7 Steps to Make Your White Chocolate Matcha Brownie Perfect

Quick Summary

• Matcha powder contains the whole tea leaf ground into powder, so you get many more valuable compounds from it than from a regular green tea bag.
• According to research, the catechins and caffeine in green tea can also moderately support energy use and fat burning, alongside a balanced diet and exercise.
• In this article, I’ll therefore walk you through 7 simple steps that make your brownie creamy, evenly green, and beautifully marbled.
• You’ll also get troubleshooting tips, vegan and fruity variations, as well as answers to the most common questions.

A Matcha brownie that is a real treat, and yet it doesn’t throw off your lifestyle change? Surely you know the feeling when you pay attention all week, and then you give in at a coffee shop display case. So today I’ll show you how to bake a green brownie that you can put on the table with a clear conscience.

However, the problem isn’t your willpower. You simply haven’t found the dessert yet that truly satisfies you while also fitting your new habits. This brownie is dark and crunchy on the outside, while it’s creamy and bright green inside, and moreover, white chocolate marbling tempts you on top.

Related Articles:

Matcha for Weight Loss?! 5 Facts About How Matcha Helps You Achieve Your Dream Body

5 Types of Matcha Panna Cotta, Which One Will Be Your New Favorite Healthy Dessert?

Why Put Matcha in a Brownie?

If you’ve read my Matcha articles before, then you know it’s no coincidence that I love this green powder. This time, however, I’m bringing it to you not only as a mug of latte, but also as a slice of cake. So before you turn on the oven, let’s look together at what this special ingredient can actually do. Source

What Can Matcha Powder Do That Regular Green Tea Can’t?

With traditional green tea, you only steep the leaves and then throw them away. With Matcha, however, you actually consume the finely ground leaf itself. Therefore, your body gets many more antioxidants, especially catechins.

Based on research and the literature, drinking Matcha regularly can also contribute to the following:

• Your body gets more antioxidants, which also help neutralize free radicals.
• You can concentrate more calmly, because L-theanine and caffeine together give you more balanced alertness.
• Your energy level stays steadier, so there are no sudden highs and crashes.
• You also support the health of your heart and blood vessels as part of a varied diet.
• You can also sneak a little more calm into your stressful weekdays.

How Can Matcha Support Weight Loss?

This is the part that makes many people fall in love with it, and that’s also why I recommend it alongside a lifestyle change. Several studies have also examined the catechins and caffeine in green tea. It’s important, however, that these effects are moderate, and they mostly appear together with exercise and a balanced diet. Source

So let’s look at the numbers in a clear table:

What they studied	Result
Green tea extract rich in catechins and daily energy expenditure	Energy expenditure over 24 hours increased by about 4%
Green tea extract and fat burning during moderate exercise	Fat use was about 17% higher
Catechins and body weight, meta analysis	On average, about 1.3 kg greater weight loss
Caffeine per cup (about 8 oz)	Matcha: 38-89 mg, green tea: 23-49 mg, coffee: 100-120 mg

What does this mean for you in practice, then? First of all, it means that Matcha can be a smart addition, but it doesn’t replace exercise and mindful eating. Secondly, it means that the studies mostly used concentrated extract. A slice of cake, however, contains far less Matcha powder, so the brownie is primarily a pleasure, not a weight loss tool. Source

What Remains of Matcha After Baking?

I like being honest with you, so I’ll tell you this too. Antioxidants are sensitive to heat, therefore part of them may break down during baking. If you want all the benefits of Matcha, then your daily latte or cold mixed drinks are the best choices.

So why bake with Matcha anyway? Because a healthy dessert isn’t good because it heals, but because it replaces sweets from the store that are full of additives. You decide what goes into it, so your cravings won’t lead you to the bakery either. Moreover, the characteristic, slightly bitter flavor of Matcha nicely balances the sweetness of white chocolate. Source

How to Choose the Right Matcha Powder for Baking

Above all, the quality of the powder determines the result. Therefore, it’s worth getting to know a little better what to look for in the store. You’ll come across two main types, and it also matters which one you take home.

• Ceremonial grade Matcha is finer and more expensive, and it shows its true character especially as a drink, whisked with hot water.
• Culinary grade Matcha is more intense with a slightly grassier flavor, so it keeps its character even during baking.
• For cakes, you can therefore confidently choose the culinary version, and your wallet will also thank you.

Also pay attention to the color! After all, a vibrant green, like fresh grass, is a sign of freshness. If the powder is yellowish or grayish, then it has probably oxidized, so its flavor will be flat, and your batter won’t get a nice green color either. After opening, store it in a tightly sealed container away from light, in a cool place. Source

7 Steps to the Perfect Matcha Brownie

Before you start, set everything out on the counter. First, measure out the ingredients, melt the butter, and let it cool until lukewarm. This way, you won’t rush, so you’ll bake much more calmly and with pleasure. Believe me, this little preparation is also half the battle!

1. Prepare the Oven and the Pan

First, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), or 320°F (160°C) if you use a convection oven. Then line an 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) pan with parchment paper. This tiny step will also save you a lot of frustration when you want to lift out the finished brownie.

2. Sift the Matcha Into the Dry Ingredients

First, mix the flour, the cocoa powder, both kinds of sugar, and the salt in a large bowl. Then be sure to add the Matcha powder through a sieve, because it tends to clump. This way, the batter will be evenly green, so you won’t bite into bitter lumps of powder.

3. Watch the Temperature of the Butter

Meanwhile, in another bowl, mix the melted butter, the eggs, and the vanilla until smooth. However, the butter should be lukewarm, not hot! If it’s too warm, then the egg simply cooks in it, and the structure of the batter is ruined.

4. Don’t Overmix the Batter

Pour the wet mixture into the dry one, and then fold it together with a spatula. Only work with it until you get a smooth batter. After all, overmixing makes the brownie hard and chewy, whereas we want a soft, creamy inside.

5. Add the White Chocolate Marbling

Spread the batter evenly in the pan, and then sprinkle the white chocolate pieces on top. Then use a toothpick to draw swirly patterns between the pieces. During baking, the chocolate melts, so you get a beautiful marbled surface.

6. Bake It Just as Long as Needed

The baking time is about 25-30 minutes, but every oven is different. So insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, then it’s done. If it’s still sticky, however, give it another 3-5 minutes.

7. Let It Cool Completely

Of course, I know this is the hardest step! Still, it’s worth waiting, because the brownie falls apart when you cut it warm. Let it cool completely in the pan, and only then cut it with a sharp knife dipped in hot water.

If Something Went Wrong: Quick Troubleshooting

Don’t worry, though, if your first attempt wasn’t perfect. It has also happened to me! So here are the most common problems and their solutions:

• If your brownie turned out dry, then take it out 3-5 minutes earlier next time, because a brownie is best when its center is still a little soft.
• If the center stayed too soft, then put it back in the oven for a few minutes, and also check your oven’s real temperature with an oven thermometer.
• If it still sticks to the paper after cooling, then put it in the fridge for 15 minutes, and afterward it will come off easily.
• If the green color turned brownish, then the Matcha powder was probably old, or the batter baked too long.

Variations on the Basic Matcha Brownie Recipe

Once you’ve made the basic version, then it’s time to experiment! These variations also use the same base, so you can easily try them.

• If you use dark chocolate instead of white chocolate, then you get a deeper, bolder flavor, and you also take in less sugar.
• If you sprinkle coarsely chopped walnuts or almonds on top, then the crunchy texture goes perfectly with the creamy inside, and moreover, it also adds extra fiber and healthy fats.
• If you’d like a vegan version, then replace the butter with coconut oil and the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed and 3 tablespoons of water replace one egg).
• If you’re craving a summer mood, then put fresh strawberries or raspberries on top before serving, which gives the whole platter a healthy dessert vibe.

How to Serve and Store Your Matcha Brownie

A good brownie becomes truly memorable when you also put a little attention into serving it. You don’t have to think of complicated things, because a few small tricks are enough. These ideas also help you enjoy the brownie more mindfully, in smaller portions.

• If you’re expecting guests, then cut it into small cubes you can eat in one bite, and sprinkle the top with a pinch of Matcha, so it looks elegant and impressive.
• If you take it as an afternoon snack, then wrap each piece in parchment paper, so it won’t dry out and you’ll always have a portion on hand.
• If you’re craving a weekend treat, then serve it with a spoonful of Greek yogurt and a few fresh berries, which nicely refresh the flavors.
• If you’d like a warm drink with it, then an unsweetened Matcha latte or a cup of herbal tea will be a perfect companion.

It’s also worth paying attention to storage. Generally, in an airtight container in the fridge, the brownie keeps its creamy texture for days. Moreover, straight from the fridge, it becomes even denser and more fudgy, which many people like even more. And if you don’t finish it all at once, then you can freeze it slice by slice.

I also love that you can make this recipe ahead. You bake it on the weekend, so you’ll also have a healthy dessert in the fridge in the middle of the week when you’re craving something sweet. So you don’t have to search the corner store, and you won’t slip back into your old habits either.

I suggest, therefore, that you cut it into smaller slices and eat it mindfully, with pleasure. After all, a healthy dessert is truly good when it fits into your weekdays and doesn’t turn into a binge.

Would you like a healthy lifestyle to be more than just a “starting Monday” plan? Make it an easy, everyday part of your routine, and check out my ebooks! Inside, you’ll find tried-and-tested recipes, clear guides, and plenty of ideas, so you can move forward step by step.

Check Out the Ebooks →

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

The white chocolate Matcha brownie is proof that a healthy lifestyle and real pleasure can also go hand in hand. You don’t have to give up everything, but rather choose more wisely. All you need is a good quality Matcha powder, a few simple ingredients, and half an hour in the kitchen, and then your weekend treat is ready.

Now it’s finally your turn! Choose your favorite variation, turn on the oven, and then bake it this week. Once you’ve made it, also tell me in the comments how it turned out, and save the recipe to Pinterest so you always have it on hand.