Chocolate Matcha Shortbread Cookies - 2 Ways

Before I moved, I was on a quest to use up as many of my pantry ingredients as possible. Matcha powder was a big one - hence, multiple batches of matcha cookies! Plus, shortbread is always a classic, rich, and buttery canvas for any flavor you can dream of :)

I tried the same shortbread recipes two ways: First in a traditional rectangular form to be dipped in chocolate. As you can see, I freehanded the cutting of the rectangles...

...but it all evens out as they bake!

To class them up, I dunked them halfway into some dark chocolate and finished with a light dusting of matcha.

For my second version, I decided to mix mini chocolate chips into the shortbread dough before baking. I then rolled the dough into a log to chill before slicing and baking.

To have the dough chill in a perfectly round shape, I rolled a log roughly the circumference of an empty paper towel roll, wrapped the dough in wax paper, and stuck it in the cardboard tube to chill. Whatever works, right?

Matcha (Green Tea) Shortbread Cookies

adapted from Genius Kitchen

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour

2 tablespoon matcha powder

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1⁄2 cup powdered sugar 

Instructions

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

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

3. Add flour mixture to mixer bowl and mix slowly until dough just comes together. (If adding mini chocolate chips, do so now.) 

4. Pull dough together carefully in a log, approximately 2 inches in diameter. (Alternatively, roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut to desired shapes.) 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.

5. 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.

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

Have fun with these! And try not to eat all of them in one sitting... or just go ahead and do it. Live your life!