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    Home » Recipes » Winter

    Cranberry Almond Matcha Macaroons

    Published: Nov 30, 2015 · Modified: Jan 22, 2021 by Alyssa · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Revamp a classic with these cranberry almond matcha macaroons! Traditional coconut macaroons are flavored with matcha (green tea) powder, dried cranberries, and almonds. The flavors mix so well together, and with their red and green coloring they're festive for the holidays, too!

    A batch of matcha macaroons on a small dessert plate.

    Matcha. Am I the last one on that train? If not, matcha is a finely-ground green tea powder that maybe sort of kills it in matcha lattes and other tea drinks and tea-flavored foods. It’s really good!

    My 2015 resolution was to cut down on my coffee consumption, which I have to say I did with resounding success. After a few months of sticking to it however, I’ll admit that tea started sneaking in. I first replaced my second morning cup of coffee with a big mug of herbal tea, and then branched into other tea blends (a super sale on Yogi will do that to you). After realizing my latest favorite had just about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, I fully embraced my newfound interest in tea. WITH or without caffeine. Because let’s call a spade as spade, right? 90 mg of caffeine is the same boost whether it in coffee or tea form.

    Rounded macaroons on a table with a bite taken out of the front one.

    But anyway, I’ve been nurturing my love for tea in this year of pseudo-reducing my caffeine intake and after hearing about matcha for so long, it was time to take the plunge. I’m a green tea fan in general, so matcha was right up my alley. I’m also a coconut macaroon fan, so combining the two was a no-brainer. As expected, these matcha macaroons certainly did not disappoint.

    Matcha is a deep, rich green tea powder that brings depth to desserts in an awesome way. It’s on the front line of flavors you taste when you bite into one of these macaroons, but soon the coconut and smidge of almond extract join in. Biting into a piece of dried cranberry brings a tart and sweet flavor and the almond adds some crunch. There are several flavors going on here, but they're balanced enough that they're not competing with one another. Perfect complements!

    I think matcha will be an all-year-round treat for me in baked goods, but with the green tint to the macaroons with the red cranberries and white almonds, what better cookie for the holiday season? As if I need another excuse to make a fourth second batch. 😉

    Macaroons piled on a plate with a bite taken out of the top one.

    Macaroons piled on a plate with a bite taken out of the top one.

    Cranberry Almond Matcha Macaroons

    Revamp a classic with these cranberry almond matcha macaroons! Traditional coconut macaroons are flavored with matcha (green tea) powder, dried cranberries, and almonds. The flavors mix so well together, and with their red and green coloring they’re festive for the holidays, too!
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    Course: Cookies
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 14 cookies
    Calories: 144kcal
    Author: Alyssa

    Ingredients

    • 7 oz. shredded sweetened coconut (about 2 ¼ cups)
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 teaspoon matcha powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 2 large egg whites
    • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
    • ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
    • ¼ cup sliced almonds, chopped
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    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • In the bowl of a food processor, add shredded coconut and pulse until it resembles small, flaky pieces. Add sugar, matcha, and salt and pulse to combine.
    • Add egg whites and almond extract and pulse until the mixture is about evenly combined. Transfer mixture to a bowl.
    • Stir in chopped dried cranberries and chopped almonds. Using a 1 ½" cookie scoop, tightly pack each cookie into the scoop and place about 1 ½" apart on baking sheet. The macaroons won't spread very much at all.
    • Bake for 24-30 minutes, or until the bottom edges and tops of macaroons are golden brown. Remove and let cool on the sheet for about ten minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1macaroon | Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 17.7g | Protein: 1.1g | Fat: 7.5g | Saturated Fat: 5.9g | Sodium: 69mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 3.2g | Sugar: 11.4g | Iron: 0.2mg
    Tried this Recipe?Tag @mysequinedlife - I love to see what you're making!

    Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

    Food Safety and Nutrition Disclaimer

    A close-up of a bitten macaroon in front of the serving plate.

    Psssst - if you're in the market for holiday cookie recipes, click the link below to check out a round up of Christmas cookie recipes (and a few cookie cakes!):

    A collage of various Christmas cookies.

    « 10+ Christmas Cookie Recipes
    Creamy Lemon Spinach One-Pot Pasta »
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    Comments

    1. Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says

      December 02, 2015 at 12:05 pm

      Ok, so I totally love how festive these are without a bunch of junk and food coloring in them!! And they sound AMAZING! I've never baked with matcha, but I'm always so intrigued! I need to try!

      Reply
    2. Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says

      December 01, 2015 at 9:03 pm

      This is such a fun twist on macaroons! I am a total coconut lover and macaroons are the perfect Christmas treat! (And you're better than me -- I could never give up coffee!)

      Reply
    3. Danielle says

      December 01, 2015 at 8:20 pm

      Apparently I'm the one who is late on the matcha train, I haven't tried it before! I think I need to pick some up though, because these macaroons look so good! Plus their color is perfect for Christmas too 🙂

      Reply
    4. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

      December 01, 2015 at 5:35 am

      Ok so I've never had matcha before, but I keep hearing how good it is! And now I definitely need to try it after seeing these gorgeous macaroons. I love the combination of cranberries and almonds. Sounds just perfect to indulge in!

      Reply
    5. Ashley says

      November 30, 2015 at 7:55 pm

      I've only recently gotten into matcha within the last year or two! I've only used it to make tea though! I need to make myself some cookies! These look awesome!

      Reply
      • Alyssa says

        November 30, 2015 at 10:47 pm

        I'm a recent matcha convert but I'm loving it more and more! And now I'm scheming what other recipes I can use it in haha thanks Ashley!

        Reply
    6. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      November 30, 2015 at 9:52 am

      I feel really bad because I always leave my bag of Matcha lonely and unused! Hahaha!

      Reply
      • Alyssa says

        November 30, 2015 at 10:32 pm

        Haha! I can't wait to branch out into more baking recipes with it!

        Reply

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    Hi! I’m Alyssa and welcome to my food blog. Here you can find a variety of food and drink recipes, running the gamut from better-for-you main dishes to holiday fare, and from lighter bites to some serious desserts. All with the occasional cocktail recipe thrown in for good measure, too. ♥ Learn more →

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