Meet Your New Favorite Schmear: Matcha Butter

Let’s be honest: As soon as the alarm clock starts blaring, two immediate thoughts come to mind. First, how quickly can I hit the snooze button, and second, how quickly can I get caffeine into my system? Well we’ve got news, folks, and it comes in the form of a recipe that’s delicious enough to *actually* drag your tush out of bed at any ungodly hour. Oh, and it’s caffeinated, too.

Seriously, the only thing standing between you and waking up feeling like sunshine and rainbows is a batch of this dreamy, creamy matcha butter. It’ll give your plain old breakfast toast—and your entire morning routine, TBH—the much-needed makeover it deserves. Best part? This vibrant jade-green matcha butter recipe takes seconds to prepare, is packed with tons of health benefits thanks to the the antioxidant-rich green tea infusion, which adds a jolt of energy to your morning routine without jitters or a midday crash. And for our plant-based friends, we’ve included a vegan alternative to (ahem) spread the joy to all.

What are the health benefits of matcha butter

“Matcha tea is high in antioxidants and has a high concentration of epigallocatechin gallate, aka EGCG, a compound linked to lowering inflammation and reducing the risk of cancer, [and] contains theanine, an amino acid which may help in reducing your stress,” registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, previously told Well+Good.

Although butter doesn’t exactly get the highest ranking when it comes to nutrient density, consuming it in moderation—like most things in life—is completely fine, according to registered dietitian Brigitte Zeitlin, RD. “[Butter is] a form of saturated fat, so you just want to be aware of how much you are using overall,” Zeitlin previously told Well+Good. According to the American Heart Association, the suggested intake is 13 grams of saturated fat per day. To help put things into perspective, a tablespoon of unsalted butter has about seven grams of saturated fat. “Moderate amounts of saturated fat, like you find in butter, can be part of a healthy diet, and butter contains nutrients like fat-soluble vitamins,” agrees doctor of clinical nutrition, Jessica Titchenal, DCN, MS, CNS, CN.

How to make matcha butter, the breakfast schmear you didn’t know you needed

The recipe is beyond easy. All you need is matcha and butter, and presto, you have an even-prettier-than-avocado toast topper. However, before you get spreading away, there are a few quick pointers to accomplish the best matcha butter recipe possible. First, allow your butter to come to room temperature to avoid an unexpected arm workout and a clumpy texture. Next, opt for unsalted butter, which gives you more control over the savoriness of your dish. Lastly, choose high-quality matcha to reap the most health benefits.

So, how do you actually make it? In this Instagram video by @ceremonymatcha, all it takes is four easy steps to create a mesmerizing spread. Start by mashing room-temperature unsalted butter and a sprinkling of ceremonial-grade matcha with a fork until smooth and creamy. Then, lather over your favorite type of bread, waffles, pancakes, or on whatever your heart desires—we’re impartial. To finish it off, drizzle with honey and a sprinkling of flaky sea salt. *Chef’s kiss.*

How to make compound butter, if you’re feeling like taking things up a notch

If you’re feeling a little extra and want to show off your chef-y skills, turn this recipe into a compound butter—aka a French technique for rolling butter into a log—that’ll make storing and portioning out any leftovers even easier. While the matcha butter is still soft, transfer it to a large piece of parchment paper. Using a spatula, roughly shape it into a uniform line in the center of the sheet, leaving ample room on all sides.

Next, fold the top of the paper over the butter, line it up with the bottom edge, and tuck the parchment, so it’s pressed up against the butter. While holding the bottom of the paper on the counter, use something with a hard straight edge (like a sheet pan) to gently push the butter away from you, forcing it to form a tighter, more uniform log inside of the parchment. Once you achieve the desired shape, seal the paper as if wrapping a gift and twist the ends like a Tootsie Roll candy wrapper.

How to make vegan matcha “butter”

Turning this creamy spread into a vegan-friendly recipe is beyond simple and tastes just as great. Instead of using the regular butter that the previous recipe calls for, swap it out with your favorite plant-based alternative. Or, if you’re feeling in the mood to spend a little extra time in the kitchen, roll your sleeves up and make vegan matcha butter completely from scratch. This five-ingredient cashew matcha butter recipe by That Vegan Babe blends roasted cashews, matcha powder, vanilla, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt to make this vegan variation of matcha butter that’s packed with protein and a boost of energy.

Matcha butter recipe

Yields 1/2 cup

Ingredients1/2 cup unsalted butter1 Tbsp ceremonial-grade matchaHoney, for drizzling (optional)Flaky sea salt for garnishing (optional)

1. Allow the butter to come to room temperature. Sprinkle the matcha over the butter, and using the back of a fork, mash the ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

2. Spread the butter over your favorite type of bread, and garnish with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

Haven’t satisfied your matcha fix just yet? Here’s some more green tea-infused content:

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