dark chocolate, sweet white chocolate, or creamy milk chocolate – these chewy treats are a true delight. While I often enjoy my matcha brownies without white chocolate to let the green tea flavor truly shine, the beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. You can easily adapt it to include your preferred chocolate or even skip it entirely for a pure matcha experience. No matter your choice, expect a perfectly fudgy texture and that coveted crinkly top that makes every bite a dream.
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If you’re a fan of unique, decadent desserts, you’ll also adore my Condensed Milk Brownies, my Biscoff Blondies with White Chocolate, or my Pumpkin Blondies with Apple Cider Glaze!
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Why These Matcha Brownies Are The Absolute Best
Forget everything you thought you knew about brownies – these aren’t your ordinary chocolate squares. These are the best matcha brownies you’ll ever taste, a truly gourmet experience right from your kitchen! The subtle bitterness and vibrant notes of matcha green tea powder find their perfect partner in rich dark chocolate or creamy milk chocolate. Each bite offers a harmonious balance of flavors, making these green tea brownies a unique and unexpectedly addictive sweet treat. They boast a wonderfully fudgy texture that melts in your mouth, complemented by that signature crackly top, a hallmark of a truly well-made brownie.
Because these brownies feature matcha powder instead of traditional cocoa powder, they share characteristics with blondies, offering a rich, buttery base. Much like my popular pumpkin blondies or my brown butter banana blondies, these matcha brownies deliver a distinct flavor profile that is utterly irresistible. For true matcha lovers, this recipe takes the classic brownie concept to an entirely new, elevated level, promising an unforgettable dessert experience.
What Do Matcha Brownies Taste Like? Unpacking the Flavor Profile
These chewy matcha brownies offer a delightful journey for your taste buds, centered around the distinctive flavor of matcha. Matcha, a finely ground powder made from specially grown and processed green tea leaves, brings a truly unique dimension to these brownies. Unlike regular green tea, where the leaves are steeped and discarded, matcha incorporates the entire tea leaf, resulting in a much stronger, more concentrated green tea flavor. You’ll notice a fresh, slightly grassy, and subtly sweet taste with a hint of umami – a savory richness that makes matcha so captivating.
When baked into a fudgy brownie, this earthy green tea powder creates a sophisticated flavor profile that stands out from traditional desserts. The sweetness of the brown and white sugars in the recipe perfectly balances matcha’s natural slight bitterness, ensuring a harmonious and incredibly palatable treat. Beyond its flavor, matcha also imparts a beautiful, vibrant green color to the brownies, making them as visually appealing as they are delicious.
Matcha’s origins trace back to the 12th century in Japan, where it became an integral part of the revered tea ceremony, cherished for its unique taste and calming properties. Bringing this ancient ingredient into a modern dessert like a brownie offers a fascinating fusion of tradition and contemporary baking.
Choosing the Right Matcha Powder for Baking
When it comes to matcha, quality matters, especially for taste and color. Matcha is typically categorized into three grades, each serving a different purpose:
- Ceremonial Grade Matcha: This is the highest quality matcha, revered for its use in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. It’s characterized by its incredibly bright, vibrant green color and delicate, nuanced flavor. While you can use ceremonial grade in baking, it’s typically more expensive and its subtle complexities might be overshadowed by other ingredients.
- Premium Grade Matcha: Also high quality, premium grade matcha offers a slightly less stringent standard than ceremonial but is still excellent for everyday drinks, lattes, and, crucially, for baking. It provides a good balance of vibrant color and strong matcha flavor without the premium price tag of ceremonial grade. This is often considered the best matcha powder for baking.
- Culinary Grade Matcha: This grade is specifically developed for cooking and baking. It usually has a lighter green color and a slightly more robust, sometimes bitter or grassy flavor, which stands up well to other ingredients when baked. For recipes like these matcha brownies, a good quality culinary-grade matcha is perfect. It’s affordable enough for generous use in batters and doughs, ensuring you get that authentic matcha taste without breaking the bank. However, feel free to use a higher quality matcha if you prefer a more intense or nuanced flavor.
No matter which grade you choose, ensure your matcha powder is stored in an airtight container away from light and heat to maintain its freshness, color, and flavor.
Does Matcha and Chocolate Go Together? An Unbeatable Pairing!
Absolutely! The combination of matcha and chocolate is a match made in dessert heaven, creating a sophisticated flavor profile that delights the palate. The sweetness of brown sugar and the rich creaminess of chocolate chips perfectly balance out the earthy, sometimes slightly bitter notes of matcha. This creates a beautifully complex and harmonious taste experience.
What’s truly exciting is the versatility of chocolate in these brownies. You can easily transform them into luxurious white chocolate matcha brownies, where the sweet, creamy vanilla notes of white chocolate wonderfully complement the distinct matcha flavor. Or opt for classic dark chocolate, which adds a deeper, more intense contrast that matcha lovers will appreciate.
If you’re eager to explore more matcha and chocolate combinations, you simply must try my Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies! And for those who are true chocolate connoisseurs, you’ll undoubtedly adore my rich Matilda’s Chocolate Cake or my perfectly portioned 2 Bite Brownies! If you’re a brownie aficionado in general, don’t miss out on my decadent Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting!
Fudgy Matcha Brownies: Essential Ingredients for Success
Crafting the perfect batch of fudgy matcha brownies starts with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that desirable texture and exquisite flavor:
- Melted Butter: I typically opt for salted butter as it subtly enhances the overall flavor. If you’re using unsalted butter, simply add about ½ teaspoon of salt along with your dry ingredients to achieve a similar balance. The melted butter contributes significantly to the fudgy texture.
- Light Brown Sugar: This isn’t just for sweetness; light brown sugar introduces a deeper, more caramel-like sweetness and is key to developing that wonderfully chewy texture that distinguishes these brownies. For a slightly different flavor profile, coconut sugar can also be used.
- White Granulated Sugar: Providing pure sweetness, white sugar works in tandem with brown sugar to perfectly complement and balance the unique matcha flavor in this easy brownie recipe.
- Eggs and Egg Yolk: Using both whole eggs and an extra egg yolk is essential for achieving the ultimate fudgy consistency. Ensure your eggs are at room temperature, as this helps them emulsify more easily with the melted butter and sugars, resulting in a smoother, more uniform batter.
- Vanilla Extract: A dash of high-quality pure vanilla extract elevates the flavor profile, adding warmth and depth that beautifully complements the matcha. For an even more artisanal touch, consider making your own homemade vanilla extract with just two ingredients!
- All-Purpose Flour: Proper flour measurement is critical for baked goods. For the most accurate results, I highly recommend measuring your flour by weight using a kitchen scale. This prevents over-measuring, which can lead to dry, dense brownies.
- Matcha Powder: This is the star of our show! Instead of cocoa powder found in classic brownie recipes, we use good quality culinary grade matcha. Its vibrant green color and distinct earthy flavor define these unique brownies.
- Chopped Baking Chocolate: This is where you can truly customize your brownies! I typically use Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate for a rich, deep flavor that contrasts beautifully with the matcha. However, feel free to use milk chocolate for a sweeter profile. If you’re aiming for stunning matcha white chocolate brownies, simply swap in white chocolate chips or chunks.
Essential Equipment for Baking Matcha Brownies
Having the right tools makes all the difference in baking. For these fudgy matcha brownies, you’ll need a few key pieces of equipment to ensure a smooth and successful baking process:
- 9×9 Inch Baking Dish: A sturdy 9×9 baking dish is ideal for achieving the perfect thickness and even baking for your brownies.
- Whisk: A good whisk is essential for thoroughly combining your wet ingredients and sugars, ensuring a smooth, lump-free batter.
- Parchment Paper: Lining your pan with parchment paper is a game-changer! It prevents sticking and allows for easy removal of your cooled brownie slab, making cutting a breeze.
- Wire Rack: A wire rack is crucial for cooling your brownies completely, which helps set their fudgy texture and prevents them from becoming soggy.
- Kitchen Scale: As mentioned, for precise and consistent results, especially when measuring flour, a kitchen scale is highly recommended. It’s the most accurate way to measure dry ingredients by weight.
- Rubber Spatula: Perfect for folding in dry ingredients gently to avoid overmixing, and for scraping down the sides of your bowl.
With these tools ready, you’re well-equipped to bake a batch of extraordinary matcha brownies!
Are Matcha Brownies Healthy? Plus Vegan & Dietary Options!
While matcha itself is renowned for numerous health benefits – packed with antioxidants and known to boost metabolism and concentration – these are still brownies, a delightful treat! As with any dessert, moderation is key. If you’re curious about how these fit into your specific dietary plan, it’s always best to consult with your personal nutrition expert.
However, I’m happy to share that this recipe is quite adaptable for various dietary needs:
Matcha Brownies – Vegan Option
Transforming these fudgy matcha brownies into a vegan-friendly dessert is surprisingly simple! Here’s how you can make the necessary swaps:
- Butter: Replace traditional butter with an equal amount of high-quality vegan butter.
- Chocolate: Ensure your chocolate chunks or chips are dairy-free. There are many delicious dairy-free dark and white chocolate options available.
- Eggs: Swap out the eggs for a reliable egg replacer. Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer is a fantastic choice that works well in baking. Alternatively, you can use flax eggs (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, let sit for 5 minutes) or chia eggs.
- Sugar: Double-check that the sugar you use is certified vegan, as some granulated sugars are processed with bone char. Opt for organic or explicitly labeled vegan sugars.
With these simple substitutions, you can enjoy these delightful matcha brownies, guilt-free and vegan-friendly!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Matcha Brownies
These fudgy matcha brownies are incredibly straightforward to make, even for novice bakers! Follow these easy steps to achieve a perfectly gooey and flavorful batch. For precise measurements and more detailed guidance, please refer to the recipe card below.
1. In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together the melted butter and both sugars until the mixture is smooth and well combined. This is a crucial step for the fudgy texture.
2. Incorporate the room-temperature eggs, extra egg yolk, and vanilla extract into the mixture. Whisk vigorously for a couple of minutes until the mixture lightens in color and becomes thick and glossy. This creates the signature crinkly top!
3. Gently sift the all-purpose flour and matcha powder into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, carefully fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough brownies.
4. If you’re adding chocolate, now is the time to fold in your chopped chocolate (dark, milk, or white chunks/chips) until evenly distributed throughout the batter. This step is optional but highly recommended!
5. Line a 9×9 square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy lifting. Spread the matcha batter evenly into the prepared pan, ensuring a smooth top.
6. Bake until the center is just set but still slightly soft (see tip below for doneness). Let cool in the baking pan for at least 15 minutes before using the parchment overhang to lift the entire slab onto a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely before cutting into perfect bars with a sharp knife.
Hint: For the ultimate indulgence, enjoy these fudgy matcha brownies while they’re still a little warm and delightfully gooey. They are absolutely divine, especially when topped with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream!
Customizing Your Matcha Brownies: Variations & Substitutions
One of the best aspects of this chewy matcha brownies recipe is its flexibility. You can easily adapt it to suit various dietary needs or simply switch up the flavors to your preference:
Dietary Adaptations
- Dairy-Free Option: To make these brownies dairy-free, simply swap out the butter for your favorite vegan butter alternative. Additionally, ensure you use dairy-free dark or white chocolate chunks or chips.
- Gluten-Free Option: Yes, you can enjoy gluten-free matcha brownies! Replace the all-purpose flour with a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Make sure the blend contains xanthan gum for optimal texture.
Matcha Brownies: Your Choice of White, Dark, or Milk Chocolate (or None!)
The beauty of this recipe truly shines in its adaptability, especially when it comes to chocolate. While I personally love making these dark chocolate matcha brownies without white chocolate for a robust flavor contrast, you have endless possibilities to switch it up based on your cravings:
- Matcha Brownies with White Chocolate: For a sweeter, creamier, and visually striking brownie, swap the chopped dark chocolate or dark chocolate chips for white chocolate chunks! The vanilla notes in white chocolate pair wonderfully with matcha, and the color contrast is absolutely stunning.
- Matcha Brownies with Milk Chocolate: If you desire a balance between the intense richness of dark chocolate and the sweetness of white chocolate, milk chocolate is an excellent compromise. It adds a gentle sweetness and familiar creaminess that makes these brownies universally appealing.
- Matcha Brownies – No Chocolate Version: For purists who want the full, unadulterated flavor of matcha, these brownies are still absolutely perfect without any chocolate at all! Simply omit the chopped chocolate and follow the rest of the recipe as usual. The rich, earthy matcha flavor will be the star of the show.
- Matcha Brownies with Frosting: To take your indulgence to the next level, consider topping your cooled matcha brownies with a decadent frosting. My Chocolate Fudge Frosting recipe adds an extra layer of chocolatey goodness that pairs wonderfully with the green tea base.
Storage and Freshness Tips for Matcha Brownies
To keep your fudgy matcha brownies tasting their best and maintaining their wonderful texture, proper storage is key:
- Room Temperature: Store any leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. This is ideal for maintaining their soft, chewy texture.
- Refrigeration: For longer storage, transfer the brownies to an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 5 days. Chilled brownies can have an even firmer, fudgier consistency.
- Freezing: These brownies freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, wrap individual brownies tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to two months. Thaw them at room temperature or gently warm them in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.
Top Baking Tip: Don’t Overbake!
The secret to achieving that irresistible fudgy, gooey texture, much like my popular Biscoff Brownies, lies in careful baking. Do not overbake your matcha brownies! Begin checking them for doneness around 18-20 minutes. If you’ve omitted chocolate chunks, you might even need to check them a little sooner. The center should still look slightly undercooked and soft when you remove them from the oven. They will continue to set as they cool, ensuring that perfect fudgy consistency.
📖 Recipe
Matcha Brownies with Dark Chocolate Chunks
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Equipment you may need
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9×9 baking pan
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whisk
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parchment paper
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mixing bowls
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measuring cups and spoons
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rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) salted butter – melted and slightly cooled
- 3 large eggs – room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk – room temperature
- 2 teaspoon (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (220 g) brown sugar – packed
- 2 tablespoon (30 ml) matcha powder – good quality culinary grade, or ceremonial grade; plus more for dusting
- 1⅓ cup (167 g) all-purpose flour – measured by weight with a kitchen scale or with the spoon-and-level method
- 1 cup (132 g) bittersweet baking chocolate – (optional) chopped — feel free to use milk, dark, or white chocolate or chocolate chips
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9″ baking pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, leaving a generous overhang on two sides for easy removal of the baked brownies.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and both granulated and brown sugars. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth and evenly incorporated, about 1-2 minutes.1 cup salted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ⅔ cup granulated sugar
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Add the room-temperature eggs, egg yolk, and pure vanilla extract to the mixture. Whisk well for another 1-2 minutes until the mixture appears lightened in color and thick. This aeration helps create a crackly top.3 large eggs, 1 large egg yolk, 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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Sift the matcha powder and all-purpose flour directly into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the ingredients together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten too much and result in a tougher brownie.2 tablespoon matcha powder, 1⅓ cup all-purpose flour
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If using, gently fold in the chopped baking chocolate (bittersweet, milk, or white chocolate chunks/chips) until evenly distributed throughout the batter.1 cup bittersweet baking chocolate
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Pour the matcha brownie batter into the prepared 9×9″ baking pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is just slightly jiggly when gently shaken. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.
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Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before using the parchment paper overhang to carefully lift the entire slab onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, use a sharp knife to cut them into even bars.
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Notes
Storage and Freezing: Store your matcha brownies in an airtight container for up to two days at room temperature, or up to 5 days in the fridge. For longer storage, freeze them in an airtight container for up to two months.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
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Frequently Asked Questions About Matcha Brownies
The calorie count for these matcha brownies can vary slightly depending on your choice of chocolate (or lack thereof). As listed in the detailed recipe card above, one serving (1 brownie) typically contains around 311 calories. This estimate provides a good baseline for your dietary planning.
Absolutely! While culinary grade matcha is often recommended for baking due to its slightly stronger flavor that holds up well against other ingredients and its more affordable price point, you can certainly use drinking-grade matcha (premium or ceremonial). If you have high-quality matcha on hand, feel free to use it; it will impart an even more vibrant color and nuanced flavor to your matcha brownies. Brands like AprikaLife offer excellent culinary matcha powder that works great for both baking and beverages.
Matcha significantly impacts baked goods in several ways. Firstly, it imparts its characteristic rich, earthy, and slightly bittersweet green tea flavor. Secondly, it lends a beautiful, often vibrant green color to your treats, making them visually appealing and distinctive. Lastly, don’t forget that matcha contains caffeine, so your matcha brownies will also offer a gentle energy boost! The quality of your matcha will directly influence the intensity of both flavor and color in your baked goods.
The secret to a beautiful crinkly top on your fudgy matcha brownies lies in whisking the eggs and sugars well until they are light, thick, and glossy. This process incorporates air and creates a stable meringue-like layer on top. Additionally, baking at the correct temperature and not overmixing the flour helps maintain this delicate surface.
Yes, absolutely! Nuts can add a wonderful textural contrast and flavor to these chewy matcha brownies. Chopped walnuts, pecans, or even macadamia nuts would pair beautifully with the earthy matcha and rich chocolate. Simply fold about ½ to 1 cup of your preferred chopped nuts into the batter along with the chocolate chunks.
