Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! But also, two of my favorite flavors: matcha & mint. (I love a good almond milk matcha latte!) Not only is matcha delicious, it’s got plenty of health benefits. One cup of matcha tea has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of brewed green tea. Also, the natural caffeine in matcha can improve mental clarity and a feeling of well being because it stimulates dopamine release from the brain.
This recipe is easy to make but, even better, it’s gluten- free, grain free, refined sugar-free and dairy-free. And if you’d like to make it vegan, I’ve included the instructions for that too.
As for the frosting: it’s optional. These blondies are delicious without it. But, personally, why not? It’s easy to make and so yummy. AND, if you’ve made my salted avocado brownies before, it’s a PERFECT frosting for those too!! (I’ve included a photo of those frosted with this matcha mint frosting).
Chef’s Notes: To get a bright green color in your baking from matcha, you need to use culinary grade matcha powder. My favorite brand is by Kiss Me Organics. But if you have another favorite brand then feel free to use yours. Just make sure it’s culinary grade. Also, if your not a fan of mint in either part of the recipe, you can omit the mint extract. Additionally, as I’ve shared in other recipes, my favorite brand of vegan chocolate chips is Enjoy Life. Lastly, if you’d like to go vegan with this recipe, substitute the egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed mixed with 2 tbsp water & allow to sit for 10 minutes before adding to mixture).
Ingredients:
For the Blondies-
• 2 Tbsp coconut flour
• 1 1/2 Tbsp matcha powder, culinary grade
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp mint extract
• 1 egg (or flax egg for vegans)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup granulated stevia
• ¼ cup clean oil (avocado or coconut)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 2 Tbsp almond milk
• 1/3 cup mini vegan chocolate chips
For the frosting-
• 1 can coconut cream, chilled for a few hours
• 2 Tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 2 tsp matcha powder
• 1/4 tsp mint extract
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. In a large bowl, mix the almond flour, coconut flour, matcha powder, salt, baking soda, stevia and cinnamon with a fork until well mixed.
3. In another bowl, whisk the egg (or flax egg), vanilla, maple syrup, oil, apple sauce, and almond milk together until well blended and the mixture thickens.
4. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until everything is blended. Next, fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Line an 8 x 8 inch pan with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the pan.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the edges are firm.
7. To make the matcha mint frosting, combine the coconut cream, honey, mint extract, and matcha powder in a medium-sized bowl. Whip using an electric mixer or a handheld whisk until smooth and creamy. Frost the blondies once they’ve cooled.
