Welcome to the ultimate Matcha Cookies Recipe you’ve been searching for! If you dream of creating bakery-quality cookies with a perfectly chewy center, crisp edges, and a stunning, vibrant green color, you’re in the right place. This recipe is designed to be straightforward and foolproof, delivering an earthy, sweet, and utterly delicious cookie every single time. Forget pale, bland cookies; we’re making a statement with these beauties.
What Makes This Matcha Cookies Recipe the Best?
This isn’t just another cookie recipe; it’s a carefully crafted guide to achieving matcha perfection. We focus on two key elements that many recipes miss: intense flavor and brilliant color. By using high-quality matcha and a few simple techniques, you’ll create cookies that are as beautiful as they are tasty. Plus, we’ve included optional white chocolate chips to add a creamy sweetness that perfectly balances the earthy notes of the green tea.
The Secret to Vibrant Green Cookies: Choosing Your Matcha
The single most important ingredient in this Matcha Cookies Recipe is, of course, the matcha. The quality of your matcha powder directly impacts the color and flavor of your final product. For the best results, look for ceremonial or high-quality culinary grade matcha. It will have a bright, vivid green hue and a smooth, mellow flavor. Avoid cheaper, lower-grade matcha, which can often appear dull green or yellowish and lend a bitter taste to your cookies.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for our cookies.
- High-Quality Matcha Powder: The star of the show for flavor and color.
- Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and spread perfectly.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for proper creaming.
- Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: A combination of both creates the perfect chewy texture with crisp edges.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients together. Use a large egg at room temperature.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a layer of warmth and enhances the other flavors.
- White Chocolate Chips (Optional): For pockets of creamy sweetness.
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Best Matcha Cookies Recipe
Follow these simple steps for flawless matcha cookies every time.
- Prep Your Station: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, matcha powder, baking soda, and salt. Sifting the matcha powder is highly recommended to prevent any clumps.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until they are just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. If using, gently fold in the white chocolate chips with a spatula.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl and chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This is a crucial step to prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Scoop and Bake: Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just set. The centers should still look slightly soft.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Pro Tips for Chewy, Bakery-Quality Cookies
Want to elevate your matcha cookies? Here are a few expert tips.
- Don’t Overbake: For that desirable chewy texture, pull the cookies from the oven when the centers still look a little underdone. They will continue to bake on the hot pan.
- Chill is a Must: Chilling the dough solidifies the butter, which means your cookies will spread less and bake up thicker and chewier. Don’t skip this step!
- Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off. Scooping directly from the bag can pack the flour and lead to dry cookies. For even more precision, use a kitchen scale.
Fun Variations to Try
While this classic Matcha Cookies Recipe is fantastic on its own, feel free to get creative! Try mixing in macadamia nuts for a buttery crunch, or adding a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top before baking to enhance the flavor. For a different flavor profile, check out this fun Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.
How to Store Your Matcha Cookies
Store your cooled matcha cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If they become a bit firm, you can place a slice of bread in the container to help soften them up again. The dough can also be frozen for up to 3 months; simply scoop into balls, freeze, and bake from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! The cookie dough can be made and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze pre-scooped dough balls for up to 3 months for cookies on demand.
The key to chewy cookies is the right ratio of brown sugar to white sugar, not overmixing the dough, and, most importantly, not overbaking. Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking also helps create a thicker, chewier cookie.
Matcha cookies have a unique and delicious flavor profile. They are slightly sweet with a distinct earthy, grassy note from the matcha, which is beautifully balanced by the creamy sweetness of white chocolate chips.
For the best color and flavor without breaking the bank, a high-quality culinary grade matcha is your best choice. It’s designed to withstand heat and has a stronger flavor than ceremonial matcha, which is better suited for drinking.
This is usually due to two factors: the quality of your matcha powder or overbaking. Use a high-quality, vibrant green matcha (ceremonial or high-grade culinary) and be sure to pull the cookies from the oven when the centers are still slightly soft.
More Dessert Recipes to Explore
If you loved making these vibrant treats, you might also enjoy the warm spices in our classic gingerbread cookie recipe or the decadent simplicity of these sugar cookie truffles. For chocolate lovers, these chocolate peanut clusters are always a huge hit.
We hope you love this Matcha Cookies Recipe! If you make it, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out. Don’t forget to share your beautiful green cookies on Pinterest!
Matcha Cookies Recipe
Matcha Cookies Recipe (Chewy & Vibrant Green)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sifted matcha powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. Fold in the optional white chocolate chips.
- Cover and chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are just set. The centers should still look slightly soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Do not skip chilling the dough, as this is key to preventing the cookies from spreading too much.
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
