Fudgy Matcha Brownies

These matcha brownies are fudgy, chocolatey and bursting with the matcha green tea flavor you love. Easy to make, can be made ahead, delicious!

(Do you like putting matcha powder in everything? Try these matcha chocolate chip cookies. They’re so easy to make and are the perfect sweet treats. If matcha and cream cheese is your thing, you’ll love this rich and creamy matcha cheesecake.)

I love brownies and I love matcha so it was only a matter of time before these matcha brownies happened. And they’re all I imagined them to be. 

And unlike other matcha brownie recipes, there’s no white chocolate here. 

Just rich dark chocolate, fudgy chocolate brownie, full-bodied matcha.

Let’s get to it.

Why you’ll love this recipe

If you’re a fan of matcha like I am, you’ll enjoy making this recipe too.

• Classic brownie recipe. It’s based on my tried and tested brownie recipe so you can be sure it always comes out chocolatey, fudgy and chewy like a proper brownie should be.

• Vibrant green color. And because these are technically matcha swirl brownies i.e. we swirl the matcha cream cheese mixture on top, the brownies remain a bright, pretty green. (Fan of purple brownies? Try my ube brownies! It’s a reader favorite.)

• Freezes well. They freeze incredibly well too. So you can make a batch ahead of time and thaw when you need them.

How to make

There are two components to this recipe: the brownie batter and the matcha cheesecake mixture.

Ingredient notes and baking tools

You’ll need simple ingredients and pantry staples like all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Key things to note:

• Cocoa powder — I always use Dutch processed, unsweetened cocoa powder

• Espresso or strong coffee — I put coffee in my brownies because it enhances the chocolate flavor. You can skip this if you like and use water instead

• Cream cheese — for best results, use full-fat cream cheese, those available in blocks

• Matcha powder — I use culinary-grade matcha powder in baking. More info on baking with matcha below

As far as baking tools, you’ll need a 9×13 inch baking pan. 

I also like using my electric mixer to beat the matcha cream cheese mixture.

Step-by-step photos

First, preheat your oven to 350F, lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan, then line with parchment paper with a slight overhang on each side. Set aside.

Matcha mixture

Brownie batter

Put them together

Now that you have your two mixtures ready, it’s time to assemble.

Gently tap the pan on your counter a few times to help the batter settle in.

Bake the brownies for 30-45 minutes or until it’s starting to brown at the edges but the centre still feels a little jiggly. You want a toothpick inserted in the middle to come out with minimal but slightly moist crumbs.

Take out of the oven and allow to cool on the counter. Then chill 2-3 hours (or overnight) until the brownies are set. You can serve the brownies chilled or at room temperature.

Brownie baking tips

Brownie recipes are some of the easiest recipes to make. I find them more forgiving than cookies and simpler than cakes.

Here are more baking tips to make baking them even easier.

• Use room temperature ingredients — they’re easier to incorporate and helps you avoid over-mixing the batter.

• Measure ingredients correctly — this is especially important with flour. Too much or too little flour can negatively impact brownies. I always use a kitchen scale.

• Don’t over-mix the brownie batter — over-mixing results to dry, crumbly brownies.

• Bake at the correct temperature — all ovens are different so it helps to use an oven thermometer to make sure you’re always baking at the correct temperature.

• Do no over-bake — it’s better to underbake than over-bake brownies. They will continue to cook as they cool.

Baking with matcha

Is it your first time baking with matcha? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is matcha and what is it made from

Matcha literally means “powdered tea.” Specially grown and processed green tea leaves are finely ground until they turn to the vibrant green powder we all know and love.

If you’re wondering what matcha tastes like, it really depends on the kind and the quality of the matcha powder you have.

According to matcha.com — “premium matcha tea can have a sweet, grassy (or earthy) flavour. People often describe it with some type of vegetal taste, mixed with an umami, or savoury effect on the palate”. 

Good quality matcha doesn’t require any added sweetener. Lower grade matcha powders have a slightly bitter aftertaste and needs sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.

Matcha is also known for its many health benefits. Check this out.

How to bake with matcha

It’s very easy to bake with matcha and incorporate it into your recipes. 

I personally just either add and sift the powder directly into my dry ingredients. 

Or dissolve it in milk and add that mixture to my wet ingredients. 

What’s important is you use a matcha powder you like and adjust the matcha flavour according to how strong you want your green tea flavour to be.

What do matcha brownies taste like

Matcha is a surprisingly delicious complement to the sweet chocolate brownie. 

It cuts through all that sweetness and lends a slight bitterness and lots of umami. It’s what makes you want a second brownie slice.  

And it’s definitely one of the most unique brownies you’ll ever make and taste!

How to choose matcha powder

There are two kinds of matcha powder — culinary grade and ceremonial grade.

Ceremonial grade matcha is more expensive, very fine and silky, and has a vibrant green colour. 

It’s designed to be naturally sweet and strong and is usually the kind used in Japanese tea ceremonies.

Not very many people appreciate the strong matcha flavour though. It’s definitely an acquired taste.

Culinary grade matcha is a more versatile matcha powder that’s more commonly used to make matcha lattes and baked goods. This is the matcha flavour we’re probably more used to.

I used to think that I needed to splurge for the ceremonial matcha powder but after many recipes and years of baking, I realized that for the goodies that I make, culinary grade works just as well. 

So don’t sweat it. Just make sure the matcha powder you use for baking is the matcha powder you enjoy drinking.

I would recommend buying pure matcha powder though, and not those already sweetened with sugar. 

I personally like Elan Organic Matcha Powder which I can usually get at Costco for a steal. 

Recipe FAQs

Other matcha recipes

Here are other recipes you can make using matcha powder:

Enjoy and happy baking!

Did you make matcha brownies? I’d love to hear all about it! Leave a comment or a star rating below. You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to see your creations!

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