This Matcha Blondies recipe makes a chewy, flavorful dessert with a subtle green-tea note. Easy to prepare and adaptable, these green tea blondies have a pleasant balance of brown sugar richness and just enough sweetness. The recipe yields bars that are moist, tender, and dotted with white chocolate for contrast.
Blondies are one of the simplest treats to make and are a great base for customization. This batter also works well without matcha if you prefer a classic blondie. The brown sugar provides depth without overpowering the other flavors. If you like experimenting, you can swap mix-ins or adjust the matcha level to suit your taste.
What is Matcha?
Matcha is finely ground green tea leaves with a unique, slightly sweet and grassy flavor and a high antioxidant content. Adding matcha to blondies gives them a delicate green tea aroma and pale green color, making them visually appealing and subtly different from traditional blondies. Adjust the amount of matcha to make the flavor milder or more pronounced.
Ingredients
Butter – Use room-temperature butter so it creams smoothly with the sugars. Salted butter balances the sweetness; if using unsalted butter add a pinch of salt.
Sugar – Granulated sugar helps create a light texture and contributes sweetness.
Brown sugar – Light brown sugar adds moisture and a deeper, caramel-like flavor.
Egg – The egg provides structure and moisture for the bars.
Vanilla – Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor and complements the matcha.
Flour – All-purpose flour works well for these blondies.
Matcha powder – Quality matcha will improve the flavor and color. Use the amount you prefer for intensity—less for a hint, more for a stronger green tea taste.
Baking soda – A small amount helps with slight lift and a tender crumb.
Salt – Salt balances and highlights the other flavors.
White chocolate chips – White chocolate pairs nicely with matcha’s grassy notes; feel free to substitute other chocolates if preferred.
How to Make Matcha Blondies
Step One: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 or 9×9 pan with parchment paper or grease it well.
Step Two: Cream the softened butter with the granulated and brown sugars until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla until combined.
Step Three: In a separate bowl, whisk the flour with matcha powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet just until combined—avoid overmixing.
Step Four: Fold in about half of the white chocolate chips. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and sprinkle the remaining chips on top.
Top Tip
For thicker blondies bake in an 8×8 pan; a 9×9 pan will yield slightly thinner bars.
Step Five: Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and the center no longer jiggles. Allow the blondies to cool completely before cutting into bars.
Variations
Chocolate: Swap white chocolate chips for dark, semisweet, or milk chocolate chips or chunks.
Nuts: Stir in chopped macadamia nuts, almonds, walnuts, or pecans for crunch.
Icing: Top cooled bars with cream cheese frosting or a light buttercream for added richness.
Cookies: Drop scoops of the batter to make matcha white chocolate cookies instead of bars.
Brownie twist: For matcha chocolate brownies, add 1/4 cup cocoa powder and reduce matcha to 1/4 cup.
Common Questions
How can I serve matcha blondies?
Serve them as hand-held bars, or warm a square and top with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream for a quick sundae.
What is the difference between blondies and brownies?
Brownies are chocolate-based, typically made with cocoa powder or melted chocolate. Blondies are made without cocoa, relying on brown sugar, butter, and vanilla for their flavor. Blondies often include white chocolate, butterscotch, or nuts.
How can you tell if a blondie is undercooked?
An undercooked blondie will be very gooey in the center. Insert a toothpick in the middle: if it comes out with wet batter, bake a few minutes longer. A few moist crumbs are fine, but avoid fully wet batter.
Can I freeze blondies?
Yes. Wrap cooled blondies tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Can I make these vegan?
This recipe hasn’t been tested with vegan substitutions here, but you can try replacing the butter with a vegan butter and the egg with a suitable egg replacer or flax egg. Results may vary.
📖 Recipe
Matcha Blondies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1.5 cups flour
- ¼-1/2 cup matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9 (or 8×8 for thicker bars) pan with parchment or spray with cooking spray.
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Cream together the butter and sugars until smooth.
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Mix in the egg and vanilla.
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Add half the flour, matcha powder, baking soda, and salt; stir until combined. Add the remaining flour just until incorporated.
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Stir in half the white chocolate chips, spread the batter in the pan, and sprinkle remaining chips on top.
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Bake about 20 minutes until golden at the edges and the center is set. Cool completely before slicing.
Nutrition
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Originally Published July 31, 2022. Revised and Republished September 25, 2023.