Green Waffles | Naturally Colored with Matcha Powder
These green waffles are naturally vibrant, lightly crisp on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside. Instead of artificial food coloring, they get their beautiful green color from matcha green tea powder, giving them a subtle earthy flavor and a fun twist on a classic breakfast.
Green Waffles at a Glance
- Flavor profile: Lightly sweet with subtle earthy matcha notes
- Texture: Crisp golden edges with a soft, fluffy center
- Main ingredients: Oat flour, matcha powder, banana, eggs, milk
- Difficulty: Easy, beginner-friendly
- Time: About 20 minutes total
- Yield: 6 large waffles
Whether you’re making them for St. Patrick’s Day, a themed brunch, or just want something different from traditional waffles, this green waffles recipe delivers amazing flavor and bold color with simple ingredients.
Why You’ll Love Green Waffles
These green waffles are unique because of their flavor and presentation:
- Naturally green: Colored with matcha powder instead of artificial food dyes.
- Light matcha flavor: These are subtle and balanced, not overpowering.
- Quick and easy: Just mix all of the ingredients together and cook in a waffle iron.
- Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day: A festive green breakfast with minimal prep.
- Crisp and fluffy texture: Easy to get perfectly cooked golden edges with a fluffy interior.
- Simple ingredients: Made with easy pantry staples
- Gluten-free option available: Adaptable depending on your flour choice.
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a powder that’s finely ground and made from green tea leaves. Even though it’s made from the same plant, it’s grown very differently. It’s mostly grown in shade to prevent direct sunlight from hitting the plant, and because it’s ground into a fine powder, you consume the whole leaf, making it much more nutrient-dense.
Now that you know how healthy matcha is, you need a great way to use it, right? There are so many more ways to incorporate it into your diet other than drinking tea and these gluten-free matcha green waffles are something you must try!
Cost-Conscious Recipe
These green waffles are a fun, festive breakfast you can make at home for about a $1.50 per serving, far less than ordering specialty waffles at a café. They use simple pantry ingredients and natural matcha for bold color without artificial dyes. Scroll down for the full cost breakdown before the recipe card.
Ingredients for Green Waffles
These healthy green waffles get their color and flavor from matcha powder, and their texture from an oat flour batter that is sweetened with banana and honey.
- Oat flour is the base of this recipe and gives the waffles a hearty, slightly nutty flavor. It also makes these green waffles gluten-free.
- Baking powder is essential for a fluffy texture. Since oat flour is heavier than wheat flour, using a full tablespoon helps the waffles rise and stay light inside.
- Matcha green tea powder is what makes these green waffles. It provides a natural green color and a mild, earthy flavor. Using more matcha gives a deeper green tone and stronger flavor.
- Eggs help bind the batter, helping the waffles cook up fluffy instead of crumbly.
- Whole milk and coconut milk add moisture and richness. The coconut milk balances the matcha’s earthy flavor.
- Olive oil keeps the waffles tender and helps them crisp on the outside. It’s also a simple, budget-friendly fat that works well in batters.
- Ripe bananas naturally sweeten the batter and add moisture. They also help soften the earthy matcha flavor without needing a lot of added sugar.
- Vanilla extract adds warmth and rounds out the flavor so the waffles taste more like a classic breakfast treat.
- Honey or agave syrup lightly sweetens the batter without processed sugar. You only need a small amount since the banana already adds sweetness.
- Agave syrup mixed with matcha for topping creates a quick matcha syrup drizzle. It boosts the green color, adds a sweet finish, and makes the waffles feel more special without extra effort.
Pro tip: Using quality matcha powder makes a noticeable difference in both color and flavor.
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
- Food coloring option: If you do not like matcha flavor, you can use a small amount of green food coloring instead. You’ll likely need to add a bit more oat flour to reach the correct consistency.
- Dairy-free: Use plant-based or nut milk and oil instead of butter.
- Sweeter version: Add a little extra sugar if serving without syrup.
- Chocolate twist: Add chocolate chips for contrast that pairs well with the matcha flavor.
- Pandan variation: For Vietnamese-style green waffles, use pandan extract instead of matcha powder.
How to Make Green Waffles
Follow these easy steps to make these healthy oat flour waffles with matcha powder.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 ¼ cups oat flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, ¼ cup matcha green tea powder, and ½ teaspoon salt until evenly combined.
- In a separate bowl, lightly beat 3 large eggs. Then stir in 1 ½ cups whole milk, ½ cup coconut milk, ½ cup olive oil, 2 mashed ripe bananas, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and ⅛ cup honey or agave syrup.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. Small lumps are fine. Do not overmix.
- Preheat and lightly grease your waffle iron. Let the batter sit for about 10 minutes while the waffle iron heats. Oat flour thickens as it hydrates, which helps create a better texture.
- Pour roughly ½ cup batter into the center of the heated waffle iron and cook according to manufacturer instructions, usually 3 to 5 minutes, until crisp on the outside.
- Serve warm.
How to Make Matcha Syrup
In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup agave syrup with 2 to 3 tablespoons matcha green tea powder, whisking until smooth. Adjust the matcha to your desired color and flavor intensity. Drizzle over warm green waffles before serving.
Tips for The Best Green Waffles
- Use quality matcha: Lower-quality matcha can taste bitter and have a less vibrant color.
- Use ripe bananas: They’re sweeter and much easier to mash.
- Don’t overmix the batter: Overmixing can lead to dense waffles.
- Let the batter sit before cooking: Oat flour thickens as it hydrates, which helps create a better texture.
- Grease the waffle pan before pouring in the batter to prevent sticking.
- Cook until fully crisp: Green color can hide doneness, so check texture.
- Adjust sweetness to taste: Matcha adds slight bitterness, so balance as desired.
- Serve immediately: Waffles are crispiest fresh off the iron. If making a larger batch, keep them warm in the oven until ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren’t my waffles bright green?
The brightness depends on the quality and amount of matcha used. Higher-quality matcha produces a more vibrant green color. You can also increase the amount slightly for a deeper color or add a bit of green food coloring.
Do matcha waffles taste like tea?
These green waffles have a mild, earthy matcha flavor, but they do not taste strongly like tea. The sweetness and butter balance the flavor.
Can I make green waffles without matcha?
Yes. You can use green food coloring if you want the color without the flavor. However, matcha provides natural color and subtle depth. If using food coloring, green gel is recommended for the best color. Add a little bit at a time to reach the desired color.
How to Know if Waffle Batter is the Right Consistency
Oat flour batter is naturally thicker than traditional waffle batter, especially after resting. After the 10-minute rest, the batter should be thick but still pourable. When you lift the whisk, it should slowly ribbon off rather than run like pancake batter.
If the batter feels too thick and doesn’t spread easily in the waffle iron, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk and stir gently. If it feels too thin and watery, you can add more flour. Add a couple of tablespoons at a time to prevent overthickening.
Batter Tip: The batter should spread slightly when poured into the waffle iron, but not run quickly toward the edges.
Are these Vietnamese green waffles?
No. Vietnamese green waffles are typically made with pandan extract and coconut milk. This recipe uses matcha green tea for color and flavor.
Are these matcha waffles good for St. Patrick’s Day?
Yes. Their natural green color makes them perfect for St. Patrick’s Day breakfast or brunch without artificial dyes and food coloring.
Can I make these as green pancakes?
Yes. You can use the exact same batter, just cook it in a lightly greased pan over medium-high heat for about 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until the edges are lightly browned.
Serving Suggestions for Green Waffles
These green waffles pair well with a cup of matcha tea and some simple, slightly indulgent toppings.
- Whipped cream adds light sweetness and visual contrast
- Fresh banana slices complement the mashed banana in the batter
- Fresh berries, such as raspberries, for brightness and to balance the sweetness
- Extra matcha syrup or a light sprinkling of matcha powder for deeper color and extra matcha flavor
- A drizzle of honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness
- A dusting of powdered sugar for a special St. Patrick’s Day waffle presentation
For a more festive St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, top with whipped cream and green sprinkles, or serve alongside scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon, and fruit for a complete brunch plate.
Storage and Reheating Suggestions
- Refrigerate leftover waffles in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in a toaster or oven at 350°F until crisp. Avoid microwaving to prevent soggy waffles.
More Wholesome Breakfast Recipes You Might Like
- Keto Pancakes
- Keto Granola
- Chocolate Hazelnut Waffles
- Eggnog Waffles
- Pumpkin Waffles
- Healthy Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
- Chocolate Almond Butter Breakfast Parfaits
- Bell Pepper Egg Bake
- Mushroom, Spinach, and Ham Quiche
- Chorizo Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
- Cranberry Almond Granola Bars
Want more tea? Try pairing this with my homemade Turmeric Tea Recipe.
Recipe Cost Breakdown
Total estimated recipe cost: $9.60
Cost per serving (6 waffles): ~$1.60
Comparable café specialty waffle: ~$9–$14 per serving
Toggle Full Ingredient Cost Breakdown
| Ingredient | Amount Used | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Oat flour | 2¼ cups | $2.00 |
| Matcha powder | ¼ cup + 3 Tbsp | $3.00 |
| Eggs | 3 large | $0.75 |
| Whole milk | 1½ cups | $0.45 |
| Coconut milk | ½ cup | $0.75 |
| Olive oil | ½ cup | $1.00 |
| Banana | 2 medium | $0.60 |
| Vanilla extract | 1 Tbsp | $0.40 |
| Honey or agave (in batter) | ⅛ cup | $0.25 |
| Agave syrup (topping) | ¼ cup | $0.40 |
Based on actual amount of ingredients used and U.S. national average grocery prices as of 2026. Actual costs may vary by region or store.
Green Waffles Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine oat flour, baking powder, ¼ cup matcha powder, and salt. Whisk together to combine.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Stir in remaining ingredients, except ¼ cup agave syrup. Pour into dry mixture. Whisk together until just combined, small lumps in the batter are fine.
- Let the batter sit and thicken for 10 minutes while you heat up waffle iron.
- Pour roughly ½-cup batter into center of heated and greased waffle iron. Cook each waffle according to waffle iron directions (usually 3-5 minutes) and serve with syrup.
- To make matcha green tea syrup: Combine ¼ agave syrup and desired amount of green tea powder. I used about 3 tablespoons to create a dark emerald green syrup.
Notes
- Use a good-quality organic matcha powder for the best flavor and color.
- You can easily adjust the strength and color of the matcha syrup by adding more or less powder.
- If you do not like matcha flavor, you can use a small amount of green food coloring instead. Just add a bit more oat flour to reach the correct consistency.
- Grease the waffle pan before pouring in the batter to prevent sticking.
- Use ripe bananas, as they're sweeter and much easier to mash.
- Have leftovers? Waffles store well in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze them for 3 months. To reheat, simply pop them in a toaster oven.
I Love Matcha..
Thanks for this recipe to use it more.
I Love Matcha.. Good recipe.. Thanks for this
Glad to hear and thanks!
Hi! This recipe is delicious… especially that syrup!!