Raise your hands if you love dark chocolate!
Raise your hand if you love MINTY dark chocolate!
Super, we can now be friends....and because we are friends, I'm throwing in a matcha truffle center too!! Presenting these glorious Matcha Peppermint Chocolate Cups... I know you're going to be smitten with them just as much as we are!
Matcha is essentially processed green tea leaves that have been stone-grounded into a delicate powder. Since the whole tea leaf is used, its nutritional benefits are exponentially potent. It contains high amounts of L- Theanine, an amino acid that helps both calm and stimulate the mind at the same time! It's considered to be a mood-enhancing, anti-oxidant powerhouse.
To be honest, matcha is nothing the family's been that kicked about, inspite of its healthful benefits. But these chocolate cups are a game changer. The sweetness of white chocolate camouflages the grassy, slightly bitter taste of the green tea. Also once the peppermint-flavored dark chocolate comes into play, you get a superbly balanced, not too cloyingly sweet, decadent bite.
I like to add some coconut cream while melting the chocolate, though it's not required, only because it gives the dessert a certain luxuriousness that's so welcome. Since this definitely NOT a low-calorie dessert, portion control is definitely recommended 🙂 I'd much rather eat a full-bodied lush treat and savor it, than go for anything available on the shelf.
NOTES:
- If you want to make this completely VEGAN, please replace white chocolate with cocoa butter. It's easily available on Amazon. This is an invaluable tip from my dear friend DEE at GREENSMOOTHIEGOURMET
- I've used coconut cream here, but feel free to use regular cream if you wish to.
- Vegan chocolates are also available on Amazon or in Organic food stores nowadays. Otherwise, please use the best quality dark chocolate you can find. I recommend at least 70% dark chocolate.
Half the joy of cooking is sharing it with others. That’s why I’m always eager to hear from you. So go right ahead & drop a comment or reach out on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, or Facebook. I hope you love these matcha peppermint chocolate cups as much as we do!
📖 Recipe
Matcha Peppermint Chocolate Cups
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup Dairy free chocolate or Dark chocolate (70%)
- 6 Tbsp Coconut cream, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp Peppermint extract
- 1/2 cup White chocolate
- 3/4 tsp Matcha powder
- 1 Tbsp White chocolate, melted For drizzling on top. Optional
Instructions
- Line a 12- cup mini muffin tray with paper liners.
- In a small bowl, melt the dark chocolate with 4 tablespoons of cream, in the microwave or on a double boiler ( my preferred way).
- When the chocolate is all smooth and shiny, take it off the heat. Wait for a minute or two, then add 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract. Mix well.
- Fill up the paper cups less than half way with this mixture. Pop the tray in the refrigerator for 20- 30 minutes until set. Keep the extra dark chocolate aside for later use.
Matcha Filling:
- Melt white chocolate with the balance two tablespoon cream gently over a double boiler, until the chocolate is smooth and shiny.
- Gently stir in the matcha powder.
- Spoon 1/2 a teaspoon over each of the set dark chocolate layer and return the tray to the refrigerator for another 20 minutes until set.
- Spoon over the balance dark peppermint chocolate mixture over the matcha layer and back in the fridge now for a good 3-4 hours to set. These are now ready to eat! You can drizzle over some white chocolate if you want to decorate this further.
preeti says
soo yummy thankyou so much
natashaminocha says
Thank you! 🙂
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes says
These sound yummy!! I have got a box full of matcha tea which no one has liked in my house :P. Guess, I have some way of utilizing it through these yummy chocolate treats!
natashaminocha says
Hey Deepika! Nobody at my home is a fan of matcha tea as well! so I end up using them in baking and treats like these! Chocolate and matcha are so good together. Thanks for stopping by love xoxo