Pin Festive, chewy blondie bars infused with earthy matcha and crunchy pistachios, cut into tree shapes and decorated for a holiday treat.
I first made these bars during the holiday season and loved how they brought a unique flavor twist with matcha combined with the classic blondie base.
Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups (160 g) all-purpose flour, 2 tbsp matcha green tea powder, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt
- Wet Ingredients: 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter melted, 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar packed, 2 large eggs room temperature, 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Add-ins: 3/4 cup (90 g) shelled unsalted pistachios roughly chopped
- Decoration (Optional): 1 cup (120 g) white chocolate chips or melting wafers, Festive sprinkles or edible glitter, Mini pretzel sticks (for tree trunks)
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Step 2:
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour matcha powder baking powder and salt.
- Step 3:
- In a large bowl combine melted butter and brown sugar. Whisk until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla whisking until fully incorporated.
- Step 4:
- Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined. Stir in chopped pistachios.
- Step 5:
- Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 23 25 minutes or until the center is just set and a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
- Step 6:
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Step 7:
- Lift out blondies using the parchment overhang. Cut into triangles to resemble Christmas trees.
- Step 8:
- Melt white chocolate and drizzle over each triangle. Decorate with sprinkles and insert a mini pretzel stick at the base of each tree for the trunk.
- Step 9:
- Allow decorations to set before serving.
Pin This recipe has created many joyful holiday moments shared with family as we decorated the bars together.
Required Tools
8x8 inch (20x20 cm) baking pan Mixing bowls Whisk and spatula Parchment paper Sharp knife
Allergen Information
Contains Eggs dairy (butter white chocolate) wheat (unless using gluten-free flour) nuts (pistachios) and gluten (pretzel sticks if not gluten-free) Always check ingredient labels for potential allergens.
Nutritional Information
Calories 230 Total Fat 12 g Carbohydrates 27 g Protein 3 g per serving
Pin These bars are perfect for holiday gifting or enjoying with loved ones as a festive treat.
Recipe Q&A
- → How does matcha powder affect the flavor?
Matcha adds a distinct earthy, slightly bitter flavor that balances the sweetness and enhances the overall depth.
- → Can pistachios be replaced?
Yes, pecans or almonds work well as alternatives, providing a different but complementary crunch and flavor.
- → What is the purpose of pretzel sticks in decoration?
Pretzel sticks serve as the tree trunks, adding a salty crunch and visual appeal to the festive shapes.
- → How to achieve a deeper green color?
Adding an extra half tablespoon of matcha powder intensifies the green hue, though it may also strengthen the flavor.
- → Can these be made gluten-free?
Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend to accommodate gluten-free diets while maintaining texture.