Matcha Desserts Guide (All Recipes in One Place)
If there’s one flavour that never goes out of style on my blog, it’s matcha. Earthy, a little bitter and a little sweet, it works in cakes, cookies, mousses and everything in between. This matcha page brings together all my matcha desserts in one place, grouped by type, with the key technique for each, so you can choose what to make next: something for tea time, something chilled for summer, or something pretty for gifting.
Choosing matcha for desserts: ceremonial or culinary grade
Matcha is a finely ground Japanese green tea powder made from specially grown tea leaves. Unlike regular green tea, where you steep the leaves and remove them, matcha is whisked straight into drinks, batters, creams and desserts. That gives a stronger green tea flavour and a natural green colour. In desserts it balances sweetness: creamy recipes taste lighter, chocolate tastes deeper.
- Ceremonial grade is usually the highest quality: bright green, smoother and less bitter. Use it for drinking, matcha lattes, and recipes where matcha is the main flavour.
- Culinary grade is made for baking and blending. Its stronger flavour holds up in cakes, cookies, brownies, ice cream, cream puffs and cheesecake, and it gives strong colour without the price of ceremonial matcha. It is the better choice for most of the recipes below.
- Freshness matters more than grade. Good matcha smells fresh, bright and grassy. If it looks dull or brownish or smells stale, the dessert can taste bitter.
- Sift it into batters and creams to avoid green clumps.
In Australia you can usually find matcha in Asian grocery stores, Japanese supermarkets, health food shops, specialty tea stores and online baking suppliers. Look for a bright green powder labelled Japanese matcha, culinary matcha or ceremonial matcha. For more detail, read What Is Matcha? Grades, Uses & Best Desserts.
Matcha cakes and cheesecakes
From everyday cakes to celebration cakes. The chiffon, sponge and soufflé cheesecake rely on whipped egg whites for lift, so fold gently and bake low and slow. The Basque cheesecake is the opposite: a high temperature bake for a caramelised top over a soft, creamy centre.
- Matcha Cake: simple, soft and good for everyday baking.
- Matcha Chiffon Cake: light and airy for tea time. Whipped egg whites give the lift; sift the matcha into the batter and bake gently. Serves 8 to 10.
- Matcha Sponge Cake: fluffy, for layering and cream cakes.
- Matcha Crepe Cake: delicate layers for birthdays and special occasions.
- Matcha Basque Cheesecake: cream cheese, eggs, sugar and matcha, baked hot for a burnt top and a creamy inside. Serves 6 to 8. Comparing flavours? See Matcha Basque Cheesecake vs Ube Basque Cheesecake.
- Baked Matcha Cheesecake: smooth and earthy, for celebrations.
- Japanese Soufflé Cheesecake: soft and wobbly, with a matcha variation included.
- Matcha Tres Leches Cake: a light sponge soaked in sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and cream with matcha, topped with whipped cream and a dusting of matcha. Serves 8 to 10.
- Matcha Lava Cake: warm with a gooey matcha centre.
Matcha cookies, brownies and chocolate treats
Good for gifting, bake sales and easy afternoon baking. Matcha works with both white and dark chocolate.
- Matcha White Chocolate Cookies: sweet white chocolate with earthy matcha.
- Matcha Crinkle Cookies: soft and chewy. Roll the dough in powdered sugar before baking for the crackled look, and bake until the edges are set but the centres are still soft. Makes 12.
- Matcha Brownies: a fudgy base of melted butter and chocolate with a matcha cream cheese swirl. Don’t overbake; they should be slightly gooey in the middle. Makes 9.
- Matcha Oreo Brownies: Oreo pieces inside matcha batter.
- Matcha Macarons: delicate and pretty, for gifting.
- Matcha Chocolate Strawberries: a quick treat for events or dessert platters.
- Matcha Chocolate: white chocolate melted gently so it stays smooth and glossy, with sifted matcha stirred in, then set in moulds or a tray. About 10 minutes plus chilling; makes 12 pieces.
- 3 Ingredient Matcha Truffles: quick, simple and rich.
Matcha mochi, ice cream and chewy desserts
Soft, stretchy or frozen, for matcha lovers who like chewy textures.
- Matcha Butter Mochi: rich, chewy and full of matcha flavour.
- Matcha Mochi Ice Cream: cold, creamy and refreshing, and not too sweet.
- Matcha Coconut Custard Snow Skin Mooncakes: soft and creamy, for gifting or festive seasons.
Creamy matcha desserts: tiramisu, cream puffs and crème brûlée
Light, creamy and a little more special, for dinner parties and occasions.
- Matcha Tiramisu: my Japanese inspired twist on the classic. Ladyfingers are dipped in strong matcha tea instead of espresso, layered with light mascarpone cream and finished with a dusting of matcha. About 30 minutes plus chilling; serves 6 to 8.
- Matcha Cream Puffs: hollow choux shells filled with smooth matcha pastry cream once they have cooled, then dusted with powdered sugar. Makes 10.
- Matcha Crème Brûlée: a creamy centre with a caramel crack on top.
- Matcha Mousse Cake: a layered chocolate and matcha variation, elegant and light.
Matcha drinks and quick treats
Easy and refreshing for warm days or quick cravings.
- Strawberry Matcha Latte: strawberries blended with a little sugar, then milk of any kind, then matcha whisked with hot water until frothy, poured in layers. About 10 minutes for one drink. The matcha balances the fruity strawberry.
- Matcha Lava Cake: warm, gooey and quick to make.
Which matcha dessert to make: time, difficulty and flavour pairings
| Recipe | Makes | Prep time | Difficulty | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberry Matcha Latte | 1 drink | 10 minutes | Easy | Best served fresh |
| Matcha Chocolate | 12 pieces | 10 minutes plus chilling | Easy | Fridge, airtight container |
| Matcha Ice Cream | 4 servings | 15 minutes plus freezing | Easy | Freezer |
| Matcha Crinkle Cookies | 12 cookies | 20 minutes plus baking | Easy | Airtight container |
| Matcha Brownies | 9 pieces | 25 minutes plus baking | Easy | Room temperature or fridge, airtight container |
| Matcha Tiramisu | 6 to 8 servings | 30 minutes plus chilling | Moderate | Fridge, covered |
| Matcha Tres Leches Cake | 8 to 10 servings | 30 minutes plus baking and chilling | Moderate | Fridge, covered |
| Matcha Chiffon Cake | 8 to 10 slices | 45 minutes plus baking | Moderate | Room temperature or fridge, covered |
| Matcha Basque Cheesecake | 6 to 8 servings | 1 hour total | Moderate | Fridge |
| Matcha Cream Puffs | 10 puffs | 1 hour total | Moderate | Fridge once filled |
Flavour pairings to bake at home. These are the pairings that run through the recipes above:
- Matcha and white chocolate: Matcha White Chocolate Cookies, Matcha Chocolate.
- Matcha and strawberry: Strawberry Matcha Latte, Matcha Chocolate Strawberries.
- Matcha and dark chocolate: Matcha Brownies, Matcha Mousse Cake.
- Matcha and cream cheese or mascarpone: Matcha Basque Cheesecake, Matcha Tiramisu.
- Matcha and coconut: Matcha Coconut Custard Snow Skin Mooncakes.
- Matcha and cookies and cream: Matcha Oreo Brownies.
New to matcha baking? Start with the matcha chocolate, the crinkle cookies or the brownies, which are all rated easy.