With St. Paddy’s day coming up this weekend, I got in the mood to make green-colored treats…. and there’s no better way to naturally color things green than with matcha! Last year, I made zucchini cake with matcha frosting, and this year I thought it would be fun to make (and eat) doughnuts! If you’re new to matcha – it’s a powder made from Japanese green tea leaves. Because the whole leaf is ground (vs. steeping the tea leaves), matcha is packed with antioxidants. Which almost makes these doughnuts count as a health treat 🙂 You can mix matcha with hot water and drink it on its own, or you can make lattes, smoothies, or ice cream with it. You can also use it for baking, which is what we’re doing today. I find the flavor of matcha hard to describe – it’s a little earthy, but it has a subtle sweetness that really shines when it’s made into sweet treats. Of course, all of this has nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day, I just thought green doughnuts would be fun to make.
I made my doughnuts with 3 decorating options:
- Glazed 2. Dipped in coconut oil and then in matcha-infused cane sugar 3. Dipped in matcha powdered sugar Choose just one or make all 3! These are best enjoyed on the same day they’re made.
What’s the Best Matcha for Baking?
Buying matcha for the first time can be confusing – there are so many brands, and they vary widely in quality. I’ve tested out all of the top matcha powders as tea with water, in lattes, and in baking recipes. I find that Aiya Authentic Japanese Matcha Powder works best in baked goods. It has a strong taste, which allows the earthy matcha flavor to come through after baking. It’s not super expensive either.
Recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour.
