Matcha. Bliss. Balls. These are not to be missed.
In craving a matcha latte in bite form, I created these little gems and couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. Plus, they’re simple, plant-based, low in sugar, and grain-free. What’s not to love?!
Let me show you how it’s done!
This recipe is easy to make, requiring just 8 ingredients, 20 minutes, and 1 blender to prepare.
The base of these bites is shredded unsweetened coconut, hemp seeds, protein powder (we opted for vanilla), cashew butter, coconut butter, and a few pitted dates.
Matcha is added for that bright green hue along with health benefits, including L-theanine, vitamin C, and plenty of antioxidants.
Vanilla extract is optional, but recommended for even more flavor. And almond flour is added to help dry out the texture so they’re more pliable and easier to roll.
For serving, you can either leave them as is or top with a sprinkle of hemp seeds or shredded coconut. Or, my favorite, a drizzle of coconut butter! Major swoon.
We hope you LOVE these bites! They’re:
Colorful
Satisfying
Perfectly sweet
Matcha-infused
Easy to make
& SO delicious
These bites would make the perfect wholesome snack or treat to have on hand throughout the week. I’ve found them particularly delicious in the afternoon with a cup of tea. Swoon!
Into no-bake bites? Be sure to check out our No-Bake Vanilla Cake Bites, Coconut Tahini Cacao Snack Bites, No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites, No-Bake PB&J Energy Bites, and Dark Chocolate Hemp Seed Energy Bites!
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Matcha Bliss Bites
Delicious little matcha bliss balls made in the food processor with 8 simple ingredients in 20 minutes! Nourishing, low sugar, plant-based, and grain-free!
Ingredients
MATCHA BITES
- 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds
- 1 ½ Tbsp vegan plain or vanilla protein powder (we used Tropeaka vanilla*)
- 1/2 cup roasted or raw cashew butter
- 1/4 cup coconut butter (MELTED — if hard, soften in the microwave or in a hot water bath until soft and pourable*)
- 2-4 pitted dates (if dry, soak in warm water for 5 minutes then drain // add more for sweeter bites*)
- 1-2 tsp matcha powder* (add more for more intense — and slightly bitterer — matcha flavor)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/2 cup almond flour (or sub seed meal, such as sunflower or sesame, or coconut flour, but start with less as these are more absorbent)
FOR TOPPING optional
- 2 Tbsp coconut butter (plus more for “frosting”)
- 2 Tbsp shredded coconut or hemp seeds
Instructions
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To a food processor, add all ingredients (starting with the lesser end of recommended amounts and working your way up) and blend until a thick but moldable cookie dough-like texture forms (see photo), ~3-5 minutes. Scrape down sides as needed.
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If mixture is too thick or crumbly, add more cashew butter and/or another date. If mixture is too wet, add more almond flour and pulse. It should be thick and scoopable.
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Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more matcha for matcha flavor, dates for sweetness, or cashew butter for creaminess.
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Scoop out 1-Tbsp amounts and gently roll into balls (as the recipe is written, there should be about 22). Repeat until all dough is formed into balls.
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Enjoy as is, roll in shredded coconut or hemp seeds, or refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to chill before topping with warmed (melted) coconut butter. If "frosting," chill again to set (about 10 minutes).
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If freezing or refrigerating bites before serving, they're ready to enjoy once they're firm to the touch. For best results, store in the freezer up to 1 month or refrigerator up to 1 week. If storing in the freezer, let thaw 5-10 minutes before enjoying for best texture.
Notes
*See my full vegan vanilla protein powder review here. We used Tropeaka Lean Vanilla Protein Powder, which does contain sprouted brown rice protein. For grain-free bites, use the alternative protein powder of your choice.
*For best results, make sure your coconut butter is melted and pourable, rather than hardened and difficult to scoop. Otherwise it will have a hard time blending and the bites will likely turn out too dry.
*These bites aren't overly sweet, so if you're looking for a sweeter snack bite, add more dates (up to 6-8 as original recipe is written).
*Our preferred matcha brands are Mizuba and Townshend's. However, this brand on Amazon also has high ratings and appears to be high quality.
*Nutrition is a rough estimate calculated with the lesser amount of dates and without optional ingredients.
Nutrition Per Serving (1 of 22 balls)
- Calories: 104
- Fat: 8.6g
- Saturated fat: 4.3g
- Sodium: 8mg
- Potassium: 96mg
- Carbohydrates: 5.5g
- Fiber: 1.6g
- Sugar: 2.4g
- Protein: 2.9g
I only had half a cup of unsweetened shredded coconut, so I used extra almond flour. I used moringa powder and chia seeds instead of the matcha and hemp seeds as that is what I had available to me, as well as a mix of walnut and almond butter instead of cashew butter. I used pea protein and added in some maple syrup. But my most creative substitute was using ricotta in place of the coconut butter. I saw someone below had used coconut oil and then omitted the cashew butter, but I really wanted to keep that nut butter… So in went the ricotta! The flavour was very nice. I think the balls could have benefited from some coconut oil as these were perhaps a bit on the crumblier side, but I was able to roll them into balls just fine. I think a creamier cheese would be preferable. Regardless, you definitely taste the moringa and coconut in these ones. Highly recommend!
Very creative, Alex! We’re so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for sharing!
Hello!
Could I sub in part of a protein shake in place of protein powder? I didn’t know if I would need to add more dry ingredients if I did.
Thank you!
Hi Melissa, we think that would impact the texture too much, but if you give it a try, let us know how it goes!
Hi! I’m so happy to find your website! I was wondering if this recipe could be modified with pea protein instead of protein powder. I’ve been diagnosed with a severe tick-born allergy to ALL mammal products (the disease is called Alpha-gal). Most protein powders have whey in them which I cannot have. Thanks in advance for your answer!
Hi Laura, we haven’t tried these with pea protein (we used Tropeaka vanilla which is vegan and does not contain whey). Pea protein might work though. Let us know if you give it a try!
Is there something that could be subbed for the dates? Like stevia or monk fruit? I can’t do dates because of IBS. Could I just omit them?
Hi Carol, we think a liquid sweetener would be best for replicating flavor/texture- perhaps maple syrup? If you can’t tolerate maple syrup, perhaps using stevia/monk fruit and using additional coconut butter or cashew butter might work. Let us know if you give it a try!
Is there something I could substitute for the shredded coconut? Grains would be ok for me!
I’d suggest maybe oats?
What are your thoughts on the Tropeaka Protein? I was looking into it since it was listed in the ingredients and the ingredients in the vanilla powder look amazing! I would love to hear your thoughts!
I love it! Highly recommend. Just a little pricey to ship if you’re outside of AUS.
I made these today. Super tasty! Sadly, though, they are a horrible ugly color. Not bright green, even though I doubled the amount of matcha. Maybe the brand I have.
Yes, sometimes the brand of matcha makes a HUGE difference. Our favorites are Mizuba and Townshends.
Do you need a food processor to do this recipe or can I use a blender?
I think a blender should work!
Hey Dana!
These look amazing. Sorry for annoying “what can I use instead of” question right off the bat, but protein powder is not something we stock around here–any suggestions for good replacements? More hemp seeds or almond flour? Other pulverized nuts?
Speaking of no protein powder–your high protein chocolate smoothie from a couple weeks ago really saved me when I was hungry but not feeling so well the other day. That and it was super yummy. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing! So, as far as protein powder, I do think it adds a bit of sweetness. So my suggestion would be adding another date or two, and then adding more almond or coconut flour! Let us know how it goes!
What food processor do you use?
Hi Dee, we like this food processor. Hope that helps!
I’d love to try these, but at $15 for a jar of cashew butter, using almost half that jar in this recipe, that makes these balls crazy expensive. So instead of my just complaining, however, how do you think almond butter would work instead? I know it’s a lot runnier than cashew butter, so maybe use 1/2 the amount called for with the cashew butter? Or maybe increase the protein powder or almond meal?
Thanks for your continued innovative and delicious ideas. :)
Hi, Kelly! I suggest making your own cashew butter – it’s much cheaper than store-bought. Otherwise I’d say subbing half almond butter should work!
Hey Dana! I’m super excited to try this recipe, but I was wondering if I can replace the hemp seeds with chia seeds and the cashew butter with natural peanut butter. Thanks!
Andrea, that would greatly affect the flavor. But if you give it a try let us know how it goes!
Hi,
Love from Dubai, this is brilliant recipe and so easy to follow. I substituted coconut butter to same amount of oil and it worked fine. I left the almond butter as it it cause with oil and than liquifying butter would be too much liquid.
My 9 year old loved it.
Thanks a ton
Thanks for sharing!! So glad you enjoyed them.
What could one use in place of the dates?
Agave, coconut sugar, maple syrup??
I think a liquid sweetener would be best!
delicious! we have some high quality matcha from the local tea shop and it left us with a really nutty yummy flavor. needed about 5 dates to make it sweet, started with 2 and it still tasted bitter. I wasn’t able to get my coconut butter super smooth using the double broiler but it still worked.
Thanks for sharing, Natalie!
I used 1 tablespoon measurement and this only produced 16 balls of 130 calories each. I used 2 ts of matcha but felt this had little matcha taste.
So depending on the intensity / freshness of your matcha, you may need to add more. I always say start with less and work your way up! The more intense the matcha flavor, the more bitter it can become.
Are the dates used specifically for their sweetness or also help as a binder? I’d like swap them out with a monkfruit sweetener, but’s don’t think granular monkfruit will work as a binder.
Thanks
The dates do help bind and add sweetness. If you can, I’d say add 1-2 dates, then compensate more sweetness with whatever you choose.
It’s like you read my mind. After trying your golden milk bites I’ve been looking for a good recipe for matcha bites too and saw this in my inbox! Awesome! Will surely try it. But what can I use instead of coconut butter?
Coconut butter is a central ingredient here. But you can try subbing more cashew butter. Let us know how it goes!
Any suggestions to substituting the shredded coconut, not a fan……
Hmm, perhaps more hemp seeds?
I’m sure others have this question on other recipes but can you use coconut oil in place of coconut butter and if so, what adjustments do I need to make.
I love your site. Mostly 8 item or less!!!!! Can’t go wrong there!!!!
I don’t know that coconut oil would be a great 1:1 replacement. I fear it would make them too oily…