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What comes to mind when you think of matcha? A traditional cup of matcha green tea? Or maybe a creamy matcha latte is more your thing? Both are delicious choices. But have you ever considered the addition of matcha to your healthy matcha green tea snacks and desserts?
The rich flavor of Japanese matcha pairs brilliantly with a variety of foods with sweet notes, such as chocolate, vanilla, lemon, and ginger, making matcha a fun ingredient to add when making all kinds of matcha snacks. Matcha’s deep green color also adds a wonderful natural splash of green to desserts, puddings, frostings, and ice cream.
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What is Matcha Powder?
In a nutshell, high grade matcha tea is made by grinding the best quality Japanese green tea leaves into a fine green powder.
Matcha has long been a part of the Japanese tea ceremony but has only recently gained popularity in other parts of the world. Today, it’s not uncommon to see matcha appearing in recipes like iced matcha lattes, overnight oats, chia puddings, smoothies, cheesecakes, truffles, cupcakes, and even salad dressings.
If you want to know more, I wrote a blog post all about matcha that also included 23 Delicious Matcha Green Tea Drink Recipes. So, be sure to check that out.
Why Add Matcha Green Tea to Snacks?
Matcha is an extremely nutritious food, full of beneficial antioxidants, L-theanine (an amino acid), vitamins, and minerals. As such, it has numerous health benefits. For example, several studies have shown that matcha may boost metabolism, combat inflammation, increase focus and attention, help you relax and relieve stress, strengthen the immune system, maintain balanced blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease1.
So my question really should be, why wouldn’t you include matcha in your snacks and desserts?
Grades of Matcha
The best quality matcha tea you can buy is ceremonial grade matcha. This is because it has been ground from the youngest tea leaves and all the stems and veins are removed to create the smoothest flavor and texture. The main purpose of ceremonial matcha is to drink. Traditionally speaking, ceremonial matcha powder is not recommended for baking, cooking, or garnishing. This is because the other ingredients in the recipe may overpower matcha’s mild and delicate flavor.
However, suppose you’re looking for a natural green food coloring. In that case, ceremonial grade matcha may be a better choice than culinary grade matcha, which is stronger and has a more bitter taste.
Quality culinary grade matcha is regarded as the best choice for baked goods, smoothies, and drinks containing dairy because it has a more powerful green tea flavor that can stand up well to other ingredients. It also maintains its vibrant green color during baking.
You will see that culinary grade matcha comes in five categories. There’s a premium grade, café grade, classic grade, ingredient grade, and kitchen grade matcha, and the traditional use for each grade is shown in the table below2.
Matcha Grades & their Uses
Matcha Grade | Common Uses |
---|---|
Ceremonial | Matcha green tea |
Premium | Lattes, smoothies, blended drinks |
Café | Smoothies, lattes, coffees, blended drinks, cooking, baking |
Classic | Smoothies, lattes, coffee, blended drinks, cooking, baking |
Ingredient | Dairy recipes (ice cream, buttercream), sauces, desserts |
Kitchen | Large scale food production (supermarket bakes) |
Despite the traditional purpose of matcha grades, many people still prefer to use ceremonial grade matcha for everyday use. By that, I mean ceremonial matcha is often the recommended ingredient of choice in blended drinks, and baking recipes you’ll find online. This is most likely because many suppliers pass off poor-quality matcha as culinary-grade matcha3. This just emphasizes how important it is to buy your matcha from a reputable brand.
In the end, though, the best matcha is always going to be the one you enjoy the most. So, use what you love!
Matcha Powders I’m Currently Loving!
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Buy Now →38 Healthy Matcha Green Tea Snacks & Desserts
Without further ado, let’s get those taste buds tingling with 38 of the best healthy matcha green tea snacks and treats.
Matcha Coconut Snowballs
Michelle at Sift & Simmer has a Matcha Coconut Snowball recipe that I'm utterly obsessed with. They're not only adorable, but they're also a deliciously simple snack. With only 5 ingredients – almond flour, shredded coconut, maple syrup, coconut extract, and almond milk – matcha coconut balls are ready in 15 minutes.
Simply toss a couple into your handbag, and you'll have a simple portable snack when hunger strikes.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Vegan Pistachio Matcha Tart
Thanks to its crumbly crust and smooth and silky matcha filling, this Vegan Pistachio Matcha Tart might just become one of your favorite matcha desserts. It has a lovely blend of sweet and earthy flavors, and every bite is a delight. The fact that it's a no-bake dessert also makes this one a winner in my book!
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Keto Matcha Frozen Yogurt Bark
Perhaps one of the simplest and most tasty snacks you'll find on the internet. This yogurt bark is made with only 5 ingredients – greek yogurt, erythritol*, matcha, pistachios, and vanilla extract – and takes only 3 minutes to prepare.
* if you're not a fan of erythritol, you could use a little maple syrup or honey to sweeten your yogurt bark. However, it will no longer be keto-friendly.
gluten-free | keto | vegetarian
Matcha Muffins
These matcha muffins are a healthier alternative to store-bought muffins. They are loaded with nutritious whole grains (whole wheat flour and oat flour), have less sugar, and are rich in matcha flavor.
The earthy matcha notes combine with sweet vanilla and sour lemon to create a delicious muffin you'll love.
vegetarian
Matcha Smoothie Bowl
I know that smoothie bowls are more often associated with breakfast, but does anyone else enjoy a smoothie bowl as a treat? Yep, me too. It's a delicious way to get more fruit and vegetables into your day.
This smoothie bowl is a wonderful combination of matcha, spinach, banana, pineapple, vanilla extract, and unsweetened almond milk. The sweetness of the fruit really balances out the savory notes of the matcha and the spinach.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian | no added sugar
No-Bake Matcha Cheesecake
This No-Bake Matcha Cheesecake is simply divine. If you love matcha and you go weak at the knees for cheesecake, you're in for a real treat. As Deryn from Running on Real Food! describes, "it's like a matcha latte in cheesecake form!"
This cheesecake has a deliciously nutty crust, with a smooth and creamy vegan "cream cheese" layer made with cashews, coconut oil, coconut cream, maple syrup, lemon juice, matcha powder, and vanilla extract. Tell me, does it get any better than this?
To make the cashew filling in this recipe, you'll need a food processor or a high-powered blender. I like the Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Sugar Free Chocolate
How beautiful are these bite-sized pieces of matcha chocolate heaven? They're a tasty and simple keto snack that also makes a great present for friends and family.
If you don't want to make the chocolate heart-shaped as Katrin has, you can simply use a different-shaped chocolate mold. I purchased this silicone chocolate mold set with six alternative shapes, including hearts, which are great.
gluten-free | keto | vegetarian
Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies
A Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookie of dreams, with chocolatey, oaty, chewy centers and plenty of matcha flavor. These cookies, in my opinion, are the ideal sweet treat to pair with a soothing cup of green tea.
dairy-free | vegan | vegetarian
Chocolate Matcha Crispy Truffles
These Chocolate Matcha Crispy Truffles are little bites of snack heaven. The truffles are wonderfully decadent but not too rich. The earthiness of the matcha balances out the sweetness of the white chocolate.
Instructions for making this recipe without the white chocolate have been provided by the author if you're looking to reduce your sugar intake.
vegetarian
Matcha Lime Popcorn
Next up is a perfect savory snack. Matcha popcorn! Get ready for film night because, in just 10 minutes, you're gonna have a lap full of real matcha-flavored popcorn with a hint of zesty lime. What will you watch with your new favorite popcorn snack?
Note: This recipe does contain sugar. If you're aiming for a low sugar-free diet, you could use erythritol or no sugar instead.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
California Avocado Matcha Chia Pudding
This California Avocado Matcha Chia Pudding by Kelly at Eat the Gains is one of the best chia pudding recipes. Made with almond milk, matcha, avocado, and chia seeds, it's super thick and creamy and full of healthy fats and protein. Frankly, it's a nutritional powerhouse. You can feel really good about eating this scrummy snack.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Dark Chocolate Matcha Coconut Truffles
These antioxidant-rich Dark Chocolate Matcha Coconut Truffles were developed by Donna at Whole Food Bellies. When you're craving something sweet, they are just perfection.
All you'll need is shredded coconut, maple syrup, coconut oil, salt, dark chocolate, your choice of milk, matcha green tea powder. Oh, and 15 minutes of your time.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Bars
These Matcha Bars are loaded with real food ingredients and are bursting with flavor. They have a chewy almond flour base topped with a creamy matcha-cashew filling with dairy-free chocolate chips. The bars are then smothered with chocolate and a sprinkle of goji berries. Now tell me, is your mouth watering yet?
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Berry Avocado Salad with Creamy Matcha Dressing
Ok, so maybe this recipe is more of a light bite than a snack or dessert. Still, it's such a fantastic recipe that I wanted to make sure you saw it and perhaps tried it yourself. This veg and fruit salad is a light and perfectly summery dish packed to the brim with nutrient-dense ingredients like mixed greens, blueberries, strawberries, avocado, hemp seeds, cashews, lemon, ginger, and matcha. In fact, there's not one single ingredient in this recipe that is not loaded with health benefits! Sweet matcha, it's good!
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian | no added sugar
Healthy Chocolate Truffles
This recipe must be one of the most delectable, healthful, and easy-to-make snacks! Dark chocolate, avocado, matcha powder, and cocoa powder are all you'll need. So, if you're looking for a treat that's tasty and good for you, these truffles are the way to go. They've become a very popular snack in my house!
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian | no added sugar
Strawberry Matcha Latte
This may be a drink recipe, but I'm awarding it snack status due to its uber delicious thick strawberry purée layer. Mikha at Mikha Eats promises that her recipe will make you fall in love at first sip. I completely agree! The earthy matcha flavor, paired with the sweetness of the strawberries and then the creaminess of the milk, is a trifecta made in heaven.
This recipe calls for a tablespoon of condensed milk. But, if you don't want to use condensed milk, I recommend a little heavy (double) cream or coconut cream as a substitute.
gluten-free | vegetarian
Matcha Mochi
I just adore this Matcha Mochi recipe by Thomas at Full of Plants. Just look at the beautiful green color of those Japanese matcha snacks.
As far as Japanese snacks go, mochi is one of my favorites. Mochi is a Japanese rice cake. Soft, chewy rice is filled with a sweet filling and is closed to form a small bun shape.
This vegan mochi features sweet white chocolate ganache. When combined with the earthiness of matcha, you get the perfect pair.
If you'd like a sugar-free option, the author believes the recipe would work with a powdered sweetener.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream for Two
This matcha nice cream recipe by Kate at Babaganosh comes together in just 10 minutes with two ingredients - matcha powder and frozen bananas.
As well as being incredibly creamy when blended, bananas provide a beautiful natural sweetness to complement the earthiness of the matcha. Delicious!
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian | no added sugar
Matcha Cookies
The inside of these lovely golden cookies is soft and chewy, while the outside is slightly crisp. They're the perfect choice to accompany a good old cup of tea.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Overnight Oats
Matcha Overnight Oats makes a healthy and easy meal prep breakfast option for when you're on the go. Or, you can use the recipe to take your morning oatmeal to the next level. Personally, I love diving into a small portion of overnight oats as a snack if I need an afternoon pick-me-up.
gluten-free | vegetarian
Matcha Green Tea Energy Balls
Energy balls are the perfect snack when you're on the go. And the best part, they're packed with nutty goodness and have a distinct matcha green tea flavor. They're also made using only five yummy ingredients – oats, cashews, dates, and almond milk.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian | no added sugar
Matcha Green Tea Ginger Smoothie Bowl
Another beautiful smoothie bowl that, while great for breakfast, also works well as a fruit and vegetable-packed snack. It has a delicious flavor and well as being high in antioxidants, protein, and fiber. What more could you ask for?
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian | no added sugar
Vegan Matcha Cookies
These chocolate chip Vegan Matcha Cookies are easy to make with just eight ingredients. As these cookies are made with almond flour, they are naturally gluten-free and grain-free. And, as they're are made without eggs, butter, or milk, they are also vegan.
If you're not too sure about matcha in baking, this recipe might be a good place to start, as the matcha flavor is very subtle.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Keto Matcha Latte Fat Bombs
These Keto Matcha Latte Fat Bombs are for you if you love matcha lattes. They are energizing little bombs of goodness that are low carb, with only 1 net carb per truffle – ideal if you're following a keto diet.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Coconut Ice Cream
Have you noticed that most healthy ice cream recipes often use frozen bananas? But what if you don't like bananas? Don't worry; I've got you covered if that's the case. Lauren from Lauren Kelly Nutrition utilizes coconut milk as the base of her ice cream, and it's delicious!
It's light and refreshing, and it's easy to prepare. All you have to do is make the ice cream the day before you want to eat it, so it has time to firm up in the freezer overnight. But the wait is well worth it!
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Chia Seed Pudding
This recipe for Matcha Chia Seed Pudding can be made ahead for the perfect on-the-go healthy snack. It is made up of three main ingredients including chia seeds, matcha, and your milk of choice. It really couldn't be easier or more delicious. Especially, if you top your pudding with fresh berries.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian | no added sugar
Soft Serve Matcha Ice Cream
If you've been longing to make homemade soft serve ice cream and you simply don't have the ice cream machine to take that leap, this recipe is for you. It's creamy, it's easy and relatively straightforward. And, just look at that beautiful green color.
To make this soft-serve ice cream, you'll need heavy (double) cream, matcha powder, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt.
If like me, you're trying to reduce your sugar intake, cream of coconut is an excellent substitute for sweetened condensed milk. It will add a slightly tropical flavor to your soft serve ice cream, which works deliciously well with matcha. It's also dairy-free and can be substituted cup for cup (ml for ml).
gluten-free | vegetarian
Green Tea Matcha Nice Cream (Vegan)
Faith at Healthy Sweet Eats has come up with a fantastic Nice Cream recipe. Faith's take on Matcha Green Tea Nice Cream contains bananas, as expected, but it also incorporates subtle notes of coconut and vanilla, elevating the creamy treat to a new level. This is a delicious alternative to regular ice cream.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
5-Ingredient Vegan Matcha Ice Cream
Yes, yes, I know. Another ice-cream recipe! But who doesn't love ice cream? This recipe by Victoria at Wow, It's Veggie delivers exactly what you'd expect from ice cream. Not only is the texture spot on, but it's a stunningly beautiful green matcha color, it's light, it's flavourful and it's totally delicious.
You will need an ice cream maker for this recipe. I love this Cuisinart Iced Dessert Maker to make my ice cream as it's easy to use, relatively compact, and reasonably priced.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
The Best Matcha Green Tea Chia Pudding
If you're looking for a high-protein snack, this one is for you. This creamy Matcha Chia Pudding makes for an incredibly nutritious snack. It is simple to make with just a few simple ingredients - chia seeds, matcha, coconut milk, unsweetened coconut, and sugar (optional).
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Bread
If you're partial to reaching for a slice of bread and butter as a snack, this recipe has you in mind. This Matcha Bread recipe uses almond flour, almond extract, and sliced almonds for a lovely moist and aromatic quick bread with all the benefits of green tea powder. Just yum!
dairy-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Mint Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
If all else fails, serve them a bowl of mint ice cream loaded with chocolate chips! This is possibly one of the most popular ways to consume matcha in my house! It puts a smile on everyone's face.
It's a creamy, dairy-free, gluten-free dessert made with coconut milk. A light and refreshing treat with beautiful natural color! So much deliciousness.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Protein Balls
These wonderfully sweet and fudgy matcha protein balls are surprisingly simple to make with only four ingredients. They're also raw and vegan, and they benefit from matcha green tea's earthy, full-bodied flavor.
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Chia Seed Energy Bites
These Matcha Chia Seed Energy Bites from Christine at Jar of Lemons are full of matcha flavor. They are wholesome and pack a satisfying crunch and even better, they take just 5 minutes to make!
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Collagen Mint Matcha Coconut Butter Cups
Are you a fan of peanut butter cups? Why not try these Collagen Mint Matcha Coconut Butter Cups as a fun new flavor experience. These little bite-sized gems are loaded with healthy fats and protein and have no added sugar. The perfect healthy snack for all you matcha lovers out there.
All you need is five ingredients – dark chocolate, coconut butter, Vital Proteins Matcha Collagen, peppermint extract, and salt – and 20 minutes, and you'll have yourself a convenient little chocolate treat. And, they are indeed a treat!
dairy-free | gluten-free | no added sugar
Vegan Dalgona Whipped Matcha Latte
Yes, a Dalgona Whipped Matcha Latte is technically a drink recipe. But, due to the healthy fats and protein, you'll get by drinking this glass of deliciousness, I say it definitely can double up as a snack.
So wake up your taste buds with this matcha latte ingredient combo – coconut milk, matcha, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and almond milk – and it may just become your new drink-snack of choice!
dairy-free | gluten-free | vegan | vegetarian
Matcha Pistachio Shortbread
You might be shocked to see me recommending a recipe that calls for white flour and sugar on a real food blog. The truth is, depriving myself of foods I enjoy, such as wonderful shortbread, makes me crave them even more. And the restriction can often send me on a binge-eating spree. As a result, I no longer impose tight no-eating restrictions on any foods. I simply try to eat more indulgent foods less often.
When I do indulge, though, I like to experiment with adding nutrient-dense ingredients to give the food a nutritional boost. This recipe is an excellent example of what I'm talking about. Hello Matcha Shortbread Cookies!
vegetarian
Best Almond Flour Matcha Cupcakes
This is the last of the recipes on the roundup and another that is slightly more indulgent for when that cupcake craving just won't quit! These fluffy cupcakes are topped with gorgeous strawberry buttercream and taste like a vanilla matcha latte.
vegetarian
References:
- https://mizubatea.com/blogs/news-1/what-is-the-difference-between-ceremonial-and-culinary-matcha
- https://ujido.com/blogs/matcha-insider/different-grades-of-matcha-green-tea-powder
- https://mizubatea.com/blogs/news-1/what-is-the-difference-between-ceremonial-and-culinary-matcha
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