Matcha Cheesecake Bites

MATCHA. CHEESECAKE. BITES. Does it even get better than this...like seriously? Lately I've been crazy about all things matcha and this recipe does not disappoint. A close friend of mine introduced me to this wonderful green powder and all of the health benefits that come with it and can you say...game changer?!

So for those of you that just read the first paragraph and are currently thinking "what on earth is matcha and why is it such a big deal?" don't worry, this is where I get to brag about this powdery green greatness and why I think it should be added to pretty much everything.

Okay, maybe not everything...I'm not quite sure how I would feel about eating green matcha nuggets or a matcha pizza (yikes) but as for cookies, pancakes, smoothies, ice cream..you name it, I'm adding it.

Okay, so let's dive into the first question: what is matcha exactly?

Matcha is a special form of finely ground powder that consists of the entire green tea leaf.

Traditionally, used in many Japanese tea ceremonies, a teaspoon of this powder is then added to a cup of hot water which is then sipped slowly.

There are two grades of matcha powder, Ceremonial grade and Culinary Grade. Ceremonial grade which consists of the finest, hand-picked green tea leaves is the one that would be used in the Japanese ceremonies.

Culinary grade matcha powder is of a little lesser quality (also much, MUCH cheaper) and is very commonly used in many recipes (like the ones that I'm about to share with you guys!)

As for the matcha powder brand that I used in this recipe, you can order it on Amazon. I don't technically have a go-to matcha brand but I've been very pleased with the quality, color and taste of this one!

What about the health benefits?

So as for the health benefits of matcha powder. They are pretty astounding. As mentioned above, matcha powder consists of the entire green tea leaf as opposed to regular green tea which consists of loosely ground leaves that are steeped in hot water then discarded.

The result of ingesting the entire leaf means that no available nutrient is left behind. Matcha is very rich in antioxidants, in particular, polyphenols which have been known to provide protection against heart disease and some cancer.

It's also been successful in regulating blood sugar and blood pressure levels, speeding up the metabolism and halting the growth of some cancer cells. Those aren't even all of the benefits!

Seriously, I don't know about you guys, but after learning about some of the great benefits that matcha has to offer, it makes me feel that little bit less guilty about eating a matcha cheesecake bite...or maybe even 3 (I'll run those extra cals off later).

Not to mention, matcha gives this really nice green tea taste when added to foods (which if you're already a huge green tea fan like myself is a huge bonus!)

Wait...I also forgot to add, one of these green goodies is only 73 calories ... which honestly makes it okay to have two. (Go on, I know you'll want to)

So with that being said, it's time to share this recipe and have your taste buds dancing:

I used the NINJA food processor to blend my graham crackers into a fine, sand-like consistency

Add all ingredients to bowl and mix until fully blended

½ tablespoon size truffles ready for dippin'

Any coating can be used, I used a white vanilla candy coating but dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or almond bark would work also!

For a nice little touch, you can add one teaspoon of matcha to the remaining chocolate and drizzle on top

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Yield: Makes 22 Cheesecake Bites

Matcha Cheesecake Bites

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Delicious matcha cheesecake bites coated in white chocolate.

Prep Time 40 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1. 12 Graham Cracker Squares (about 1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs)
• 2. 1 8 oz package reduced fat cream cheese, softened
• 3. ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 4. 2 tbs matcha powder
• 5. 8 oz chocolate coating (any chocolate will work)

Instructions

1. Add graham crackers to a food processor and blend until crackers are finely ground, resembling the consistency of sand
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the cream cheese, powdered sugar, matcha powder and graham cracker crumbs until combined
3. Scoop out the mixture in ½ tbs portions and roll into balls. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Stick the cheesecake balls in the freezer for 10 mins to allow them to harden a little. While this is happening, begin to melt your chocolate coating (I used the double boiler method but microwaving should befine also) until it is a smooth,runny consistency
4. Remove your truffle balls from the freezer and dip them one at a time into the chocolate and line them up on the baking tray. Allow to harden in refrigerator for 5-10 mins

Notes

For a nice finishing touch, you can add a teaspoon of matcha to any remaining chocolate and drizzle over the cheesecake bites. Sprinkling some matcha on top will also work great!

Nutrition Information

Yield

22 Servings

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 73Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gCholesterol 6mgSodium 64mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 0gSugar 9gProtein 1g

Please note that nutrition values may differ slightly depending on brand of food items used.