Matcha (Green Tea) Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups bleached all purpose flour
• 1-2 tablespoon green tea powder (matcha — See Note 1)
• 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)

Directions

1. 1

   Sift the flour, powdered tea and salt into a bowl.

2. 2

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

3. 3

   Add flour mixture to mixer bowl and mix slowly until dough just comes together.

4. 4

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

5. 5

   Wrap dough log and place in freezer for 30 minutes or until dough has firmed to the touch.

6. 6

   Slice dough into 1/4 inch rounds and place on a parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet, approximately 1 inch apart.

7. 7

   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.

8. 8

   Remove cookies immediately from the cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.

9. 9

   Store in an airtight container or wrap well and freeze.

10. 10

    The well-chilled cookie dough can also be rolled out and cut into desired shapes before baking.

11. 11

    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.

12. 12

    NOTE 2-- don't use the microwave to soften the butter, room temperature butter is the correct consistency for this recipe.