Matcha Green Tea Cookie Christmas Tree

How to Make the Matcha Green Tea Cookie Christmas Tree

Ingredients

• 6 Tbsp (85g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/3 cup (65g) powdered sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 cup (140g) all-purpose flour
  1 ½ Tbsp (10g) matcha powder
  1/4 tsp (1g) salt
  Icing to stack cookies (powdered sugar and water)

Instructions

Step 1: If using raw almonds, roast them at 325°F for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Step 2: Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Shake the pan every once in a while to dissolve the sugar evenly.

Step 3: Once the sugar melts completely, add almonds and stir continuously. The sugar will start crystalizing and look grainy and white. Keep stirring and the sugar will melt again and turn brownish in color.

Step 4: Remove from heat when the color turns deep amber. Don’t burn the sugar too much! Add butter and stir well.

Step 5: Spread out the almonds on a piece of parchment paper and separate them from one another. Allow to cool.

Step 6: In a small bowl, break the white chocolate into small pieces and melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Add matcha (or hojicha) powder and stir gently until well combined.

Step 7: To assemble the tree, stack the 2-3 largest cookies, offsetting each slightly then repeat with smaller groups of cookies. Use icing to secure the cookies together.