Save to Pinterest Festive, chewy blondie bars infused with earthy matcha and crunchy pistachios, cut into tree shapes and decorated for a holiday treat.
This recipe brings back warm memories of holiday baking with family, filling the house with inviting aromas.
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.
Save to Pinterest Baking these bars is a cherished tradition that brings my family closer during the holiday season.
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 (per serving)
Calories 230 Total Fat 12 g Carbohydrates 27 g Protein 3 g
Save to Pinterest Enjoy these delightful bars warm or at room temperature for the best flavor and texture.
Recipe FAQs
- → What gives these bars their green color?
Matcha green tea powder is used to infuse the bars with a natural earthy green hue and flavor.
- → Can I substitute pistachios with other nuts?
Yes, pecans or almonds can replace pistachios without altering the texture much.
- → How are the tree shapes created?
After baking, the bars are cut into triangles to resemble Christmas trees before decorating.
- → What decorations are used on top?
White chocolate is drizzled over the bars, followed by sprinkles and mini pretzel sticks as trunks.
- → Are there gluten-free options?
Yes, using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend allows for a gluten-free version while maintaining texture.
- → What is the texture of these bars?
They are chewy with a balance of soft blondie texture and crunchy pistachio pieces throughout.