MATCHA COOKIES

These large and chunky matcha cookies are soft from inside and crunchy on the edges. They are perfectly flavored and paired with unique matcha powder along with butterscotch chips. These cookies have a beautiful vivid green color, surprisingly aromatic and amazingly delicious. If you love cookies, you’ll love my Orange Shortbread Cookies, Butter Pecan Cookies, Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies, Nankhatai, Southern Tea Cakes, Pinwheel Cookies, Lemon Crinkle Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies and my Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies.

Table of Contents

• What Is Matcha Powder?
• Why This Recipe Works?
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Variations
• Substitutions
• Expert Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Equipment
• How To Store
• Related
• Recipe

WHAT IS MATCHA POWDER?

I will be honest - while growing up I was not familiar with Matcha powder. It was not until a few years back that I got a chance to try matcha cookies at a friend’s place. I was amazed by the lively, beautiful and vivid green color of the cookies and the flavor just got me hooked on to it. It was earthy, grassy, nutty, fragrant, slightly bitter and green tea-ish. It was different in a unique good way.

Old Japanese Roots: Matcha powder is a special Japanese green tea with an earthy, grassy, little bitter and sweet flavor. The tradition to use matcha powder has its roots in Japan, where it has been used in the Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries going as far as the 12th century.

Shade Harvest & No Sunlight: Matcha is from the green tea family but is slightly different than the regular green tea. The main difference between both green tea leaves lies in different harvesting methods. Green tea requires direct sunlight to grow, whereas matcha tea leaves flourish under the shade, giving it a subtle and slightly bitter taste, which is beautifully balanced with the sweetness packed in the tea leaves.

Steam, Dry & Ground Method: Furthermore, the matcha leaves are taken and go through a process of steaming and then drying, which is crucial before putting the leaves in the grinder to get the powder.

Caffeine: Matcha powder contains caffeine, but its ratio of caffeine is less than regular coffee or black tea.

Powerhouse of Nutrients: Matcha powder is a powerhouse of nutrients and has rich antioxidant catechins. It is great in protecting the heart and preventing cancer because of its cancer-fighting effects on the body.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS?

• Texture: These cookies have thin crispy edges and are gooey and soft on the inside.
• Easy to Bake: You need a few ingredients to put these cookies together in 30 minutes.
• Matcha Flavor: These cookies have the aromatic green tea flavor.
• Perfect Pairing with Butterscotch Chips: The unique matcha flavor pairs well with the butterscotch chips in this recipe. You may use any other chips of your choice as well.

INGREDIENTS

Pro Tip #1 - Ingredients at Room Temperature
Always use room temperature ingredients (unless otherwise specified) for baking. Ingredients such as butter, eggs and other dairy ingredients like milk, sour cream, yogurt form an emulsion by trapping air inside the batter. The trapped air expands in the oven resulting in perfect baked treats.

• All-Purpose Flour: Helps with the structure of these cookies. Make sure to measure it properly to get the best results.
• Baking Powder + Baking Soda: Gives volume to the cookie and helps to lift.
• Salt: Enhances the flavor of other ingredients.
• Corn Starch: Helps to keep the cookies soft, crumbly, tender, and chewy.
• Matcha Powder: The hero ingredient of this recipe. Use high-quality matcha powder.
• Butter: Use the browning method for intense nutty flavor.
• Castor Sugar: Helps with browning and spread of the cookie and makes crispy cookies.
• Brown Sugar: Helps with moist, tender, and crumbly cookies.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of these cookies.
• Eggs: Binding agent for this recipe.
• Butterscotch Chips: Use high-quality butterscotch chips.

Pro Tip #2 - Digital Scale for Accurate Results
Use a digital scale to measure all-purpose flour and other dry ingredients. To measure with a cup, fluff up the all-purpose flour container using a spoon, then scoop out the flour with a spoon into the measuring cup. Never scoop out of the container. It may result in more flour than required, resulting in dense bakes.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Take a saucepan and on medium heat, brown the butter until it turns golden yellowish in color. Transfer the butter into a small bowl and let it cool to room temperature.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the butter (at room temperature) with sugars, using an electric mixer cream it together for 2 – 3 minutes until it turns light and fluffy. Add eggs, matcha powder, and vanilla extract to the batter and mix until combined.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until combined.
4. Fold in the butterscotch chips. Leave the dough in the fridge for an hour.
5. Using an ice-cream scoop, scoop out the cookies on the baking tray at a 2-inch distance from each other.
6. Bake the cookies in the middle rack of the oven at 350°F in a preheated oven for 10 – 12 minutes.

VARIATIONS

• Chocolate Chips: Replace butterscotch chips with chocolate chips for a different taste.
• White Chocolate Chips: Use a 1:1 ratio of white chocolate chips to butterscotch chips.
• Nuts: Add walnuts, pecans, peanuts, cashews, or macadamia nuts for crunch (½ cup).

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free all-purpose flour.

EXPERT TIPS

• Brown Butter: Adds nuttier flavor, crispy edges, and gooey centers.
• Chilling the Dough: Helps flour absorb liquids and prevents cookies from spreading too much.
• Do Not Over-Bake: Remove when edges turn light brown.
• Use an Ice-Cream Scoop: Ensures uniform cookies.

HOW TO STORE

• Room Temperature: Keep in an airtight container for 3 – 4 days.
• Refrigerator: Stays fresh for up to a week.
• Freezer: Wrap each cookie in plastic wrap and foil, store for up to 3 months.

SUMMARY

Prep Time: 10 mins

• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 20 mins
• Course: Cookies
• Cuisine: American, Asian, Japanese
• Servings: 20
• Calories: 182 kcal

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (240 g)
• 1 tsp baking powder (4 g)
• ½ tsp baking soda (3 g)
• ½ tsp salt (3 g)
• 2 tsp corn starch (8 g)
• 1 ½ tbsp matcha powder (9 g)
• ¾ cup unsalted butter (185 g)
• ½ cup castor sugar (100 g)
• ½ cup brown sugar (100 g)
• 2 eggs (room temperature)
• ¾ cup butterscotch chips (128 g)

NUTRITION

• Calories: 182kcal
• Carbohydrates: 26g
• Protein: 2g
• Fat: 8g
• Sugar: 16g