Matcha Cinnamon Streusel Muffins are a delicious brunch treat with a soft, tender crumb, buttery streusel topping, and matcha vanilla glaze. These fluffy green tea delights are simple to make and a fun alternative to everyday muffins.
As matcha experts, this is our go-to muffin recipe. The unique matcha flavor combined with the sweet cinnamon streusel crumble is the perfect mix of earthy and sweet. We drizzle the muffins with a matcha glaze for extra rich green tea flavor.
Make these bakery-style muffins for breakfast or brunch on the go! If you are looking for other delicious matcha baked goodies, check out our Matcha Cookies and Fudgy Matcha Brownies.
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About Matcha Muffins
- Taste - The combination of matcha green tea flavor, buttery cinnamon streusel, and matcha glaze is a uniquely rich and vibrant combination.
- Texture - The muffins are fluffy and moist while the cinnamon streusel is a light and crisp topping.
- Effort - First, you need to prepare the streusel then refrigerate it. Then you need to make the muffins and add the streusel.
- Time - It takes just 5 minutes to make the streusel then about 35 minutes to mix the muffin batter, bake the muffins, then cool them. The matcha glaze is optional and takes just a couple minutes to make.
Ingredients
- Matcha powder - Matcha has a distinct earthy flavor. There are several grades of matcha powder. We recommend you use culinary grade because it is the most economical while still offering a rich matcha flavor.
- Unsalted butter - Butter adds richness to the muffins.
- Eggs - Egg binds the ingredients together and provides structure. Use a room temperature eggs so they spreads evenly in the batter.
- Plain yogurt or sour cream - Yogurt makes the crumb tender and moist. It's a healthy alternative to using more butter or oil.
- Vanilla extract - Vanilla extract adds complexity and sweetness to the batter.
- All-purpose flour - Flour is the foundation for the muffins.
- Baking powder - Baking powder helps make the muffins tender.
- Baking soda - Baking soda helps the dough rise and keeps the texture light.
- Milk - Milk contributes to creating the delicious texture of the muffins.
- Cinnamon streusel crumb topping - The cinnamon streusel is a rich, buttery, and crisp topping.
- Matcha vanilla bean glaze - The matcha glaze adds a sweet accent to the muffins.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
- Gluten-free - Use gluten-free flour to make these muffins gluten-free. We recommend this gluten-free flour for the best results.
- Vanilla bean paste - Substitute vanilla bean paste for vanilla extract for a richer vanilla flavor.
- Hojicha powder - Use hojicha powder instead of matcha powder for a rich hojicha tea flavor.
- Lemon glaze - Enjoy these muffins with a rich lemon glaze instead of a matcha glaze.
Variations
- Nuts - Add chopped nuts, like walnuts, pecans, almonds, or macadamia nuts to the batter for an added crunch.
- White chocolate chips - Add white chocolate chips to the batter for added sweetness.
- Lemon - Add a little lemon zest for extra lemony flavor.
- Matcha Granola - Try our matcha granola for a healthier and crunchier matcha recipe.
Instructions
Cinnamon Streusel
- Melt butter - Melt the butter and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Combine ingredients - In a medium mixing bowl, add flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nuts, if using. Use a fork or whisk to combine the ingredients. (Photo 1)
- Add melted butter - Add the melted butter to the flour and use a fork or whisk to combine the ingredients. The melted butter will turn the flour mixture into a coarse crumb. (Photo 2)
- Refrigerate - Place the bowl in the refrigerator to cool while you prepare the muffins.
Matcha Muffins
- Prepare oven and pan - Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with liners. Alternatively, you can spray the muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cream butter and sugar - In a large mixing bowl or in a stand mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium-high until pale and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. (Photo 3)
- Mix wet ingredients - Turn the mixer off and scrape the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula. Add in one egg and beat on low until combined. Then add the second egg and beat on low until combined. (Photo 4)
- Finish wet ingredients and scrape sides - Add vanilla extract and yogurt and beat for 1 minute. Turn off the mixer and scrape the sides of the wet ingredients again. (Photo 5)
- Mix dry ingredients - In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, matcha powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. (Photo 6)
- Add dry ingredients and milk - Gently mix in half of the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until almost combined, then the milk. Add the remaining flour and mix just until the ingredients are incorporated. Do not over mix. (Photo 7 and 8)
- Add batter - Use a cookie or ice cream scoop to add batter to each liner. (Photo 9)
- Add streusel - Add a scoop of streusel on top of each muffin to cover the top. Bake on the middle rack for 15-18 minutes, until the toothpick comes out clean. (Photo 10)
Matcha Glaze
- Make glaze - While the muffins bake, make the glaze. Add powdered sugar, matcha powder, and milk to a bowl and whisk until smooth. (Photo 11)
Assemble
- Remove muffins - Remove the muffins from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Carefully transfer the muffins to a cooling rack, then drizzle with matcha glaze. (Photo 12)
Pro tip - To check that the muffins are completely baked, pierce one muffin with a toothpick, cake tester, or chopstick then take it out. If the tester has any batter or ingredients stuck to it, the muffins need to continue baking.
Storage
Store these matcha cinnamon streusel muffins in an air-tight container and keep them in a cool, dry place for up to 5 days. These muffins can also be frozen for up to 3 months. In order to freeze them, wrap them individually in plastic wrap then place it in your freezer. When you are ready to enjoy them, unwrap them and let them get to room temperature.
Baking Tips
- For the best bake, use high-quality butter! We recommend European-style butter, such as Kerry Gold or Plugra, because it has a higher fat content.
- Don't overfill your muffin tin - Only fill the muffin tin cups to ¾ full or the muffins may spill over the sides when they rise.
- Be careful not to overmix muffin batter - Overmixing the muffin batter can make them tough.
Recipe FAQs
Matcha powder is ground young green tea leaves. The green tea is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, but is also delicious in various drink and baking recipes. Since it is 100% green tea leaves, it is much more concentrated than normal green tea and has a much stronger green tea flavor.
Yes, matcha muffins have a little caffeine because matcha naturally contains caffeine.
You can buy matcha at Japanese markets, like Mitsuwa or Nijiya, some common chain grocery stores, and online retailers, including Matcha Bloom (use code KAT for 10% off).
350°F is the perfect temperature so the muffins are fluffy with a nice soft middle. If you make it too hot, the muffin tops can burn before the center is cooked.
If you want your muffins to rise higher, you can try baking the muffins at 400°F for the first 5 minutes, then dropping the temperature to 350°F for the remaining baking time.
Eggs give the muffins structure and add rich flavor. The 2 eggs we prescribe in this recipe provide the perfect balance of texture and richness. If you add another egg, it may make the muffins rubbery.
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📖 Recipe
Matcha Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
Equipment
- 1 cooling rack optional
Ingredients
Cinnamon Streusel
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter melted and cooled
- ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- Toasted walnuts or pecans chopped, optional
Matcha Muffins
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ½ cup plain yogurt or sour cream room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tablespoon matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup milk room temperature
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste optional
- 2 tablespoon milk
Instructions
Cinnamon Streusel
- Melt butter - Melt the butter and allow it to cool to room temperature.4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Combine ingredients - In a medium mixing bowl, add flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nuts, if using. Use a fork or whisk to combine the ingredients.¾ cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoon granulated sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, Toasted walnuts or pecans
- Add melted butter - Add the melted butter to the flour and use a fork or whisk to combine the ingredients. The melted butter will turn the flour mixture into a coarse crumb.
- Refrigerate - Place the bowl in the refrigerator to cool while you prepare the muffins.
Matcha Muffins
- Prepare oven and pan - Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with liners. Alternatively, you can spray the muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cream butter and sugar - In a large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high until pale and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.½ cup unsalted butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar
- Mix wet ingredients - Turn the mixer off and scrape the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula. Add in one egg and beat on low until combined. Then add the second egg and beat on low until combined. Add vanilla extract and yogurt and beat for 1 minute. Turn off the mixer and scrape the sides again.2 large eggs, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ cup plain yogurt or sour cream
- Add dry ingredients and milk - In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, matcha powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gently mix in half of the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until almost combined, then the milk. Add the remaining flour and mix just until the ingredients are incorporated. Do not over mix.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1½ tablespoon matcha powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ cup milk
- Add batter - Use a cookie scoop to add batter to each liner. Add a scoop of streusel on top of each muffin to cover the top. Place on the middle rack and bake for 15-18 minutes, until the toothpick comes out clean.
Glaze
- Make glaze - While the muffins bake, make the glaze. Add powdered sugar, matcha powder, vanilla extract, and milk to a bowl and whisk until smooth.1 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon matcha powder, 2 tablespoon milk
Assemble
- Remove muffins - Remove the muffins from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Carefully transfer the muffins to a cooling rack, then drizzle with matcha glaze.
Video
Notes
- To check that the muffins are done baking, pierce 1 muffin with a toothpick, cake tester, or chopstick. If the tester has any batter or ingredients stuck to it, the muffins need to continue baking.
- Use high-quality butter for the best bake! European-style butters such as Kerry Gold or Plugra are best because of the higher fat content.
- Only fill the muffin tin cups to ¾ full or the muffins may spill over the sides when they rise.
- Be careful not to overmix the muffin batter or the muffins will come out tough.
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