Matcha waffles bring together a European Sunday treat and Japanese green tea – crisp, bright green and slightly bitter. Below you'll find the classic recipe and a vegan version, both for a standard waffle iron.
The essentials at a glance
- For waffles, culinary matcha (e.g. Organic Matcha Itsutsu) works best, not pricey ceremonial matcha – its bold aroma holds its own against flour, sugar and butter.
- 1 teaspoon of matcha (about 2 g) is enough for a batch of waffles and gives them their typical green color.
- The classic batter needs about 20 minutes to rest, the vegan one only about 5 minutes.
- Matcha in the waffle iron: crisp outside, soft inside – best served with powdered sugar, which brings out the green color.
- Cherry compote hardly goes with matcha; powdered sugar, cream or light-colored berries work better.
Why matcha and waffles go together
The waffle is one of Europe's oldest baked goods: waffle irons are documented in Belgium and France as early as the 9th century, and today's deep grid pattern only developed from them in the 19th century. Matcha, in turn, is Japanese green tea ground into a fine powder. When the two meet, you get classic fusion cuisine – a traditional dish gets a new color and a slightly bitter note.
The slightly bitter matcha flavor balances the sweetness of sugar and cream instead of doubling it. That's exactly what makes the green waffle a talking point over coffee and cake – without it tasting one-note sweet.
Which matcha is suitable for baking?
You don't need ceremonial matcha for baking. A bold culinary or everyday matcha makes sense, as its intense, slightly bitter aroma holds its own against flour, sugar and fat and keeps its color even after baking. At Matcha Kāru, the Basic Line of Organic Matcha Yottsu and Organic Matcha Itsutsu is the right, affordable base for this. You can read more in our article on cooking and baking with matcha.
Ingredients for classic matcha waffles
The following amounts make about 8 waffles (around 4 servings):
- 1 tsp Organic Matcha Itsutsu (about 2 g)
- 70 g butter (room temperature)
- 75 g sugar
- 2 eggs
- Zest of half a lemon (alternatively ½ packet of lemon zest)
- 125 g sour cream
- 70 g cornstarch
- 70 g flour
- 125 ml milk
Ingredients for the vegan version
- 1 tsp Organic Matcha Itsutsu (about 2 g)
- 100 g flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 125 ml oat milk
- 40 g fruit puree (for texture and sweetness, e.g. apple-banana)
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
How do you make matcha waffles?
The preparation is almost identical for both versions: first mix the dry and the liquid ingredients separately, then stir everything into a smooth batter. A hand mixer helps prevent lumps.
Mix the dry ingredients
Combine the flour, starch, sifted matcha and – for the vegan version – baking powder.
Add the wet ingredients
Stir in the butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream, lemon and milk (or for the vegan version: oat milk, fruit puree, oil).
Let it rest
Let the classic batter rest for about 20 minutes, the vegan batter for about 5 minutes.
Bake
Bake in a preheated waffle iron until golden green and crisp.
How are matcha waffles best served?
Matcha waffles stand out above all for their unusual color. The best way to highlight it is with powdered sugar – the dessert really doesn't need any other topping. If you like, serve with cream.
Organic Matcha Itsutsu
Kräftiger Culinary-Matcha der Basic Line – setzt sich beim Backen gegen Mehl, Zucker und...
from 19,00 € , 633,33 €/kg
Conclusion
With a bold culinary matcha and one teaspoon of powder, you can whip up bright green waffles that turn out great, classic or vegan. The slightly bitter note gives the sweet Sunday treat a grown-up touch – an easy way to get started baking with matcha.
