Fluffy souffle accented with green tea powder, this Matcha Souffle is simply irresistible! For a thorough visual guide, I recommend watching the video first.

Making Green Tea souffle has been on my baking bucket list for as long as I remember. Unless you are in Japan, this unique dessert doesn’t normally appear on the dessert menu in your local cafes and restaurants. The only way to taste the incredible warm fluffy texture of souffle accented with the unique bitter matcha flavor is to make your own.
Today, unlike my usual posts, I want to talk about the little struggles I had with this recipe.
Now if you have attempted to make souffle at home AND tried to take good pictures of it while the souffle is risen up, you know this is not easy to do (unless you’re an experienced pâtissier). No matter how many times I make this souffle, each souffle at every test comes differently. The shot of PERFECT souffle? It’s nearly impossible for this novice baker. After my experience with the Chocolate Souffle, I tried taking pictures of the souffle in the kitchen for the first ones I baked, right out of the oven. This shot was taken after a midnight baking session with my new indoor lights.

I struggled to capture that moment. The moment when the souffle reached the highest peak. While the green tea souffle was in the oven, I prepared styling, composition, and camera setting… and I thought I was ready. However, when the food gets placed in the location for the camera, there was always something I need to adjust. And every second that goes by, the souffle starts to slowly deflate. This dessert has a mind of its own and doesn’t wait for me.
Next time I baked during the daytime and tried it with natural light. I had to run to “the studio” in my living room where I get good natural light. Ran as fast as I could, with the souffle in my hand. Hurry, hurry, click, click, click… And here’s the result I ended up with.

Deflated a little bit. But honestly, this is the best I could do with my current baking & photography skills.
We tested the recipe several times and made several more rounds of scuffles in order to shoot for video and photography. Although we love this green tea souffle very much, if Mr. JOC and I had to eat every single one we would have some serious calories to burn off (Didn’t I tell you I work out 5 days a week? Now you know why!). We fed our friends and relative through the recipe development process and the feedback was really awesome. They all loved it! By the way, if you really love matcha flavor, use 2 Tbsp of matcha as the recipe calls for; otherwise, you can decrease it to 1 Tbsp.
Lastly, I have one important thing to say about this recipe. Use a kitchen scale (highly recommend for perfect results) and follow the recipe as precisely as you could before adopting. For all the recipes in Just One Cookbook, I tested many times until the result satisfies me. This is a simple recipe, yet I’d say it’s not so easy to make it right.
I hope you will enjoy making this Green Tea Souffle recipe! If you try it, don’t forget to share your picture on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with #JustOneCookbook. Thank you so much for reading, and till next time!

Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.

Matcha Souffle
Video
Ingredients
For Coating the Ramekins
- ½ Tbsp unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 4 tsp sugar
For the Custard
- 3 large yolks
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour (plain flour)
- 150 ml milk
- 100 ml heavy (whipping) cream
- 1–2 Tbsp matcha (green tea powder) (1 Tbsp matcha is 6 g)
For the Meringue
- 3 large egg whites
- 4 Tbsp sugar
For Dusting
- 1 Tbsp confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC). For a convection oven, reduce cooking temperature by 25ºF (15ºC). You will need 4 4 oz (1/2 cup) ramekins.
To Prepare the Ramekins
- Brush the ramekins with ½ Tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature, using upward strokes. With 4 tsp sugar, put 1 tsp sugar in each ramekin and rotate the ramekin to dust the insides with sugar. Remove the excess sugar from the ramekin and chill in the refrigerator to set. (This gives the soufflé something to grip onto as the batter climbs up the sides of the ramekins during baking.)
To Make the Custard
- In a large bowl, beat 3 large yolks and 2 Tbsp sugar together.
- Sift 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour (plain flour) into the egg mixture and mix well.
- Heat 150 ml milk and 100 ml heavy (whipping) cream in a small saucepan until almost boiling.
- Add a splash of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture and whisk well until the mixture is smooth.
- Then gradually whisk in the rest of the milk mixture.
- Pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Whisk the mixture constantly AT ALL TIMES over a medium-low heat for 3–4 minutes until thickened and smooth. KEEP WHISKING during this process; otherwise, your custard will overcook and become clumpy.
- When the custard has thickened, immediately transfer to a bowl (otherwise the remaining heat from the saucepan will “overcook” the mixture). Cover with plastic wrap and cool to room temperature for about 30 minutes (or you can put it in the refrigerator to make this process faster).
- Once the custard has cool down, sift 1–2 Tbsp matcha (green tea powder) into the custard.
To Add the Meringue
- Whisk 3 large egg whites in a clean bowl until bubbles start to form (Kitchen Aid mixer Level 3 for 2 minutes).
- Gradually add 4 Tbsp sugar, one spoonful at a time. Once you add all the sugar, increase the speed to Level 8 and whisk to make a firm, glossy meringue, about 3–4 minutes.
- Whisk one-third of the meringue into the custard and mix until homogenous.
- Very carefully fold in the rest of the meringue using a rubber spatula. Do not overmix.
To Bake the Soufflés
- Divide the soufflé mix into 4 ramekins. Tap them on the work surface to level the mixture and run your thumb around the edge.
- Place the ramekins on a baking tray and bake for 12–15 minutes until well risen and slightly golden on top. The souffle should wobble gently in the middle when it’s ready.
- Dust with 1 Tbsp confectioners’ sugar and place on a plate. Serve immediately.
To Store
- You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 days.
Hello, I’ve made this recipe twice and each time it made a minimum of 50% more in volume than you suggest. For example you said 4 1/2 cup vessels. I easily made 6 with some left over. Don’t know why but the only other comment is WOW, it’s delightful and worthy of serving at the finest of dinners. Also, you could make this several hours ahead of time, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. I did this and then just popped them in the oven as we were cleaning the table preparing for dessert.
Hi David! I think it depends on meringue – and it happened to me too! I made the leftover in smaller ramekins. More the air in the meringue, you get more volume, so that’s why it might end up with different result. But I’m glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for your tip on making several hours ahead of time. It’s good to know it works! 🙂
Hi, Nami-san!
I was just wondering whether this recipe will make the souffle a bit gooey in the middle. I have not made a souffle before but when I searched up images, it showed the inside was a bit gooey and according to some websites, it’s meant to be (?). I’m not really sure but I’m curious to know what the inside will be like. Gooey or not though, I love matcha and anything sweet!
Hi Megumi! If I understand the English word “gooey” correctly, I wouldn’t describe the inside texture of souffle as “gooey”… It’s more like airy, fluffy, soft, silky… along that line. 🙂 Hope this helps!
Thanks and sorry for the confusion :p. As in gooey, I meant like, “undercooked” in a way. Well, I guess it depends on the person who makes it and what ingredients, how much time, etc. Anyways, thanks a lot!
Hi, I can’t wait to try the green tea souffle. I just ordered the tea today.
Thank you for the great receipes to try.
Hi Alexandria! Many of my readers really enjoyed this recipe and I hope you will too! 🙂
Hi Celeste! I’m glad yours came out well and it rose nicely too! I get a little bit more than 16 oz of mixture too, so I use smaller ramekins I have to make mini ones. I didn’t want to increase the amount as it’s not significantly a lot of leftover… レシピ作ってくれてありがとう!
Dear Nami,
Your souffle looks wonderful! But I just tried making this souffle and it was shrinking in seconds after I took it out of the oven. I didn’t really know what the cause probably was. Could it be the mixture was overmix? I baked according to the directions and the inside was still raw I guess.
Thanks before 🙂
Hi Soca! Thank you very much! Mine doesn’t shrink right away (but the height was much taller when I take them out), so my guess was that you could over-beaten the meringue. It shouldn’t be fluffy, but not liquid… each oven is different, so please try adjusting the cooking time or oven temp. A lot of people have tried this recipe already and came out well, so hopefully yours will come out well next time if you try. Thank you for trying this recipe! 🙂
I was wondering if you know of anything that can replace heavy whipping cream? In Norway we really don’t have that sold anywhere, I do have common whipping cream though? Do you think that would work..?
Hi Lise! Heavy cream or heavy whipping cream here is about 36% fat. In Norway, what’s the fat % for the common whipping cream? If it’s similar, it should work. 🙂
Hi Nami,
May I know inside should be soft? The whole soufflé should be soft or creamy?
Hi Alice, yes inside of souffle is soft and airy and top is fluffy… it’s hard to describe this heavenly delicious dessert. 🙂
Thank you for reply me, just saw your blog a few days ago, found your recipe is quite nice.. I like your recipe, but some don’t have video on it, its better to with a video on, is easier for those are a new baker. Lastly can I be your friend? Cos I love Japanese food very much, but its difficult to do… You stay at japan now? I stay at Singapore.
Thank you so much Alice! I started my YouTube channel 1.5 years ago (I’ve been blogging for the past 4 years), so my earlier recipes don’t have videos. I live in San Francisco now. 🙂 Feel free to email me if you have any questions, or we can connect via Instagram and twitter. 🙂
Dear Nami,
How can I find you in twitter?
It’s @justonecookbook. 🙂
Thanks, I just saw your handmade udon noodle in twitter.. Is so easy to do, if I use dashi soup to cook the noodle, need to put others ingredients? Have to cook how long then transfer to cold water? U just look so sweet in the video..
You don’t have to include any ingredient (we call it “Kake Udon” for just soup only). I wrote in the Udon Noodle post but you cook for 10-12 minutes for these homemade noodles (depending on thickness of course). 🙂
Hi Naomi: thank you so much for sharing this beautiful recipe. However, when you say “bake for 12-15 minutes”, can you please tell me the baking temperature of the oven? Sorry I’m totally new to baking…thanks in advance!!
Hi Lumica! I mentioned in Step 1 (preheat oven to 390F) but it doesn’t have a step by step picture for this step so you probably didn’t see the line. I’m sorry my instruction wasn’t clear. 🙂
Thank you for the reply! My bad I missed the first step…Thanks again, and have a great day:)
Can I replace double cream with butter?
Hi Caphie! Hmmm I don’t think so… It’s very important to follow the recipe to get the good result in baking. 🙂
Hey Nami,
thanks for this recipe I cannot wait to try this souffle 🙂
By the way I tried to find some kind of suggestion page on your website, but couldn’t find one, so I`ll just throw it out there: Do you know how to make authentic Yatsuhashi?:) Sorry, I just couldn’t forgive myself to to have asked, just love your recipes 😀
Hi Stefan! I hope you enjoy this recipe! I’ll add Yatsuhashi to my list of recipes to share on JOC. Thank you for your request! I never thought of making Yatsuhashi at home…but living far from Japan, it makes sense to make it at home! 😀
Hi, I thought it may be of interest to you, seeing that you have a copy right on your photos. I have seen your souffle in somebodies instagram gallery. I have discovered he has many photos he has used and indirectly claims to be his. I have seen many on cooking web sites. I believe this is plagiarism. It may not worry you but I can give you his IG account if you wish. Why am I concerned? I believe he is deceiving a friend of mine.
Hope you reply either way to me thank you
Thank you Graeme! Would you email me with the IG account to nami@justonecookbook.com? Thank you!!
The photo looks gorgeous; the top looks crusty and tempting, like I want to dig right into the soft delicious souffle.
Thank you so much, Julie! I wish I can send you some! 🙂
Hi Nami, I have been reading your blog for a few months and have tried some of your recipes. My daughter loved all of them!Every dish is so beautifully presented. Tracking your blog posts becomes one of my daily rountines. Will try the green tea souffle!Great pic!
Hi Emily! Thank you so much for following my blog and trying my recipes. I’m so happy to hear your daughter enjoys them. 🙂 Good luck with green tea souffle – it’s not one of easy recipes but the taste is amazing! Thanks for writing. 🙂 xo
Nami,
Thank you so much for your weekend blog posts. I always look forward to it. I especially love the music you use. Where do you find them? They are always so perfect.
Hi Aiko! Thank you so much for following my blog posts! The music is from Audio Network (http://us.audionetwork.com/). We actually spend quite some time to get a good music for each video. 😀
I will just stare at the photo for a while….what a thing of beauty! I know how difficult it is to master a soufflé. That is probably on my bucket list! Thank you for sharing the technique and the video!
Hi Donna! Thank you so much for your kind words! Indeed, it is very hard to master it. Hope I can easily make this one day. 😀 Thanks for watching the video too!