Brown Butter Matcha Cookies Recipe

Buttery Brown Butter Matcha Cookies Recipe with Earthy Sweetness

Brown butter rich, nutty essence crafts ordinary matcha cookies into an extraordinary culinary experience.

matcha brings its distinctive emerald-green hue and complex flavor profile to these irresistible treats.

Global pastry enthusiasts have long celebrated the magical combination of toasted butter and vibrant green tea powder.

Melding traditional Japanese ingredients with classic baking techniques creates a sophisticated yet approachable dessert sensation.

These delicate cookies offer a perfect balance between sweet, earthy, and slightly umami notes that dance across your palate.

Crisp edges and tender centers characterize this innovative recipe that elevates the humble cookie to an art form.

The unexpected harmony of ingredients promises a delightful surprise with every bite.

Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and base for the cookie's texture, choose unbleached flour for better flavor.
  • Matcha Powder: Offers distinctive green tea flavor and vibrant color, select high-quality ceremonial or culinary grade.
  • Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly, ensures light and crisp texture.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine sea salt for even distribution.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Unsalted Butter: Creates rich brown butter base, select high-quality butter with good fat content.
  • White Sugar, Raw Sugar: Provide sweetness and contribute to cookie's caramelization, raw sugar adds depth of flavor.
  • Egg: Binds ingredients and adds richness, use fresh room temperature egg for better incorporation.
Additions:
  • White Chocolate Chunks: Adds creamy sweetness and textural contrast, choose good quality chocolate that melts smoothly.

Baking Guide for Brown Butter Matcha Cookies

Step 1: Craft Liquid Gold

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, watching it transform into a rich, golden elixir with toasty milk solids. Let it cool to room temperature.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a mixing bowl, whisk together:
  • All-purpose flour
  • Matcha powder
  • Baking soda
  • Salt

Step 3: Create Smooth Wet Base

In a separate bowl, blend:
  • Cooled brown butter
  • White sugar
  • Raw sugar

Crack in an egg and whisk until the mixture becomes light and creamy.

Step 4: Combine Magical Mixture

Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until perfectly blended. Gently stir in white chocolate chunks.

Step 5: Chill Cookie Dough

Scoop dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes to intensify flavors.

Step 6: Bake To Perfection

Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Bake cookies for 8 minutes. Optional: Sprinkle extra white chocolate pieces on top and bake additional 5 minutes.

Step 7: Cool And Savor

Transfer cookies to a wire rack. Allow to cool completely before indulging in these dreamy matcha-infused treats.

Tips for Matcha Flavor and Chewy Texture

  • Master Browning Technique: Watch butter carefully during browning to achieve golden color without burning, swirling pan frequently for even heat distribution.
  • Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerate cookie dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and enhance flavor development, creating more concentrated and complex taste.
  • Precise Matcha Selection: Choose high-quality, vibrant green matcha powder for intense flavor and rich color, avoiding dull or stale varieties.
  • Chocolate Chunk Placement: Gently press extra white chocolate pieces on top of cookies midway through baking for beautiful melted appearance and additional texture.
  • Temperature Control: Use an oven thermometer to ensure accurate baking temperature, preventing over or undercooking of delicate matcha cookies.

Storing Brown Butter Matcha Cookies Properly

  • Refrigerate: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper. Keep fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature.
  • Freeze: Place cookies in a freezer-safe container between layers of parchment paper. Freeze for maximum 3 months for best flavor and texture.
  • Reheat: Warm refrigerated cookies in microwave for 10-15 seconds or in oven at 150°C (300°F) for 3-4 minutes until slightly crisp and fragrant.

Pairing Treats for Matcha Cookies

  • Savor Matcha Latte Harmony: Pair these brown butter matcha cookies with a creamy, warm matcha latte to enhance the earthy green tea notes and complement the rich butterscotch undertones of the browned butter.
  • Elevate with Vanilla Bean Accompaniment: Serve alongside a scoop of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream, creating a delightful contrast between the cookie's warmth and the cold, smooth vanilla backdrop.
  • Match with Citrus-Infused Tea: Brew a light, zesty yuzu or lemon green tea that cuts through the cookie's richness while highlighting the subtle matcha complexity and providing a refreshing palate cleanse.
  • Indulge with White Chocolate Liqueur: For an adult twist, enjoy these cookies with a small glass of white chocolate liqueur, which echoes the white chocolate chunks and adds a luxurious, creamy dimension to the tasting experience.
  • Nutty Matcha Crunch: Replace white chocolate chunks with toasted chopped almonds and pecans for extra texture and nutty flavor.
  • Dark Chocolate Matcha Fusion: Swap white chocolate with dark chocolate chunks to create a deeper, more intense chocolate-matcha combination.
  • Lavender Matcha Elegance: Add dried culinary lavender to the dry ingredients for a subtle floral note that complements the earthy matcha profile.
  • Coconut Matcha Tropical: Mix in shredded unsweetened coconut to introduce a tropical dimension and enhance the cookie's overall richness.

Highlights of Brown Butter Matcha Cookies

  • Elevate Flavor Complexity: Brown butter introduces a rich, nutty undertone that transforms ordinary cookies into a gourmet experience, while matcha adds an elegant earthy sophistication that dances beautifully with sweet white chocolate chunks.
  • Master Sophisticated Technique: Browning butter requires careful attention but delivers an incredible depth of flavor, making this recipe a delightful way to upgrade your baking skills without overwhelming complexity.
  • Create Textural Delight: These cookies promise a perfect balance between crisp edges and soft, chewy centers, enhanced by melty white chocolate pieces that provide unexpected bursts of creamy sweetness in every bite.
  • Quick Gourmet Indulgence: From preparation to baking, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality cookies in under an hour, making it ideal for spontaneous baking moments or impressing guests with minimal effort.
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Brown Butter Matcha Cookies Recipe

Brown Butter Matcha Cookies Recipe


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4.7 from 37 reviews

  • Total Time: 33 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Silky brown butter meets earthy matcha in these delightful cookies that dance between richness and green tea’s subtle depth. Perfect companions for afternoon tea, these cookies offer a sophisticated twist on classic treats that will enchant your taste buds.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 153 grams (5.4 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • 100 grams (3.5 ounces) unsalted butter
  • 120 grams (4.2 ounces) white chocolate, chopped
  • 1 large egg

Sugars:

  • 70 grams (2.5 ounces) white sugar
  • 50 grams (1.8 ounces) raw or light brown sugar

Dry Seasonings and Additives:

  • 10 grams (0.35 ounces) matcha powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Optional:

  • extra white chocolate for topping

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring continuously until it transforms into a golden-hued liquid with caramelized milk particles. Allow the browned butter to cool to room temperature.
  2. Combine flour, matcha powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl, whisking thoroughly to distribute ingredients evenly.
  3. In a separate vessel, blend the cooled browned butter with white and raw sugars until well integrated. Incorporate the egg and whisk vigorously until the mixture becomes lighter and more voluminous.
  4. Gently merge the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring until a cohesive dough forms. Delicately fold white chocolate chunks throughout the cookie dough.
  5. Use a cookie scoop to portion dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate the prepared dough for a minimum of 30 minutes to enhance flavor development and texture.
  6. Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Place the chilled cookie dough in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 8 minutes.
  7. Optionally dot additional white chocolate pieces across the partially baked cookies, then return to the oven for another 5 minutes until edges become lightly golden and crisp.
  8. Transfer the freshly baked cookies to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to reach room temperature before savoring their rich, nuanced flavors.

Notes

  • Browning butter transforms ordinary cookies into a nutty, rich delicacy with deep caramel undertones that elevate the entire baking experience.
  • Chilling the dough for 30 minutes ensures thicker, chewier cookies that prevent excessive spreading during baking.
  • Matcha powder adds a delightful earthy green tea flavor and beautiful color contrast against creamy white chocolate chunks.
  • Using both white and raw sugar creates a complex sweetness with subtle molasses notes and enhanced caramelization.
  • White chocolate pieces melt slightly during baking, creating pockets of creamy sweetness that complement the matcha’s subtle bitterness.
  • Baking in two stages allows for perfectly golden edges and a soft, tender center that makes these cookies irresistibly textured.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 13 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 185
  • Sugar: 11g
  • Sodium: 35mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 23g
  • Fiber: 0.5g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 30mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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