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Easy Matcha Cookies Recipe: Secret Honey Twist!

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Hey bakers! Ready to try something special? This matcha cookies recipe brings a bit of Japanese tea house magic right to your kitchen. After testing countless versions (with Max as my official taste-tester), we've perfected these chewy green tea treats!

Chewy matcha cookies with a perfect balance of sweet and earthy flavors. A fun, easy-to-make treat with a secret honey trick for extra softness!
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Three freshly baked matcha cookies with white chocolate chips cooling on a white plate set on a white kitchen counter.
Three freshly baked matcha cookies with white chocolate chips cooling on a white plate set on a white kitchen counter.

This isn't just another matcha cookie recipe - it's the result of many Sunday baking sessions and Max's honest feedback. These Japanese matcha cookies strike the perfect balance between sweet and earthy, with a texture that keeps you coming back for more.

Why You'll Love These Matcha Cookies

Let me tell you something fun about these cookies - they turned my "I don't like green food" 7-year-old into a matcha fan! This matcha cookies recipe isn't just another trendy treat; it's become our favorite afternoon baking project.

Here's what makes them special:

  • Make-ahead friendly
  • Quick to mix up (15 minutes tops!)
  • No weird ingredients
  • Perfect with milk or tea
  • Great for gifts
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Matcha Cookies Recipe Ingredients

Let me share our cookie-making essentials:

  • Quality matcha powder
  • All-purpose flour
  • Butter
  • White sugar
  • Egg
  • Vanilla extract
  • Baking powder
  • Salt

Mix-In Options: (Max's favorite part!)

  • White chocolate chips
  • Chopped nuts
  • Dried cranberries
  • Sprinkles
  • Sea salt for topping
Matcha cookies recipe ingredients including matcha powder, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, flour, baking powder, and salt, arranged on a white kitchen counter.

Why These Matter:

The star of this matcha cookies recipe is obviously the matcha! Use culinary-grade matcha - it's perfect for baking. Max says the white chocolate chips make them look like "polka dot dragon cookies!"

Mom's Secret: Let your butter get really soft - not melted, just super smooshable

See recipe card for quantities.

How To Make Matcha Cookies

Let me walk you through our cookie-making dance:

Getting Started

  1. Prep Your Space:
  • Heat oven to 350°F
  • Line baking sheets
  • Get ingredients ready
  • Let butter soften
  1. Mix Your Dough:
  • Cream butter and sugar
  • Add egg and vanilla
  • Mix matcha separately
  • Combine everything gently

The Fun Part

  1. Making Cookies:
  • Roll into balls
  • Space them out
  • Press slightly
  • Add toppings
Hannah hands rolling green matcha cookie dough into small balls on a white kitchen counter, with some placed on a baking sheet.
  1. Baking Magic:
  • 10-12 minutes total
  • Watch for edges to set
  • Centers stay soft
  • Cool on pan 5 minutes
Freshly baked matcha cookies with white chocolate chips resting on parchment paper, cooling on a white kitchen counter.

Max's job is rolling the dough balls - he calls it "making tiny green planets." Just watch out for sneaky taste-testing of the white chocolate chips!

Note: Don't overbake! They might look underdone, but they'll set up perfectly as they cool.

Making These Matcha Cookies Your Own

Tested Substitutions:

  • Butter → Coconut oil
  • White sugar → Coconut sugar
  • AP flour → Gluten-free blend
  • Egg → Flax egg
  • Vanilla → Almond extract

Matcha Cookies Recipe Variations

Classic Twists:

  • Matcha Chocolate Chip: • Dark chocolate chunks • Mini chips • Max's favorite!
  • Double Matcha: • Extra matcha powder • Green tea drizzle • Matcha sugar coating
  • Holiday Style: • White chocolate coating • Festive sprinkles
    • Red/green sugar

Creative Spins:

  • Matcha Crinkles: • Roll in sugar • Make larger balls • Let crackle

Mom Story: Once Max accidentally dumped in extra white chocolate chips - turned out to be our favorite version yet! Sometimes the best recipes come from "oops" moments.

Basic Must-Haves:

  • Baking sheets
  • Mixing bowls
  • Hand mixer
  • Measuring cups/spoons
  • Silicon mat/parchment
  • Wire rack
  • Cookie scoop

Nice-to-Have Tools:

  • Stand mixer
  • Cooling racks
  • Cookie spatula
  • Storage containers
  • Airtight jars
  • Fine sieve for matcha

Pro Tip: If you don't have a cookie scoop, use a tablespoon.

Storing Tips

Let me share our real-life storage tricks:

Fresh Storage:

  • Room temp: 5 days in jar
  • Airtight container
  • Layer with parchment
  • Away from sunlight
  • Keep away from heat

Freezing Options:

  1. Baked Cookies:
    • Cool completely
    • Layer with paper
    • Freeze up to 3 months
    • Thaw 30 minutes
  2. Cookie Dough:
    • Roll into balls
    • Flash freeze
    • Store in bags
    • Bake straight from frozen

Mom Tip: I always hide a few in the back of the container - otherwise, Max's "just one more" turns into an empty cookie jar!

My Sister Rachel's Magic Touch

Let me share something special about making these matcha cookies that my sister Rachel discovered during a baking video call with Max. While trying to teach him how to bake from across the country, she accidentally mixed the matcha with a tiny bit of warm honey before adding it to the dough. That happy accident turned into our secret weapon!

Now, every time we make this matcha cookies recipe, Max insists on his "Aunt Rachel's honey trick." Just a teaspoon of warm honey mixed with the matcha creates this amazing depth of flavor and helps keep the cookies super soft. Plus, it cuts through any bitterness from the green tea.

"Aunt Rachel makes everything better!" Max always says while drizzling in the honey. He's right - sometimes the best baking secrets come from long-distance baking lessons and happy accidents!

Now you're ready to create matcha cookies that'll make everyone ask for the recipe! Whether you're baking for tea time or just craving something special, remember Rachel's honey trick - it's what makes these cookies extra amazing.

Love matcha? Try our dairy-free Vegan Matcha Cake Recipe! For protein-packed treats, check out our High Protein Cookie Dough Recipe or crunchy Protein Cookie Recipe.

Share your matcha creations here in the comments or on social media, Max loves seeing your green cookie adventures (especially the not-so-perfectly-round ones!)

Rate this recipe and join our baking family!

Frequent Asked Questions

What does matcha do in baking?

Matcha adds a vibrant green color and a unique, earthy flavor to baked goods like Matcha Cookies. In baking, matcha powder acts as both a natural food coloring and a flavor enhancer, giving your Matcha Cookies recipe a distinct taste and visual appeal. Additionally, matcha contains antioxidants, making your treats slightly healthier.

Can I add matcha powder to cookie dough?

Yes, you can absolutely add matcha powder to cookie dough! Incorporating matcha powder into your Matcha Cookies recipe is simple—just sift it with your dry ingredients to ensure a smooth, lump-free dough. This step guarantees even distribution of matcha’s flavor and color, resulting in perfectly balanced Matcha Cookies.

What to put in Matcha Cookies?

A classic Matcha Cookies recipe typically includes matcha powder, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. For added texture, you can mix in white chocolate chips, nuts, or even a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor. These ingredients work together to create soft, chewy, and flavorful Matcha Cookies that are sure to impress.

Why do my Matcha Cookies turn brown?

Your Matcha Cookies may turn brown due to overbaking or exposure to high oven temperatures, which can diminish matcha’s vibrant green color. To preserve the green hue in your Matcha Cookies recipe, bake them at a lower temperature (around 325°F/160°C) and avoid overmixing the dough. Using high-quality matcha powder also helps maintain the color and flavor.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with matcha cookies:

Three freshly baked matcha cookies with white chocolate chips cooling on a white plate set on a white kitchen counter.

Easy Matcha Cookies Recipe

Chewy matcha cookies with a perfect balance of sweet and earthy flavors. A fun, easy-to-make treat with a secret honey trick for extra softness!
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Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Asian Fusion, Japanese-Inspired
Keyword: chewy cookies, green tea cookies, matcha cookies, matcha dessert, tea-time treats
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Here’s the structured info for WP Recipe Maker: Summary Chewy matcha cookies with a perfect balance of sweet and earthy flavors. A fun, easy-to-make treat with a secret honey trick for extra softness! Servings 12–16 cookies Estimated Cost $5–$8 Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 10–12 minutes Custom Time Label Cooling Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 15 Cookies
Calories: 120kcal
Cost: 6$

Equipment

  • 1 Baking Sheet (Lined with parchment or a mat)
  • 2 Mixing bowls (For dry and wet ingredients)
  • 1 Hand mixer (Optional, for creaming butter)
  • 1 Whisk (To mix dry ingredients)
  • 1 Sieve (For sifting matcha)
  • 1 Measuring cups (For flour, sugar, and butter)
  • 1 Measuring spoons (For matcha and baking powder)
  • 1 Cookie Scoop (Helps with uniform cookies)
  • 1 Wire rack (For cooling)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup All-purpose flour - Can substitute with gluten-free blend
  • 1 teaspoon Baking powder - Helps with light texture
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt - Balances sweetness
  • 1 ½ tablespoon Matcha powder - Use culinary-grade for best flavor
  • ½ cup Butter - Softened not melted
  • ½ cup White sugar - Can swap for coconut sugar
  • 1 Egg - Room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract - Adds warmth to the flavor
  • 1 teaspoon Honey - Secret trick for soft cookies
  • ½ cup White chocolate chips - Optional but highly recommended

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Line baking sheet
  • Whisk dry ingredients
  • Sift matcha
  • Cream butter and sugar
  • Add egg, vanilla, honey
  • Combine wet and dry
  • Fold in mix-ins
  • Roll dough into balls
  • Place on baking sheet
  • Press slightly
  • Bake 10–12 minutes
  • Let cool on pan 5 minutes
  • Transfer to wire rack
  • Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 30g | Calories: 120kcal (6%) | Carbohydrates: 15g (5%) | Protein: 2g (4%) | Fat: 6g (9%) | Saturated Fat: 3.5g (22%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.5g | Cholesterol: 15mg (5%) | Sodium: 40mg (2%) | Potassium: 30mg (1%) | Fiber: 0.5g (2%) | Sugar: 8g (9%) | Vitamin A: 150IU (3%) | Calcium: 15mg (2%) | Iron: 0.5mg (3%)

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