These Matcha White Chocolate Cookies with Almond Flour are some of the best low-carb keto and low-fodmap cookies around. They have a crisp outside and chewy inside – a cookie and matcha lover’s dream. I also share my secret to making soft and chewy gluten-free cookies using almond flour!
You can make chewy and gooey keto chocolate chip cookies with matcha and white chocolate that are the kind of buttery cookies dreams are made of. They’re light and crisp with the perfect chewy center that melts in your mouth and leaves you wanting another. Since these are healthy, keto, gluten-free, sugar-free cookies, you can feel good about indulging in more than just one. I particularly like to drizzle them with Sugar-free Icing and Glaze.
If you're not a matcha lover and are looking for other sugar-free desserts, check out these Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies or some Deep Dish Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Be sure to check out more almond flour dessert recipes in my desserts category.
If you’re looking for green food for St. Patrick’s Day recipes or St. Patrick’s Day cookies, matcha chocolate chip cookies are a perfect option. These are a delicious holiday cookie and are a favorite potluck recipe because they’re simply so pretty and amazingly good. The white chocolate enhances the green color of the tea powder, creating a vibrant colored cookie you can’t keep your hands off of. Also, consider other St. Paddy's Day favorites such as Keto Irish Stew and Colcannon, made with rutabaga. If you're preparing corned beef with cabbage, stop by my How to Shred Cabbage post for four easy ways to get the perfect shreds.
Why you'll love this recipe
- The unique sweetness of matcha cookies with white chocolate is simply superb!
- Matcha is loaded with health benefits
- These are paleo, Whole30 and low-FODMAP cookies
- If you follow a keto diet, sugar-free cookies are perfect for a low-carb lifestyle
- They are naturally gluten-free cookies
- I include ingredients that create the best texture and chew of any almond flour cookies around
- They give you a subtle boost of energy. Each cookie contains about ¼ teaspoon of matcha, which is around 19mg of caffeine.
- These are a healthy indulgence. You get to feel good about eating cookies!!!
What is matcha?
Matcha is a finely ground powder made from processed whole tea leaves. This particular green tea plant is grown in shade, rather than full sun, to create an overproduction of chlorophyll, which contributes to its vibrant green color and high amino acid content.
Matcha can be used as a natural green food coloring and has a host of health benefits.
Matcha varieties
There are a few varieties, or ‘grades’ that indicate the quality of the tea.
- Ceremonial grade – is tea that is used in ceremonies and temples. It is whisked into water to make a thick tea that is consumed in traditional tea ceremonies. This is the highest quality with the most balanced flavor. It is also the most expensive.
- Special or premium grade – is also high quality tea, intended for everyday consumption. Its flavor is delicate, fresh, subtle and grassy. Like ceremonial grade, these leaves are harvested from the upper part of the plant.
- Culinary or food grade – The leaves come from the lower part of the plant and are not as high quality as special or ceremonial grade leaves. This is the most bitter variety and is intended for use in cooking and smoothies, where it will be combined with other ingredients that mask the bitter qualities, while still imparting a fresh green tea flavor to the recipe.
I love to use teas from The Tao of Tea. They're a local, Portland company with some of the best quality teas in the world. Teas can be purchased directly from their website and may also be available on Amazon.
Is matcha FODMAP-friendly?
Green tea is considered to be low-FODMAP and may even ease the process of digestion. Since matcha powder is simply powdered whole green tea leaves, it is still considered to be an excellent low-FODMAP tea. It adds a unique spin to low-FODMAP baking ideas, like these spectacular FODMAP-friendly cookies with matcha!
If you're looking for more low-FODMAP desserts, be sure to stop by my low-FODMAP category for tasty treats and other FODMAP-friendly recipes.
What does matcha taste like?
This tea has a deep, delicate, sweet, grassy flavor with just a touch of bitterness. The sweet and umami flavor is due to the higher level of the amino acid, L-theanine.
Higher grades, such as ‘special’, ‘premium’ or ‘ceremonial’ matcha have a sweeter, more pronounced umami flavor than the culinary grade, which is lower in L-theanine. This lends to its slight bitterness and is the primary reason the culinary grade is more suitable for cooking, rather than drinking.
How to make matcha taste good
While some people say that matcha is an acquired taste, if it’s prepared correctly and you use a high quality tea, it will have much less of a bitter flavor. However, using even the lower quality grades in baked goods is a perfect way to make this green tea powder taste great.
Typically, sweetening matcha helps to make it more palatable. It pairs very well with milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate.
Matcha tea benefits
Matcha can be very good for your health, due to its unique nutrient profile. The entire leaf is consumed, resulting in a higher amount of antioxidants and caffeine than regular green tea.
- High in antioxidants – these neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and can aid in reducing inflammation and preventing chronic disease. Matcha is also a good source of vitamin C.
- Rich in catechins – which are flavonoids that have antioxidant properties, are beneficial to cells and may have anticancer effects
- Good source of polyphenols – Compounds that are as strong as antioxidants that also alleviate oxidative stress
- Reduces cholesterol and triglycerides – green tea has been shown to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke
- Matcha green tea for weight loss - green tea has been shown to help increase metabolism, fat burning during exercise and also helps to maintain weight loss
Higher grades of tea will contain higher amounts of nutrients. Usually, less expensive tea will be an indicator of its quality and nutrient concentration.
Ingredients
These cookies contain a variety of healthy ingredients that come together to make the best chewy gluten-free cookies.
- Almond flour – this is a great gluten-free flour and is perfect for cookie recipes
- Sweetener – I like to use powdered stevia, but other sweeteners such as monk fruit, allulose or erythritol work well. To make paleo-friendly cookies, you can use a paleo-friendly sweetener like stevia, maple sugar or coconut sugar.
- White chocolate chips – there are many sugar-free white chocolate chips available that are so, so good. I love to use either Choc Zero White Chocolate Chips or Lily’s White Chocolate Chips. If you want to make these paleo-friendly, try making your own paleo white chocolate. Or, you can easily use dark chocolate in these cookies, as well.
- Butter – I find that grass-fed provides the best flavor. For paleo, use your favorite substitute here.
- Egg – just one does the trick
- Matcha powder, sifted (see info about sifting matcha below) – see my description about different grades of matcha to use. I like to use special or ceremonial grade for the best flavor, but culinary grade will also be just fine.
- Vanilla extract – adds a touch of flavor
- Baking powder – to give these just a little lift
- Salt – creates some baking chemistry magic
And for the three ingredients that make the best chewy almond flour cookies:
- Gelatin powder – this gives cookies a fantastic soft and chewy texture. No need to bloom it – just add the powder to the batter and mix in. And, it’s a healthy addition, contributing an additional dose of amino acids.
- Oat fiber – gives some texture and structure and contributes to a great chew, with zero carbs
- Xanthan gum – also adds to the soft, chewy texture. Not familiar with xanthan gum? Learn all about it in my What is Xanthan Gum Ingredient Spotlight.
Why do you need to sift matcha powder?
Matcha naturally will become slightly clumpy when stored. Sifting the tea will allow the powder to be evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Sifting it is very easy. Simply press it through a small strainer.
White chocolate vs milk chocolate
If you've ever wondered what the difference is between white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate, here's a brief run-down on the differences between each:
White chocolate
While it has 'chocolate' in the name, it technically isn't chocolate at all. It's made of mostly cocoa butter and often contains other ingredients such as milk, lecithin (or another stabilizer) and sweetener. However, it contains no actual cocoa (chocolate solids).
What is cocoa butter? It is a type of fat the comes from cacao beans, but has the flavor and aroma of cocoa. Technically, it's considered a vegetable fat and is widely used in making chocolate and skin-care products as well as sweet and savory recipes.
Milk chocolate
This chocolate contains between 4 to12 percent milk fats and solids, as well as cocoa butter, vanilla and lecithin. It has a lighter, creamier taste and texture than dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate
This is considered the 'healthiest' of all chocolates, as it contains between 45-85 percent cocoa and is considered a superfood. Cocoa has high levels of antioxidants and minerals such as iron, magnesium and zinc. It has more of a bitter flavor than white or milk chocolates.
Instructions
This is a very fast and easy cookie recipe! You'll love how simple it is to make these beautiful cookies.
In a medium sized bowl, combine the almond flour, baking powder, salt, gelatin, oat fiber and xanthan gum
Mix until thoroughly combined
Melt the butter and pour into a large mixing bowl or melt it in the bowl in the microwave (this takes between 20-30 seconds). Then, add the egg, sweetener, vanilla and sifted matcha to the bowl with the melted butter.
Whisk or stir until thoroughly combined
Combine the dry ingredients with the wet and mix
Add the chips and mix again
Roll into 1 inch balls, then flatten slightly. Feel free to add a few more chips to the tops of the cookies. Just be sure to gently press them into the formed cookies so they won't fall off.
Bake for 12 minutes, until set, then let cool
Variations and add-ins
There are a few things you can do to customize your cookies:
- Use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips instead of white chocolate chips
- Add some chopped macadamia nuts or cashews
- Try strawberry or mint flavored chips instead of white chocolate
- Instead of just melting the butter, try browning the butter first to add an extra nutty flavor
- If chocolate chips aren't your thing, simply leave them out
How to store
It's best to store cookies made with almond flour in a sealed container. They can be unrefrigerated overnight, but beyond that, keep them chilled in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
You can also easily freeze matcha cookies. I recommend freezing them in a single layer on a sheet pan. Then place them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to three months.
FAQ
Yes. Since this tea is produced from whole tea leaves, it has a bit more caffeine than brewed green tea, but it depends on how much is consumed in a serving. Caffeine in matcha is absorbed at a slower rate, due to its high content of the amino acid, L-theanine. That's why you can usually drink a cup of matcha without getting the jitters.
Based on an 8oz cup, brewed coffee wins. ½ teaspoon of matcha powder contains about 34mg of caffeine, compared to about 28mg present in a cup of brewed green tea. A cup of coffee can have as much as 100mg of caffeine in an 8oz cup.
While the answer can be a bit controversial, it is said that matcha’s origins can be traced back as early as the 7th century, during the Tang Dynasty, in China. It was introduced to Japan around the same time, over 800 years ago. However, the Japanese have perfected the preparation and ritual surrounding this tea, making it a traditional Japanese beverage.
Matcha powder can be used in many recipes, including baking, However, it can change to a brown color when exposed to high heat for too long or when used in baked goods containing high amounts of sugar.
Two main reasons why matcha cookies may turn brown is due to prolonged baking times and using larger amounts of sugar. Making low-carb cookies using a sugar-free sweetener keeps them a beautiful, bright green.
Stored matcha can naturally turn brown when exposed to heat and air, so it’s best to be kept in an air tight, sealed container and stored in a cool, dark place.
Some matcha products add ingredients to help the powder retain its green color, even when baked for longer periods. Make sure to check the ingredient list for additives and consider purchasing a 100% organic product.
After the leaves are harvested, they are rolled, laid out to dry, are destemmed and deveined, then slowly stone-ground into a fine powder.
Other recipes you might like
- Chocolate Almond Flour Mug Cake
- Easy Keto Brownies
- Flourless Keto Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Deep Dish Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Did you make this melt-in-your-mouth cookie recipe? Let me know how you liked it by leaving a star rating and a comment!
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📖 Recipe
Matcha White Chocolate Cookies with Almond Flour
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour (finely ground is best)
- 1 cup powdered stevia (or sweetener of choice)
- ½ cup butter (salted - or use butter alternative of choice)
- 1 tablespoon matcha powder (sifted - see notes. Use the highest grade possible.)
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon oat fiber (for amazing cookie texture and chew)
- 2 teaspoons gelatin powder (also for amazing cookie texture and chew)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt (fine sea salt is best)
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (optional, but helps create texture and chew. Learn more in my What is Xanthan Gum Ingredient Spotlight.)
- ½ cup sugar-free white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 325 °F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- In a medium sized bowl, combine the almond flour, baking powder, salt, gelatin, oat fiber and xanthan gum and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Melt the butter and pour into a large mixing bowl or melt it in the bowl in the microwave (this takes between 20-30 seconds).
- Add the egg, sweetener, vanilla and sifted matcha in the bowl with the melted butter and whisk or stir until thoroughly combined.
- Combine the dry ingredients with the wet and mix.
- Add the chips and mix again.
- Roll into 1 inch balls, place onto the baking sheet, then flatten slightly.
- Bake for 12 minutes until set, then let cool.
Notes
Sifting matcha powder
Matcha naturally will become slightly clumpy when stored. Sifting the tea will allow the powder to be evenly distributed throughout the batter. Sifting it is very easy. Simply press it through a small strainer.Variations and add-ins
There are a few things you can do to customize your cookies:- Use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips instead of white chocolate chips
- Add some chopped macadamia nuts or cashews
- Try strawberry or mint flavored chips instead of white chocolate
- Instead of just melting the butter, try browning the butter first to add an extra nutty flavor
- If chocolate chips aren't your thing, simply leave them out
How to store
It's best to store cookies made with almond flour in a sealed container. They can be unrefrigerated overnight, but beyond that, keep them chilled in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. You can also easily freeze matcha cookies. I recommend freezing them in a single layer on a sheet pan. Then place them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to three months.Nutrition
*Net carbs = carbohydrates - fiber
Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.
Fran Longo
Delious chewy matcha cookie.
Tracey Hatch-Rizzi
Hi Fran,
I'm so glad you liked these cookies! They're definitely one of my favorites.
Take care,
Tracey