Matcha Cookies with White Chocolate Chips
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Afternoon tea just got more colorful with these delightful green tea matcha cookies. The subtle, earthy taste of matcha pairs perfectly with vanilla and creamy white chocolate chips. They’re simple to make with pantry ingredients, fun to eat, and ready in just 20 minutes!
I love how the mildly earthy flavor of matcha pairs with vanilla and white chocolate in these soft, sweet cookies. They’re a fun twist on a classic sugar cookie, with a vibrant green color and pockets of creamy white chocolate throughout.
I reach for matcha in baking because its flavor is surprisingly complex—grassy, nutty, fresh, and slightly bitter. That subtle bitterness balances the sweetness of the dough and plays beautifully with the richness of white chocolate, making each bite feel well-rounded and not overly sweet.
These cookies are perfect for afternoon tea, or anytime I want to bake something a little different. The recipe uses simple pantry ingredients, comes together quickly, and is ready in about 20 minutes from start to finish—easy, eye-catching, and always a hit.
Tip: These cookies taste great next to a bowl of matcha ice cream!
Choosing a matcha powder
It turns out there’s quite a bit to know about matcha. I’ve learned that it’s usually divided into two categories—ceremonial grade and culinary grade—and while they’re similar, they’re used a little differently.
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Ceremonial grade matcha: This is the higher-quality option, with a bright green color and a fresh, clean flavor. It’s traditionally whisked into hot water, but I also like using it in baking when I want the color to really pop. I tested both grades for these cookies and chose ceremonial matcha for its vibrant green hue.
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Culinary grade matcha: This type is slightly lower in quality and usually more muted in color. It’s designed specifically for baking, smoothies, and lattes, where matcha is mixed with other ingredients rather than standing on its own.
Ceremonial grade matcha does cost a bit more, but since I use such a small amount in this recipe, it feels worth it for the flavor and that gorgeous green color.
Matcha Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup butter (at room temperature)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspopon vanilla
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, matcha powder, baking soda, and salt.1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon matcha powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon sea salt
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars with electric beaters for 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla.½ cup butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 large egg, 1 teaspopon vanilla
- Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in the white chocolate chips.1 cup white chocolate chips
- Use a medium-sized cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons) to portion the dough into 18 cookies. Press the tops of the cookies down slightly then bake them in the oven for 10-12 minutes, until the bottoms are very lightly browned.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Video
Nutrition
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Can I add some orange zest to it ?
I think that would be a great addition!
Over salted
Sounds like a skill issue.
Came out perfectly and the dough didn’t need chilling making them so quick to make
Can you use gluten free flour with the same results?
We haven’t tested the recipe with gluten-free flour. But if you have a 1-1 blend that works well as a substitute in other cookie recipes, then it should work for this one, too.