Best Shortbread Tea Cookies Recipes

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.

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.

SHORTBREAD TEA COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Set the butter or margarine in a medium mixing bowl and allow to soften. (Truth--after about 15 minutes, I use the mixer to start breaking it up a little. Then I wait a few more minutes to give it more time to soften.)
• 2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• 3. Using the mixer, mix together the softened butter/margarine, sugar, and vanilla extract. NOTE: If you are going to be adding more sugar in the form of cinnamon/sugar or plain sugar or colored sugars, you might want to cut the sugar in this step down to 2/3 cup. Your call.
• 4. Slowly add the flour to the butter mixture and mix until incorporated.
• 5. If the dough isn't too sticky (or if you're impatient), roll into large marble-sized balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. If you don't like the sticky feel of the dough, or if you have more time, cover the bowl with plastic wrap & refrigerate until ready to roll the dough balls.
• 6. TIME FOR THE OPTIONS: If you want a Snickerdoodle-type cookie, roll some of the dough balls into the cinnamon/sugar mixture. For the walnut or cherry cookies, I rolled the balls in white sugar before pressing on the walnut or cherry halves. I made a thumbprint in the cookie dough before adding any of the jams. (Today I used strawberry & blueberry preserves.) Other ideas? Chop nuts into fine pieces & roll dough ball in them. Flatten the dough ball a little, if you like. Or crush peppermint candy canes to use in the same way or sprinkle some on slightly flattened dough balls. What ideas do you have?
• 7. Bake cookies at 350 degrees F. for 10-15 minutes. (Check early the first time.) Cookies should be mostly light with slightly browned bottoms. Cool on cooling racks, if you can wait that long. =^..^=
• 8. FINAL OPTION: Drizzle cooled cookies with a glaze made of 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp. milk, if desired. Stir together, then spoon into a sandwich baggie, seal, & snip a tiny corner from the baggie for easy decorating. Mom would call this "gilding the lily."