Midnight and matcha in the same thought? Doesn’t seem quite right does it? Matcha is hands down the best drink to have in the morning, but as much as I love it I’d definitely tell you to think twice before partaking late in the PM.
Luckily, we aren’t talking about the time of day here, we are talking about an ingredient–one of my favorites–black cocoa. This ultra dark cocoa powder, also known as midnight black cocoa, is known for its incredibly intense color and flavor. It can sometimes be hard to find, but if you know where to look it’s definitely worth the extra effort.
Aside from being rich and sinfully chocolatey in flavor, it’s also earthier than regular cocoa powder is. The unusual charcoal-like color comes from the dutching process, which greatly reduces the cocoa powder’s acidity. Every time I taste black cocoa I’m reminded of Oreos, Devil’s food cake, and whoopie pies…and in my book, this can only be a good thing.
There are few teas that can stand up to a strong, dark flavor like black cocoa and matcha is one of them. The two ingredients actually have similar taste profiles. If you love the bittersweet taste of matcha, then you’ll love the taste of black cocoa powder too. When they are of good quality, both are pleasantly mellow yet intense.
Instead of dusting the bites in pure matcha, I coat them in matcha-laced unsweetened coconut, which helps to balance just the right amount of tea in each bite. The sweet factor comes from super ripe bananas and a touch of honey, which give mild sweetness and bind the dry ingredients into a brownie-like texture.
Enjoy these as an on-the-go breakfast, a mid-day pick me up, or whenever you need a sustained energy boost. If there were ever such a thing, I like to think of these as healthy chocolate truffles. Midnight Matcha Bites are a hearty way to indulge your darkest and most serious chocolate cravings!
Midnight Matcha Bites
Makes 35 balls.
Ingredients:
{Chocolate Energy Balls}
2 bananas, very ripe & mashed
1 cup almond meal
1 cup ground whole oats, ground to a powder in a food processor
3/4 cup whole oats, left whole
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/3 cup dried coconut, unsweetened
1/2 cup cocoa powder (I used midnight black cocoa)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup almond butter
1/4 cup honey
2 tsp vanilla
{Coconut Matcha Coating}
1/2 cup dried coconut, unsweetened
1 Tbsp matcha powder
Equipment:
food processor
large mixing bowl
large mixing spoon
cookie scoop with 1 3/4″ diameter (2 Tbsp)
Directions:
1.) Place the dry Chocolate Energy Ball ingredients in the mixing bowl, then lightly toss together. Add the wet ingredients, then mix everything together thoroughly with the spoon.
2.) In a small bowl, mix the Coconut Matcha Coating ingredients together. Use your fingers to evenly distribute the matcha with the dried coconut. Set aside.
3.) Use the cookie scoop to scoop out a 2 Tbsp portion of the Chocolate Energy Ball mixture, then roll it into a smooth ball. Repeat this process to form 30 energy balls/bites. Roll and evenly coat the chocolate balls in the matcha coconut. Store the bites in a sealed box or bag in the fridge.
The first time I spotted a flapjack was when I was strolling through High Street in Oxford, a university city northwest of London. Hungry from having visited Stonehenge earlier that morning, I remember seeing a magnificent stack of golden slices piled high in the window of a local bakery. I’m not sure what time it was, but it instantly seemed like the right moment for a tea and goody break.
Thirsty for Tea 
