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Matcha lattes, matcha ice cream, matcha cakes - we've been seeing a lot of these emerald desserts and beverages around lately, but hey, who's complaining?

Matcha literally means 'powdered tea' in Japanese - tea leaves are finely ground to form that emerald green powder everyone is obsessed with. Not only is matcha delicious, it also has a multitude of health benefits. With its high levels of antioxidants, matcha helps to boost metabolism, which aids in weight loss.

If you want to incorporate a little of this magic green powder into your diet, we've got you covered. Here are 8 simple matcha dessert recipes that you can indulge in every week - or every day, for that matter!

Matcha Chia Seed Pudding

Image credits: Vanilla and Bean

This recipe is perfect for when you're trying to slim down, but still itching to indulge your sweet tooth. This emerald bowl of health goodness packs 32 grams of fiber from chia seeds, and requires just minutes to complete.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Combine unsweetened almond milk with chia seeds in a large bowl, stirring well.
  2. In another small bowl, mix matcha powder with honey/maple syrup until the mixture becomes smooth.
  3.  Add the matcha into the chia seeds, stirring well.
  4.  Let the chia seed pudding soak overnight in the refrigerator.
  5. According to your own preference, add more sweetener if needed. Top with fruits of your choice and serve.

Matcha White Chocolate Cookies

Image Credits: Wholesome Patisserie

The characteristic bitterness of matcha combines with the sweetness of white chocolate chips in this recipe to form a mouthwatering dessert. These cookies are fuss-free and perfect to serve at parties or when you have guests over.

Ingredients:

  1. Sift the flour and matcha powder into a large bowl.
  2. Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy, adding a pinch of salt.
  3. Add the powdered sugar to the butter, scraping down the sides of the bowl when necessary.
  4. Add the egg yolks and beat until combined.
  5. Gradually, in 3 parts, add the flour and matcha mixture. Mix until dough is smooth and free of lumps.
  6. Fold in the white chocolate chips.
  7. Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 3 hours, or overnight.
  8. Preheat your oven to 175 degrees celsius.
  9. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop equal sizes of dough onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
  10. Bake the cookies for approximately 12 minutes until the edge of the cookies turn golden brown.

Matcha Coconut Latte

Image Credits: Jason Leung on Unsplash

Lucky for us, we don't have to be professional baristas to whip up this tasty drink that's packed full of goodness and health. If you're looking for something more indulgent, feel free to top your latte with some whipped cream.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Sift the matcha into a mug.
  2. To the mug, add the hot water and coconut milk, whisking up and down in a 'Z' motion until frothy.
  3. According to your own preference, add more coconut milk or sweetener. Enjoy!

Matcha Nama Chocolate

Image Credits: Manu's Menu

If you're a huge fan of Royce's melt-in-the-mouth nama chocolate, this recipe is for you. These truffle chocolates are decadent and perfect for indulgent movie nights.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Cut the white chocolate and butter into small pieces.
  2. In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream over a gentle fire. When the cream is almost boiling and bubbles appear at the edges, remove from heat immediately.
  3. Add the white chocolate and butter immediately, mixing well to melt everything while the mixture is still warm.
  4. Once there are no more lumps, sift the matcha powder in and stir well.
  5. Line a 8' by 8' baking dish with parchment paper. Pour the mixture into the dish, banging the dish against the countertop a few times to remove air bubbles.
  6. Refrigerate overnight.
  7. When ready to serve, run a sharp knife over hot water and dry it completely before cutting the chocolate into squares of your preferred size.
  8. Sift matcha powder on top and serve.

Matcha Yogurt Popsicles

Image Credits: Kirbie Cravings

These yogurt popsicles will be a godsend in Singapore's insane heat. To make this dessert less sinful, we've replaced whipping cream with yogurt. Feel free to eat this for breakfast - I mean, there's yogurt in it, so that means it's healthy... right?

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients except the mochi until combined.
  2. Fold in the mochi and taste the mixture, adding in more honey/maple syrup according to preference.
  3. Pour the mixture into popsicle moulds, insert popsicle sticks, and freeze for a minimum of 5 hours.
  4. When serving, run the moulds under warm water to remove the popsicles easily.

 

Matcha Granola

Image Credits: Bakerita

Perfect for breakfast (or any time of the day, really), this recipe for matcha granola takes your favourite granola recipe to the next level. Coupled with the nuttiness of almonds and walnuts and the sweetness of dried blueberries, the bitterness of the matcha is toned down.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 120 degrees celsius.
  2. Combine oats, nuts and brown sugar in a large bowl.
  3. In another large bowl, mix the maple syrup, vanilla, salt and coconut oil together.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients over the oats and mix well.
  5. Spread the mixture out onto two baking sheets and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and let it cool.
  7. Sprinkle the matcha powder over the granola, add in the blueberries and toss well.

Chocolate Matcha Butter Cups

Image Credits: Richelle Ludwig

Bite-sized and easy to make, this dessert is perfect for hot summer days. After all, nothing can go wrong when there's chocolate in it!

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, mix the almond flour, sugar, coconut butter and matcha powder together. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
  2. Melt the dark chocolate using the double boiling method. Be sure to use a small fire to prevent burning. Add the coconut oil to the chocolate and mix until smooth.
  3. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners.
  4. Spoon 2 teaspoons of chocolate into the muffin liners, pressing with the back of the spoon to push the mixture to the edges of the liner.
  5. Scoop 1 tablespoon of the matcha mixture and roll into a ball. Gently press and flatten the matcha ball into the chocolate. Repeat for the rest of the liners.
  6. Top each cup with the remaining chocolate mixture, making sure the chocolate covers the matcha ball and meets the edges of the liner.
  7. Freeze for 3 hours before serving.

Matcha Mug Cake

Image Credits: Kirbie Cravings

Are you craving for some matcha cake, but it's 11pm and all the stores are closed? Fret not, for this all-in-one matcha mug cake recipe is the perfect solution to your late night cravings and/or laziness.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Add matcha, flour, baking powder and sugar into a microwave-safe mug, whisking until no lumps remain.
  2. Add the milk and oil into the cup, whisking until smooth.
  3. Cook in microwave for about 1 minute.
  4. Let the cake cool for a few minutes before digging in.

And here you have it - 8 fuss-free, easy matcha dessert recipes for anytime of the day that you are craving for some of this healthy goodness. Go forth and eat green!

For even more green tea goodness, look to our Sakura Tea! It is made from mild sencha that complements the flavour of Sakura flower in a harmonious union. Get yours today!

Christmas is nearing and it’s time to prepare to have guests over for a feast of epic proportions. Here are some classic and elegant dessert recipes that will surely bring the festive cheer to your merry party!

1. Pavlova

This dessert looks intimidating with its sophisticated cracks and form but it’s actually really simple to make. You’ll need icing sugar and egg whites, which need to be whisked for about 10 minutes. Add corn flour and vinegar and fold it into the meringue.

The result will be a wonderful marshmellowy meringue mixture with silky and stiff peaks. Distribute a circular dollop evenly on parchment paper and place the layers in the oven. You can use a piping bag to make your bases evenly shaped.

Spread whipped cream between the Pavlova bases and finish it off with some strawberries and you’ll have a quintessential Christmas dessert ready for your guests to dig into.

Here is another easy recipe to make your pavolva.

2. Trifle

The English trifle involves three simple ingredients: sponge cake, cream, and fresh fruit.

Start with your cake layer and begin putting different fruits around the outside of your bowl. Do the same with each type of fruit that you’ve chosen to use. The cream goes in next, followed by more fruits. You can get creative with additional ingredients like liqueur, vanilla extract, or raspberry sauce, but make sure to add them in the centre so they will be soaked up by the sponge cake at the bottom.

What’s great about this dessert is that you can choose to make them in individual portions or leave it up to your guests to help themselves.

If you fancy a beautifully layered trifle yourself, read this.

3. Yule log

Although making a yule log, or a log cake, may take a lot of time, patience, and effort, it is undeniably a mainstay dessert centerpiece, especially during Christmas.

You’ll start off whisking eggs and caster sugar until the result triples in size. Sift in flour and cocoa powder and fold it into the mixture. Again, you can add additional ingredients like liqueur here. Pour the mixture evenly onto parchment paper and pop it into the oven for about 10 minutes.

Invert your sponge onto baking paper and tightly roll it up, and leave it to cool. In the meantime, work on your cream filling. Evenly spread it into the sponge and roll it back up. Finally, pipe your chilled ganache onto your log, dusted with icing sugar.

Here is a step-by-step recipe that will guide you to making a wonderful yule log for everyone!

4. Pumpkin pie

The trick to a perfect pumpkin pie is ensuring that your crust is cooked well.

To do this, you’ll have to blind-bake your pie shell. This means pre-baking it so you don’t end up with something that’s uncooked halfway through the centre. Place parchment paper and pie weights into your pie shell so the shape of your crust doesn’t change.

For the filling, use pumpkin puree, three eggs, vanilla extract, and salt. The secret to the recipe lies in the spices that are added: cinnamon, finely ground nutmeg, ginger, and Chinese five spice. Finally, add evaporated milk and whisk everything, before filling your pie.

To make the perfect pumpkin pie for the festive season, here is a recipe for you!

 

5. Croquembouche

A croquembouche is made up of profiteroles stuck onto a cone and bound together with spun sugar. Traditionally served as a celebratory cake in France, this dessert is perfect for any party – and it even looks like a Christmas tree!

First, you need to make your choux pastry for the profiteroles. Once out of the oven, poke a hole in each of them with a skewer and pop them back in the oven for them to dry out. For the filling, you’ll need milk, vanilla bean, egg yolks, sugar, and flour. After whisking and cooling, spoon the filling into a piping bag and fill the profiteroles.

You can use any regular cardboard to make a cone, depending on the size you desire. Keep adding your pastries along the sides of the cone using a sugar and water mixture as glue. Finally, add an elegant touch to your extravagant dessert by making enough spun sugar to drape around the croquembouche.

Here is a great recipe should you want a croquembouche to be on your table at your Christmas dinner.

Although some recipes are certainly not easy to make, they are definitely worth the time and effort. Elegant, beautiful and delicious, the desserts are sure to charm your family and friends!

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