Matcha Green Tea Shortbread Cookies Food

MATCHA (GREEN TEA) SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift the flour, powdered tea and salt into a bowl.
• In a mixer bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar until fluffy.
• Add flour mixture to mixer bowl and mix slowly until dough just comes together.
• Pull dough together carefully in a log, approximately 2 inches in diameter.
• Wrap dough log and place in freezer for 30 minutes or until dough has firmed to the touch.
• Slice dough into 1/4 inch rounds and place on a parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet, approximately 1 inch apart.
• 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.
• Remove cookies immediately from the cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.
• Store in an airtight container or wrap well and freeze.
• The well-chilled cookie dough can also be rolled out and cut into desired shapes before baking.
• NOTE 1-- powdered green tea is not merely green tea that has been pulverized in a food processor or food mill, it's a special kind of tea that has been prepared to dissolve nicely.
• NOTE 2-- don't use the microwave to soften the butter, room temperature butter is the correct consistency for this recipe.

MATCHA SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour, cornstarch and tea powder. Beat butter, cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocolate.
• Refrigerate 30 min.
• Heat oven to 325ºF. Roll dough into 24 (1-inch) balls; place, 2 inches apart, on 2 baking sheets. Flatten to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Bake 10 to 12 min. or until bottoms of cookies are golden brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

GREEN TEA SHORTBREAD LEAVES

Steps:

• Sift flour, tea powder, and salt into a small bowl; set aside. Place butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream on medium speed until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add sugar; continue to beat until very light in color and fluffy, about 2 minutes more. Add flour mixture; combine on low, scraping sides of bowl with a spatula if necessary, until flour is just incorporated and dough sticks together when squeezed with fingers.
• Place a piece of parchment on a clean surface; dust with flour. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness; chill in refrigerator or freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Cut chilled dough with 2-inch leaf cutters. Using a wide spatula, transfer to baking sheets. Chill until firm. Gather scraps together, re-roll, chill, and cut shapes. Bake until firm and barely starting to color, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating halfway through. Cool completely on wire rack; store in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 weeks.

GREEN TEA SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place a sheet of parchment paper or plastic wrap on a work surface and dust with flour. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat butter in a bowl using an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add 3/4 cup sugar and continue beating until mixture is lighter in color, about 2 minutes more.
• Mix flour, green tea powder, and salt together in a separate bowl; gradually add to creamed butter mixture, beating on low speed until dough sticks together. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness on the floured parchment paper; cut into 2-inch cookies or bars. Roll remaining dough and cut into more cookies until all the dough is used. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• Carefully transfer cookies to the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle sugar over each cookie.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm and barely starting to turn golden, about 15 minutes. Cool completely.

GREEN TEA SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter in the bowl of an electric standing mixer using the paddle attachment; add confectioner's sugar and salt.
• Sift together the tea and flour and add to the butter mixture; mix until just incorporated.
• Roll the dough out to about 1/3-inch thick between 2 pieces of plastic wrap; transfer to a baking sheet and chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 300 degrees.
• Remove top piece of plastic and cut into desired shapes; re-roll excess dough as necessary; transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 16 minutes; rotate pan and bake for another 16 minutes, or until they feel firm when scratched with a fingernail; take care not to let the edges brown; matcha shortbread cookies should maintain their green color.
• Cool, and serve with green-tea or ginger ice cream.