The first time I ever tried a green tea latte, it was just last year at Urth Caffé in Santa Monica (I love them because they have almond milk). Chris got a chai latte, which is what I also would normally get, but this day I decided to try something new.
We carried our drinks out to our car and got on the road. I was loving my latte. With each sip, I was drawn into its deep, earthy flavor and its sweet aftertaste. "This is so good! You have to try it," I told Chris.
At the next stoplight, I handed him my cup. After he took one sip, Chris made a face similar to one might make when they take a sip of lighter fluid. "This tastes like grass clippings," he shot at me. He handed me my cup and if he were 5 years old, I'm sure he would've used his hand to wipe off his tongue. "Fine. More for me," I said, as if the beverage weren't already mine.
Because of this incident, I've been extremely hesitant to try any recipe testing with matcha powder. Though I've been curious, I didn't want to be stuck with an entire batch of matcha muffins or green tea ice cream that no one would eat but me. When Kiss Me Organics contacted me to try their matcha powder, I figured that I didn't have anything to lose.
It took me a couple of weeks to decide on what to make. It basically came down to the fact that if I coat anything in chocolate, Chris will probably like it. The obvious answer was Chocolate Matcha Butter Cups. The Kiss Me Organics matcha powder blended beautifully with the coconut butter to form a fudge-like matcha candy filling and the almond flour gave it a subtly nutty flavor. Just out of the fridge, they're a little firmer than the peanut butter cup you may be accustomed to (though still just as delicious), but if you give it a few minutes to rest, it will be come softer and chewier. The matcha salt sprinkled on top pairs beautifully with the chocolate and is just the perfect finishing touch.
Before giving Chris one to try, I was very careful not to remind him what matcha powder was and that in fact, he had once compared the flavor to a pile of dead grass. I didn't take my eyes off of him as he took his first bite. "MMMMMMM!" he grunted through closed lips. I thought he had accidently bit his tongue but he followed with "This is good! But I guess you can't go wrong with any kind of chocolate cup, can you?" Truer words have never been spoken. And also, I totally married the perfect man for me.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut butter, softened but not melted
- 5 tablespoons almond flour
- 3 tablespoons powdered xylitol (or powdered sugar)
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder (I used Kiss Me Organics)
- 1 cup chopped dark chocolate
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1/8 teaspoon matcha powder
- 1/16 teaspoon sea salt
- cacao nibs
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the coconut butter, almond flour, powdered xylitol (or powdered sugar), and matcha powder. Place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
- While the matcha mixture is chilling, melt the chocolate. Place the chocolate in a glass bowl and place over a small pot of boiling water. Add the coconut oil and stir until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat.
- Line a muffin tin with 8 muffin liners. Spoon 2 teaspoons of melted chocolate into a liner and use the back of the spoon to push the chocolate about 1/4 of the way up the side of the liner. Repeat with the rest of the liners.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of the matcha mixture into your hands and roll it into a ball. Place the ball into one of the liners and use your fingers to gently flatten it. Repeat until all cups have been filled.Top each cup with 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate and use your spoon to spread evenly over the matcha mixture, making sure that the chocolate meets the edge. If there is extra chocolate, divide it amongst the cups and smooth out.
- In a small bowl, mix together the matcha powder and sea salt for the topping. Sprinkle the matcha salt mixture over the tops of the cups. Add a few cacao nibs to each, if desired. Place the muffin tin in the refrigerator and chill the cups until they are solid. Keep chilled until ready to serve. For a softer, chewier, piece, let it sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes before eating. Enjoy!
Do you like to use matcha powder? What is your favorite matcha/green tea recipe?
Disclaimer: I was given this product to try but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
Photography by Chris Miller
Meg @ Niesbeetle
These look divine! I've also been on a HUGE matcha kick lately, although I've been throwing it into smoothies with cacao nibs and chocolate chips! I remember eating Udo's truffles (that don't seem to exist anymore) before I went totally vegan and LOVING the matcha flavour. I can already tell these are going to remind me of those lovely chocolates! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
I'm not usually a huge fan of matcha, but I think I could deal with this one! : )
Jenni
I love matcha! It's funny, I've always thought about making a matcha chocolate drink at home, because I never see matcha and chocolate put together in stores and restaurants. It's always sounded like such a great combo in my mind, and I've wondered why there aren't a million matcha chocolate recipes out there. I can't wait to make these now! I've never actually made that chocolate matcha drink I've envisioned, but I think after reading this post I'll be inspired to finally create the magic combo. These look wonderful!
Oh, and I love the things guys say about health food. Always so funny. His grass description is hilarious, and so true, but the grassiness of green tea is what I like about it!
Margaux
This looks AMAZING! I have matcha lying around and it's wasted in smoothies when it can do this in raw treats - nom!
Emma
I NEED these!! I love matcha and mostly just make almond milk matcha lattes (I like mine frothy and just sweetened a touch) but make matcha chia pudding and matcha ice cream every now and again too.
Adding these to the must-make list for when I get home after this month abroad.
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Gorgeous Kristy! I love chocolate and matcha together! Lately I've been loving matcha on it's own, but it's pretty awesome in my peppermint patty + matcha ice cream cake 😉
Tami@NutmegNotebook
I got some free Matcha and haven't decided what to make yet. Your treats loos amazing!
Sarojini
Mmmm these look really good. I haven't tried matcha powder yet, as it seems to be quite expensive here. Maybe I will now I've seen what you can do with it ;). I posted some raw chocolate mint creams a few days ago- I'm totally loving the chocolate and green look at the moment. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy
Hmm, cooking with matcha...never occurred to me before but seems interesting!
Katie @ Produce on Parade
What beautiful photographs, and...omg...these look awesome! Love the brilliant green!
Anna
I love matcha and actually have a recipe that I am posting this week! I love your use of matcha, I never would've thought to make it into chocolate cups! Lovely. I have all the ingredients and will have to make these ASAP!
Robyn B | Modern Day Missus
I love matcha and these look divine! I have no other words....
Emily @ It Comes Naturally Blog
Wow! I never would have considered putting matcha in a butter cup - an awesome idea! I love that matcha is so good for you, so I'm keen to find ways to 'sneak' it into hubby's diet. Though with that gorgeous green I don't think it will be much of a sneak!
Natalie Tamara
These look delicious! I was very sceptical the first time I tried green tea chocolate but it surprisingly does work very well. Green tea ice cream can work wonderfully too 🙂
The Vegan Cookie Fairy
OMG. I wish I had one right now! (Or ten, haha!) I've tried making matcha chocolate butter cups before and it somehow didn't work out, though I have made chocolate matcha truffles with great success in the past. It's a recipe I'm keeping for my next ebook.
Thanks for sharing this fantastic recipe, I've simply got to try it! Could I replace the coconut butter with more coconut oil?
lori @ thehealthminded.com
I do drink matcha in the afternoons for a great even energy it gives me (as well as all the nutrition), but I do not reach for it as an ingredient when cooking enough! I need to change that, huh?
Gorgeous shots! We eat with our eyes and I think the colors here are fantastic. Nice!
Naoko
Ingenious idea!
I'm Japanese and there are so many ingredients I take for granted, matcha is one of them. I drink traditional matcha on the rare occasion, but I never really enjoyed it. And it usually comes with beautiful, but unbelievably sugary sweets so it was more a bitter drink to wash it down, which is a shame, as I love the peacefulness of tea ceremony.
Loving the creative matcha recipes, will have to try some one day, and this recipe is at the top of the list!
dishing up the dirt
I love these little delights. I use matcha in my morning smoothies. I cant wait to give these treats a try. Pinned!
Alessandra
So yummy! If you don't mind I'll put your blog in my Vegan blog list (here http://alessandra-veganblog.blogspot.co.nz) so that I don't miss out on your recipes 🙂
And I'll pin this one too… but what photo can I choose!! All so pretty!
Ciao
Alessandra
K
WOW! This looks great! I love matcha and thought I'd exhausted all recipes using it....until now. I've never seen this recipe before- looks awesome. I will definitely have to try this. Thanks! Great blog : )
Annie
Bring on the grassy flavor! I love matcha (and the color cannot be beat - especially when coated in chocolate)!
Keira
is there anything you can subsitute the almond flour with to make this nut free?
thanks so much!!
keepinitkind
I would try using oat flour. Good luck!
Tori
These look amazing! I love matcha and dark chocolate so I will have to give these a try! Love how healthy these are- a guilt free snack. Great post!
Katrina
Hello! These sound amazing! Just about to make them 🙂 🙂 is there any substitute for coconut butter? I've found creamed coconut at my local health food store...is that close?
keepinitkind
I would substitute almond or cashew butter for the coconut butter if you're unable to find it. Good luck!
C
Hi!
Is that correct--your recipe says 1 teaspoon matcha powder? That doesn't them like enough. In the written instructions, you say use 1 tablespoon of matcha... I'm confused.
keepinitkind
That is correct, but you're welcome to use more if you'd like.
H
What is correct?
The first or the latter?
Staying confusing..
keepinitkind
Use the amount listed in the ingredients. Thanks.
Kelly Nicola
I think I can see where your confusion is, the ingredients list says to use 1 teaspoon of matcha powder to make the matcha mixture. The recipe directions say to take one tablespoon of the matcha MIXTURE (not just the powder, but the mixture of coconut butter, almond flour, powdered xylitol (or powdered sugar), and matcha powder) to make the actual cups. Hope that helps!
Kelly
Hi Kristy, I just wanted to say that I finally got your cookbook and I LOOOVE it, I just got it today but it's absolutely beautiful inside and I can't wait to cook from it. Thank you for one of the best food blogs out there!
Sofi
i LOOOOOOOVE matcha. awesome idea, going to make these asap. quick question though: is your coconut oil deodorized or not? and could the almond flour be replaced by coconut flour or would the coconut taste over-power the matcha? merci!!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Sofi. I use coconut butter, not oil. Coconut butter only comes in one form. Coconut flour has a different texture than almond flour so it may affect the texture of the final product. The almond flour also helps balance out the flavor a bit so I wouldn't reccomend switching it out. If you did, a better replacement would be oat flour. Good luck!
Sofi
thanks!
KG
This looks amazing. Could I make this with almond butter and coconut flour? I have heaps of both, but not the reverse. Thanks!
keepinitkind
I honestly couldn't tell you if that would work. Sorry!
Sally
Could I substitute regular butter for coconut butter? Thanks!!
keepinitkind
Probably not. Coconut butter is more similar to a thick peanut butter.
Rob
These look delicious. And now I have a Peanut Butter cup replacement for my shakes!
Thanks for Sharing!
Hannah
Can't wait to try these, they look fabulous. Tell me though, can you substitute coconut oil for coconut butter? Thank you!!
keepinitkind
I would not recommend it- it does not have the same texture.
Sarah Browne
So... I saw these yesterday and had a dream about them last night. I think I need to make them...
Kari Cole
These were SO good!
they melted super fast when you touch them, though. I'm going to try to make them again with less coconut oil in the chocolate and see if that improves their resilience.
IC
For how long can these freeze well? Thanks!
keepinitkind
My guess would be a couple of weeks.
Sylwia
I love matcha! I drink it daily in place of coffee; I find myself more at peace. I have been debating what to bake/cook to use matcha in; cheesecake, muffins, poundcakes. However, it is hard to find a vegan matcha recipe, so thank you!