Vegan Chocolate Chip Matcha Brownies
Best vegan chocolate chip matcha brownies. Golden edges, soft fudgy center, not too sweet, and the perfect matcha flavor. So very addicting!
Truth be told, I wanted to make matcha brownies because, yes, they sound divine, with the earthiness of matcha combined with decadent chocolate, but also, they look so pretty!
Green is my favorite color, and with the vibrant green color of these brownies, I simply had to try making them, but I made them vegan-style of course, since I am a plant-based eater.
The key to making these delicious fudgy brownies is twofold. First, it is important to use a good quality green tea powder.
It doesn’t necessarily need to be ceremonial grade matcha, but definitely look for culinary grade matcha to get the best green tea flavor without it being bitter.
Second, for extra rich flavor and chewy, gooey brownies, use a high-quality chocolate in this matcha brownie recipe.
This recipe surprised me because usually I’m not a big fan of regular brownies, sometimes they can be too rich for my taste.
However, I made this recipe more like matcha blondies, with the vegan chocolate chips sprinkled in at the end, so you can actually use as much or as little chocolate chips as you prefer, depending on your sweet preference.
This is the best matcha brownie recipe, and I cannot wait to share it with my kids when they come to visit us over the summer!
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Kitchen Tools Used
- Hand mixer. I like to use a hand-held mixer so that I can create a nice smooth texture with the brownie batter. If you don’t have a hand mixer, it is perfectly fine to mix the ingredients using a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Brownie pan. I use a quality, non-stick, 8×8 inch brownie pan.
- Mixing bowls. I prefer to use glass mixing bowls over metal.
- Measuring cups and spoons. You can’t go wrong with a good set of measuring cups and spoons.
- Fine mesh strainer. You will need a fine mesh strainer to sift the powdered sugar and matcha powder.
- Wire rack. To cool the brownies before storing.
- Storage container. I like to use glass storage containers with a tight-fitting lid.
Ingredients for Matcha Brownies
Avocado oil. This is a mild, neutral-flavored oil. You can also use extra-virgin olive oil if you prefer, but know that the green tea brownies will have a slightly stronger olive oil type flavor – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Try it both ways!
White sugar. Best to look for organic pure cane sugar.
Brown sugar. Same for brown sugar, it is best to purchase organic sugar due to the highly pesticide-sprayed sugar cane crop. You can use either light or dark brown sugar.
Ground flax. If you don’t have ground flax, you can also use chia seeds or ground hemp seeds.
Pure vanilla extract. Look for pure vanilla extract that does not contain additional flavoring.
Powdered sugar. Look for organic powdered sugar.
Matcha powder. It is important to get the best matcha powder you can find.
Rule of thumb: The better the matcha, the tastier the matcha brownies!
All-purpose flour. I use organic all-purpose flour but you can also experiment using gluten-free flour, whole-wheat flour, almond flour, and more.
Baking powder. Look for aluminum free baking powder.
Sea salt. Feel free to use kosher salt if desired.
Vegan chocolate chips. I prefer using vegan mini chocolate chips but feel free to use regular size or even chocolate chunks.
How To Make The Best Matcha Brownies
NOTE: For the exact measurements, full recipe, and nutritional information, please see the printable recipe card below.
PREPARATION
Preheat the oven to 350°F, and place the oven rack on the second shelf.
Lightly grease and flour the brownie pan, or line it with a piece of unbleached parchment paper.
In a small bowl, mix the ground flax with water to make a flax egg. Set aside to thicken.
In a separate bowl, sift the powdered sugar and matcha powder so that it creates a fine powder. Set aside.
INSTRUCTIONS
Using the hand mixer, cream the butter in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
Next, add both the white and brown sugar, and blend until smooth.
Add the flax egg, vanilla, and water, and blend until smooth, creamy, and fluffy.
Next, add the sifted powdered sugar and matcha powder. Blend until smooth.
Blend the flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine just until blended, being careful not to overmix.
Finally, gently fold the vegan chocolate chips into the matcha batter.
Pour the matcha brownie batter in the prepared pan and place it in the preheated oven for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out perfectly clean.
Once the brownies are done baking, take them out of the oven and let them cool in the baking pan on a cooling rack for about 15-20 minutes.
Cut the fudgy matcha brownies into squares using a butter knife.
Let the brownies cool for another 10 minutes or so before removing them from the pan onto the wire rack.
Let the matcha brownies cool to room temperature on the wire rack before placing them in a storage container.
Recipe Notes & Tips for Success
It is important to make sure the flax and water mixture are thoroughly combined and thickened like the consistency of an egg. This will be your egg substitute and binder for the matcha brownies.
Do not skip sifting the powdered sugar and matcha powder. This is an important step, helping to prevent clumps, and it aids in the smoothness of your vegan brownies.
The baking time may vary depending on your oven and the size of your baking pan. The best gauge is to make sure a toothpick comes out perfectly clean from the center of the brownie tray before pulling it out of the oven.
Cool the matcha brownies for at least 15-20 minutes before cutting into them. It takes a while for the brownie batter to settle after baking. Letting them cool before you cut them helps prevent them from sticking.
ProTip: If after cooling, the brownies are still sticking while you are trying to cut them, dip your butter knife into a glass of cold water before slicing. This really helps! You may need to do it a couple of times while cutting.
For a nice touch, you can sift a little bit of powdered sugar and matcha powder over the top of the brownies. This is what I did to make the matcha brownies look pretty!
How To Store
The matcha brownies store best in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. They will stay fresh on your kitchen counter for 3-4 days.
You can also store these brownies in the fridge for up to one week.
These matcha brownies freeze well too. Just make sure to use a freezer-safe container or a BPA-free plastic bag. They will last in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Additional Vegan Snack and Dessert Recipes
- No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
- Cherry Walnut Oatmeal Cookies: Vegan, Soft, Delicious
- Chia Seed Pudding Ratios: Best Texture Every Time
- Fruit Leathers: Making Fruit Roll-Ups In A Dehydrator
Let’s Connect
I hope you enjoyed this article and will try making these amazing, scrumptious, vegan matcha brownies.
With the perfect amount of earthy flavor matcha, and rich decadent chocolate, these yummy matcha brownies make the best afternoon treat.
LET ME SEE YOUR BROWNIES! If you make these delicious matcha brownies, I would love to see them.
1. Follow Upside Lane on Instagram.
2. Take a picture of your creation and hashtag it with #upsidelane.
3. Tag me when you post with @upsidelane
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Printable Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup avocado oil
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp ground flax
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp matcha powder – sifted
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar – sifted
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup vegan mini chocolate chips
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F and place oven rack on the second to the bottom shelf.
- Lightly grease and flour a brownie pan. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, add the ground flax and 6Tb of filtered water. Mix well and set aside to thicken.
- In a small bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and matcha powder. Set aside.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, using a hand-held mixer, blend the butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add the white and brown sugar, mix until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Add the flax mixture, vanilla, and 3 more tablespoons of filtered water. Combine until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar and matcha powder. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, and combine until smooth but do not overmix.
- Finally, gently fold in the vegan chocolate chips.
- Pour the matcha brownie mixture into the prepared pan.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake for approximately 30-40 minutes, or until the edges are medium brown, and the center has turned a golden color.NOTE: The best indicator of doneness is when a toothpick comes out perfectly clean from the center of the pan.
- When done, take the brownies out of the oven, and place the pan on a wire rack to cool for about 20 minutes.
- Using a butter knife, cut the brownies into squares.
- Let the cut brownies cool for another 10 minutes, then remove the brownies from the pan, and place them on the wire rack to cool completely before storing.
- ENJOY!
Notes
- Sifting. It is important to sift the powdered sugar and the matcha powder to avoid clumps. Do not skip this step.
- Flax. Make sure your flax and water have thickened and are no longer runny before pouring it into your matcha brownie batter. This is your egg substitute.
- Brownie pan. I used an 8″x8″ brownie pan for this recipe. If you want your browies to be thicker, feel free to use a smaller pan. However, you may need to adjust the baking time accordingly.
- Cool completely. Make sure the brownies are cooked well and a toothpick, or butter knife, comes out perfectly clean from the center of the brownies.
- Counter. These matcha brownies will stay fresh on your kitchen counter for approximately 3-4 days.
- Fridge. They will last in the fridge for up to one week.
- Freezer. Any longer than a week, it is recommended to freeze your matcha brownies in a freezer-safe storage container or a BPA free plastic bag. These matcha brownies will last in the freezer for up to 4 months.