Delicious Matcha Mochi Muffins

This post for the matcha mochi muffins was first published on the 25th of April 2022.

One thing I love – like, absolutely adore – to drink when I am not sipping coffee, it’s matcha. So it was only a matter of time until I took matters into my own hands and started playing with it in cooking. I mean, nothing new of course considering we made this matcha sponge cake before. And these matcha cookies for our friend Lynn’s blog. But this recipe is one you definitely don’t want to miss: let me present you the matcha mochi muffins in their whole deliciousness.

I know a lot of people tend to be adverse to the whole matcha ordeal. I must admit, I kind of understand their point: matcha does not smell appetizing in any way and some people (me included) find green off-putting as a whole. But while my main advice – to pretty much anything when it comes to food – is to not smell food or drinks before you actually try them, it’s very difficult to avoid this one. I am sure, though, that once you get over the smell, you’ll end up enjoying these matcha mochi muffins. Not that the matcha mochi muffins themselves have a stench to them, but you never know right?

If you know mochi and their extremely chewy texture, you will end up loving these matcha mochi muffins. They combine my love of mochi and matcha, and they are just so tasty I still dream about them daily. The one thing I feel might put you off these, aside from the matcha flavour, is the texture. These are chewy, almost jelly-like. Am I selling these to you yet? I don’t feel like I am really…

Let’s get baking some yummy matcha mochi muffins

Matcha mochi muffins are a delightful fusion of traditional Japanese and Western baking. They combine the unique chewy texture of mochi with the earthy, slightly bitter flavour of matcha in the form of a muffin.

What is matcha?

As you have previously read in our post about the matcha sponge, matcha is a type of green tea made by grinding young green tea leaves into a powder. This powder is then traditionally served with hot water, or also with milk in more western countries. We do love our matcha lattes around here, it shouldn’t be a secret! But we also love matcha mochi muffins, so help us out.

Matcha, of course, is grown slightly differently from your average green tea. While both come from the same plant, matcha’s plants are covered 20-30 days before they are harvested. This is to avoid direct sunlight shining on the plants and increase the production of chlorophyll, boost the amino acid content and give the plant that strong green colour we all recognise so easily.

I do not want to bother you with the details of how the tea is then harvested and ground to a powder. But it’s most definitely worth mentioning the benefits of matcha.

First off, matcha is full of antioxidants. Like, packed to the brim with antioxidants, which may reduce cell damage and prevent chronic disease. At the same time, matcha may help protect the liver and boost your brain function. But also, some of the compounds matcha contains are linked to cancer prevention and heart health. But because of the high caffeine content, you should also make sure you only consume it in moderation! The same goes for consuming these matcha mochi muffins.

Where can I get my hands on matcha?

Nowadays, you can get matcha powder everywhere. From the supermarket to the internet, your speciality coffee shop might also be selling some great ones! We have been trying quite a few and, depending on what grade of matcha you are after, we are able to recommend you a few options.

Yes, you read that right: matcha is graded, depending on the use you will have for it. There are two main grades for it, one being the Ceremonial grade, and the second one being the culinary grade. We have used Ceremonial grade before, in both drinking and baking. Bad, we know. But we have also used culinary graded one for drinking and still enjoyed it. While we have generally found it less strong on the palate, it’s definitely easier to drink than your Ceremonial one.

And because of these grades, the pricing grows or decreases accordingly. Ceremonial matcha is extremely expensive, and the only one used for traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. The culinary grade matcha is not a low-quality tea at all, in fact, the only difference between culinary and ceremonial is down to how they are produced. But it’s definitely cheaper, and more prone to being mixed with other ingredients. Make sure you use culinary grade matcha in these matcha mochi muffins.

Some of the brands we love are Lalani & Co, OMG Tea and the more commonly found Clearspring.

What about mochi, what are those?

Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made with sweet rice flour, also known as mochiko flour. Mochi is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. And, while widely available all year round, it’s traditionally consumed during Japanese New Year.

Their traditional preparation is a very important cultural event in Japan, and you might have seen it on TV or in movies. Mochi-pounding involves whole rice and takes place in 3 basic steps:

1. the glutinous rice is soaked overnight and steamed;
2. the steamed rice is mashed and pounded with wooden mallets (kine) in a traditional mortar (usu) and the work involves two people, one pounding and the other turning and wetting the mochi;
3. the sticky dough is then cut or formed in the desired shape, usually round balls.

This recipe for the matcha mochi muffins will achieve that mochi texture by using mochiko flour, which should be easily available from your Asian supermarket of choice.

What do I need to make these matcha mochi muffins?

There are a few ingredients you might need to go get for these matcha mochi muffins as they don’t necessarily live in everyone’s pantry normally. First off, of course, it’s the mochiko flour. You will easily find this in your local Asian supermarket. And while it’s called glutinous rice flour, it is completely gluten free.

Then you will need both sweetened condensed milk and canned coconut milk, and before you start with the questions: just trust the process! And then it’s the queen of the recipe, the matcha powder, of course, and the sesame seeds. After all these, you get the usual suspects: unsalted butter, eggs, baking powder, sugar, salt and hot water.

They are quick to prepare and cook for a while, so make sure you are aware.

How do I make these matcha mochi muffins?

These matcha mochi muffins are pretty easy to whip up. You will mix the butter with the canned coconut milk and condensed milk until well combined. Then you will add the eggs and beat them in the mix. In a separate bowl, you will mix the dry ingredients and in another small bowl, you will mix the matcha powder and hot water.

When all is ready, you will mix the wet ingredients with the dry ones, and you’ll combine them until smooth. Once the two are smooth and combined, you will add the matcha solution and whisk it until no lumps are in the mix.

Now it’s time to fill the buttered muffin tin to just below the rim. The tip here is to tap the muffin pan on the counter to remove all the air bubbles within the mix as you poured it. Top it with sesame seeds if you want (we used black sesame seeds). Then bake for 40-45 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Easy peasy, right?

Don’t serve these until they are completely cool. It goes with letting them rest for the texture to fully develop! So let the matcha mochi muffins come to room temperature before tucking in, please.

Shop the matcha mochi muffins post

Matcha mochi muffins are a delightful treat that blends the best of both worlds: the familiar comfort of a muffin with the unique, chewy texture and subtle flavours of traditional Japanese confections. Perfect for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even a light dessert, these muffins are versatile and satisfying. Pair them with a cup of tea or coffee, and you have a match made in culinary heaven.

Whether you’re a fan of matcha, mochi, or just curious to try something new, these muffins are sure to impress. Their beautiful green hue, soft yet chewy bite, and balanced flavour profile make them a standout treat. Give them a try, and you might just find your new favourite baked good!

If you fancied these yummy matcha mochi muffins, make sure to check out these other muffin recipes we have:

• Lemon & Blueberry Muffins
• The Best Morning Muffins
• Nutella & Strawberry Muffins`

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