There are times when we want to have something refreshing, but it seems like it’s going to cause too much effort for us to make it ourselves; until we do, and the whole process turns out easy and rewarding.
This vegan version of the original matcha frappe recipe is really simple.
So if you feel like having a frozen drink, follow this guide, and enjoy your homemade green tea frap’s sweet and creamy taste.
If you’re a fan of the Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino, this is pretty much a copycat version but made to suit a plant-based diet. It is, in fact, very delicious and at the same time – smoothly energizing because of the matcha in it.
Before we continue, some of you might be interested in this cold and icy drink’s calorie count. The DIY Matcha frappe contains 230 kcal per serving.
Now let’s continue on with the ingredients.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’re going to need to make a vegan matcha frappe.
- Ice Cubes.
They might seem an obvious component of this Frappuccino recipe, but often, when I decide that I want to make a frozen drink, it turns out that I’m out of ice cubes.
It’s quite frustrating when that happens, so if you plan on making a Matcha frappe at home, make sure you have enough ice.
I recommend using at least a full cup of ice cubes – this way you’ll get a thick icy texture. - Canned full fat coconut milk: 3 fluid ounces (90 ml).
The canned coconut milk is thick and creamy, which results in a satisfying mouthfeel and overall flavor.
You can lower your green tea frappe’s calorie count by substituting this ingredient with almond or other unsweetened plant-based milk.
Nevertheless, this would alter your cold caffeinated beverage’s viscosity and your DIY matcha frappe will turn out more watery.
To make your homemade Matcha Frappuccino thicker, you can add a quarter to a half of a teaspoon of xanthan gum to the mixture before blending. Xanthan gum is a thickening agent and it’s present in virtually all Starbucks Frappuccinos. So if you decide to use thinner milk, you can add a bit of xanthan gum to make your drink more viscous. - Matcha powder: 1 teaspoon.
A teaspoon of matcha powder contains approximately 60 milligrams of caffeine, which is sufficient to increase your alertness levels in the morning
Nevertheless, compared to coffee matcha provides a more gentle awakening and it will less likely cause caffeine-jitters.
I use culinary-grade matcha for copycat Frappuccino drinks and smoothies.
For the frappe you see on the photos I used Jade Leaf’s matcha green tea powder, and I’m quite happy with it. - Vegan vanilla syrup/maple syrup: 2 tablespoons.
The maple syrup is a staple sweetener in the vegan community.
As an alternative to it, I’d often use my vanilla syrup by Monin (you can check it out on Amazon by clicking here). It adds both sweetness and a nice vanilla flavor to the Matcha frappe.
When I have both syrups available I add a tablespoon of the vegan vanilla syrup and a tablespoon of maple syrup. - Vegan Whipped Cream – optional, as a topping.
I usually have my plant-based Matcha Frappuccino without any toppings, but whenever I decide to top it off with something, it’s coconut whipped cream. You can actually make it with canned coconut milk.
If you want, visit this link to check out the full vegan whipped cream recipe and find out how to easily make this tasty plant-based topping.
Now that you know what ingredients you need to make this frappuccino, let’s move on to the recipe instructions.
How to make a Vegan Matcha Frappe at home – recipe directions
To make a Vegan Matcha Frappe follow these steps:
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy.
It’s easy, right?
You can see the homemade Matcha Frappe served in a glass on the following photo.
It does taste really good.
As I mentioned, you can add a bit of vegan whipped cream on top of it if you feel like you need a topping.
I do enjoy my made-at-home matcha frappe without any toppings.
After all, it is made with canned coconut milk anyway, so this frozen green tea drink doesn’t lack creaminess.
To make it look better I sometimes sprinkle it with a bit of matcha powder on top, but, as you might’ve guessed, that’s not really necessary.
Related Post: How to make an Iced London Fog Latte
Vegan Matcha Frappe
This Matcha Frappe is made with 100% plant-based ingredients. If you want to have something like Starbucks' Matcha Frappuccino, but you want a vegan version of this tasty green tea drink, follow this recipe.
Ingredients
- Matcha Powder - 1 teaspoon
- Canned Coconut Milk - 3 fl. oz. (90 milliliters) *
- Vanilla Syrup or Maple Syrup - 2 tablespoons
- Ice Cubes - one cup
- Xanthan Gum - 1/4 teaspoon (optional, as a thickening agent)
- Vegan Whipped Cream (optional, as a topping)
Instructions
- Pour all the ingredients except for the topping into a blender.
- Blend until you get the desired consistency.
- Pour into a glass and add toppings if you wish.
Notes
*Instead of 3 fl. oz. of canned coconut milk, you can use 4 fl. oz. of another plant-based milk, such as almond, soy or, say, oat milk. Nevertheless, if you decide to do so, your drink won't be as creamy and as viscous. Therefore, if you want to make your vegan matcha Frappuccino thicker, add 1/4 of a teaspoon of xanthan gum to the green tea mixture before blending.
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Over to you
I hope that you’ll try this easy recipe out. The vegan matcha frappe is cool and refreshing, so I’m sure you’ll enjoy having it.
Leave me a comment below if you have any questions, or simply share your thoughts.