Chocolate Walnut Matcha Cups

A few months ago, a friend introduced me to matcha for the first time. I had heard a lot about it but had no idea what to expect. Unfortunately, so many of these health foods that catch on either: a) aren’t actually that great for you or b) taste like you’re munching on grass. I have to admit, even though I’m all for eating anything green, I was a little skeptical about matcha.

We went to Cha Cha Matcha, a cute cafe on the Lower East Side that specializes in all things matcha–from matcha ice cream to coffee to baked goods and more.

I stuck with the standard matcha latte with almond milk and was pleasantly surprised. Sure, I wasn’t fooled into thinking I was swigging some straight fruit juice, but it was actually pretty good.

The next week, I was assigned to write about the health benefits of matcha for Healthline. Almost immediately after writing the article, I hopped onto Amazon and purchased some matcha to try out on my next culinary endeavor.

If you’re unfamiliar with matcha, it’s basically a concentrated form of green tea made by grinding tea leaves into a fine powder and it’s chockfull of health benefits. You can read my full article on Healthline about the evidence-based benefits of matcha tea here, but to summarize:

• It’s super high in antioxidants
• It may boost cognitive function
• It could help protect the liver
• It contains compounds that may be effective against cancer
• It could enhance weight loss
• It may reduce the risk of heart disease

So, by adding a scoop of super nutritious matcha powder to these delicious chocolate walnut matcha cups, they actually become totally healthy…right? 😉

Of course, you don’t want to go overboard, but if you’re going to indulge in a decadent dessert, why not enjoy one you can feel good about?

Besides matcha, this guilt-free dessert also features a few other ingredients that boast some health benefits:

• Dark chocolate: high in antioxidants, which fight the free radicals that cause damage to your cells
• Walnuts: full of heart-healthy fats and plant-based omega-3 fatty acids
• Maple syrup: contains lots of antioxidants and doesn’t raise your blood sugar as much as regular sugar
• Coconut flakes + coconut oil: rich in healthy medium-chain fatty acids

To really get the most from these chocolate walnut matcha cups, go for unsweetened coconut flakes and be sure to get pure maple syrup rather than maple-flavored syrup.

Besides all the health benefits of this yummy dessert, it’s also super easy to make. In fact, you don’t even need to turn on the oven! It’s also gluten-free and can be made vegan by opting for a dairy-free variety of dark chocolate.

Give these chocolate walnut matcha cups a try and let me know what you think! I’d love to hear your thoughts–especially if it’s your first time trying matcha! 🙂

Print Recipe

Chocolate Walnut Matcha Cups

This guilt-free dessert features several superstar ingredients that deliver a punch of added nutrients, including matcha, dark chocolate and walnuts.

Course

Dessert

Prep Time

10 minutes

Passive Time

10 minutes

Servings

cups

Ingredients

Chocolate Base

• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 1 10-oz package dark chocolate chips

Matcha Filling

• 2 tsp matcha
• 5 tbsp coconut flakes
• 3 tbsp walnuts, chopped
• 1 tbsp maple syrup

Course Dessert Prep Time 10 minutes Passive Time 10 minutes Servings cups Ingredients Chocolate Base 2 tsp coconut oil 1 10-oz package dark chocolate chips Matcha Filling 2 tsp matcha 5 tbsp coconut flakes 3 tbsp walnuts, chopped 1 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

1. Combine coconut oil and dark chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl. Heat for 1 minute until completely melted, stirring every 15 seconds.
2. Line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. Dip one spoonful of chocolate mixture into each liner to coat the bottom. Set in freezer and let the chocolate set for 5 minutes.
3. Next, combine the ingredients for the filling and stir together and set aside.
4. Once the chocolate has set in the muffin tin, divide matcha mixture evenly between 12 cups and press it slightly with the back of the spoon.
5. Top each cup with another spoonful of chocolate to cover the filling. Place back in the freezer and let it set another 5 minutes before eating. Store leftovers in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.

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