Recipe — Matcha (Green Tea) Shortbread Cookies

I’ve been thinking about how can I integrate green tea powder with desserts lately. Today, I got an idea, why don’t I just try to make some cookies for my afternoon tea?

Green tea is always my favorite because it tastes light not just sweet. This dessert can match with tea, coffee, and juice. I believe they are good looking enough for the party too! Here are the ingredients that you need for making 25 cookies.

2 cups bleached all purpose flour
1 -2 tablespoon  Green Tea Powder Matcha green tea powder (Matcha)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter (unsalted at room temperature — See Note 2)
1/2 cup powdered sugar (more if your tea is very intense)
1 egg 

Directions:
1. In a mixer bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar until fluffy.

2. Add the egg slowly to the butter & sugar mixed and mix them together evenly.

3. Divide the butter mixture into 2 separate bowls ( for two different colors).

4. Sift 1 cup flour, powdered tea, and salt into a bowl and mix slowly until dough just comes together. This is the green tea dough.

5. Sift 1 cup flour and salt into a bowl and mix slowly until dough just comes together. This is the butter flavor dough.

6. Put the green tea and butter dough into the refrigerator for 10 mins or until the dough has firmed to the touch.

7. Pull the dough together carefully in a log, approximately 2 inches in diameter.

8. Cut the green tea dough and butter dough into 2 inches long cylinder.

9. Put 1 green tea cylinder dough and 1 butter cylinder dough together and put another 1 green tea cylinder dough and 1 butter cylinder dough on top of them.

10. Cut the colored dough into half to get the chessboard colored dough.

11. Place on a parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet, approximately 1 inch apart.
12. Bake in a preheated 325 degree F oven for 16 to 18 minutes (or until the cookies are just starting to turn golden around the edges), turning the pan halfway through the baking time.
13. Remove cookies immediately from the cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.
9. Store in an airtight container or wrap well and freeze.