No-Bake Matcha Cake (Modern Lithuanian Lazy Cake)
If you’re always on the lookout for no-bake desserts, this no bake matcha cake might just become your new favorite. Bright, creamy, and delightfully crunchy, it’s a Lithuanian lazy cake with a modern twist — a playful fusion that feels familiar yet new. Because it’s a no-bake recipe, it comes together in minutes, making it the perfect treat for busy days or last-minute gatherings. And of course, matcha lovers will appreciate its earthy aroma and vibrant color in every bite.
Equipment
- 2 lb Loaf Pan
- Strong Plastic Wrap or Parchment Paper
- Large Saucepan
Ingredients
- 540 g (1.2 lb) plain cookies, *see notes
- 200 g (7 oz) unsalted butter
- 400 g (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoon matcha powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
OPTIONAL:
- a small handful of dried blueberries or cranberries
- a small handful of pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Snap the cookies into bite-sized chunks and set them aside.
- In a large pan, toss in the butter, condensed milk, and salt. Heat it over low heat, stirring constantly, until everything melts together into a smooth, glossy mixture. Once combined, turn the heat up to medium and keep stirring as it starts to bubble gently around the edges. You’ll notice it thickening and pulling away from the sides — just don’t stop stirring, or it might stick to the bottom.
- Take the mixture off the heat and stir in the sifted matcha powder - no dry clumps of powder should remain.
- Take the pan off the heat and mix in all the cookie chunks. It’s okay if some crumble into smaller bits — just make sure every piece gets coated in the matcha mixture. If using any nuts or dried berries, stir them in now.
- Line a 2lb flat-bottomed loaf tin with thick plastic wrap (leave extra hanging over the edges) or baking parchment. Pour in the matcha-cookie mixture and press it down firmly, getting rid of any air pockets. Fold the extra plastic wrap over the top, or cover with parchment.
- Pop the whole thing in the fridge and let it chill for at least 6 hours — overnight is even better. Once it’s firm, invert it into a serving board, unpeel the plastic wrap, slice into pieces and enjoy your no-bake Matcha Lazy Cake!
Video
Notes
In Lithuania, we use plain cookies, called "Gaidelis", and you can get similar square-shaped cookies in some larger grocery stores or Polish/ Eastern European Food stores. However, you can also use digestive biscuits, rich tea biscuits, Marie biscuits, Tostadas or even stale shortbread (fresh shortbread will crumble too much). Graham crackers might also work.