Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies
By Jenny Shadoff of Jennybeaned
Who says you need to drink green beer to celebrate St. Patty’s? Deck yourself in green and celebrate Ireland with this vegan matcha chocolate chip recipe! These bright green cookies are made without food coloring – it’s all-natural thanks to the help of matcha!
I’m not a fan of artificial food coloring so green beer definitely turns me off. These matcha cookies are a great way to incorporate some green to your next St. Patrick’s Day party. They’re also super easy to double in case you’re expecting a huge crowd. This recipe can easily become gluten-free as well which makes it a great treat to serve.
I adapted one of my favorite oat cookies to be vegan by subbing the butter for coconut oil and eggs for banana. Through many trials of making this recipe, I’ve found that the riper the banana, the better tasting these cookies are! I’ve recently switched from conventional bananas to organic fair-trade bananas and I can assure you that the additional cost is well worth it. The taste of fair-trade bananas is so different that I haven’t looked back and it’s a bonus that the proceeds go to the actual farmers and promote economic, social and environmental sustainability.
Another substitute that you can make if you’re looking to make these cookies a bit “nicer” is by subbing the light brown sugar for maple syrup which I’ve done, but make sure you look for the real stuff! Real maple syrup has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar and I love the rich taste that maple syrup brings. The extra antioxidants don’t hurt either!
Whether you’re Irish or not, everyone loves the excuse to party and when celebrating any holiday; no one wants to spend too much time prepping. These easy vegan matcha chocolate chip cookies are ready in less than 30 minutes which is why this is my go-to recipe. It’s tasty and versatile (mix in nuts or dried fruits if you’re not a fan of chocolate!). Made with simple, fresh ingredients that you can find in your kitchen, this recipe is sure to please.
Vegan Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes: 2 Dozen Cookies
Ready In: 20 Minutes
Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour (gluten-free works well too!)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons matcha powder (culinary grade is ok, I used ceremonial grade)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1/3 cup amber maple syrup (or 2/3 cup light brown sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used Jameson Irish Whiskey to be festive!)
1 medium ripe banana, mashed (about 1/2 cup)
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (I used vegan ones)
2 tablespoons of water or as needed
Directions
Heat the oven to 350°F. Whisk the flour, baking soda, matcha powder, and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the coconut oil and maple syrup until combined
Add the vanilla extract (or whiskey if using) and beat to combine, using a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Mix in the mashed banana and water, beating until incorporated.
Add the dry ingredients and fold until they’re just combined. Add the oats and the chocolate chips, mix briefly, and use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl if needed.
Use a reusable silicone baking mat or parchment paper and coat lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Use a tablespoon to scoop out 1 1/4-inch dough balls or 1-inch dough balls for mini cookies, placing them about 1 inch apart on the baking sheet.
Bake until just golden on the sides, about 10 minutes. Cool on the sheet for 10 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
