Fluffy Jade Dreams: Soft Matcha Cookies Recipe for Tea Lovers
Baking delightful matcha cookies brings pure joy to any kitchen, especially when crafting this smooth matcha cookies recipe that blends traditional Japanese flavors with classic American sweetness.
Delicate green tea notes dance through each tender bite, creating a unique dessert experience.
The vibrant matcha powder infuses these cookies with an elegant emerald hue and subtle earthy undertones.
Perfectly balanced between sweet and slightly bitter, these cookies offer a sophisticated twist on the classic chocolate chip favorite.
Each batch promises a melt-in-your-mouth texture that will surprise and delight even the most discerning dessert enthusiasts.
Prepare to be enchanted by this simple yet extraordinary treat that transforms an ordinary afternoon into a gourmet moment.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Calories: 150 kcal
Servings: 13
Ingredients List for Matcha Cookies
For Base Ingredients:
Butter: Brings richness and creates soft, tender cookie texture with creamy mouthfeel.
Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps cookies achieve golden-brown crispy edges.
Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds moisture for tender cookie structure.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity and balances matcha's earthiness.
For Dry Ingredients:
All-Purpose Flour: Creates cookie's foundational structure and provides proper texture.
Matcha Powder: Delivers distinct green tea flavor and beautiful emerald color.
Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and creates light, delicate crumb.
Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other ingredient flavors.
For Optional Mix-Ins:
White Chocolate Chips: Adds creamy sweetness that complements matcha's subtle bitterness, optional but delightful textural element.
Equipment for Mixing and Baking Matcha Dough
Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining wet and dry ingredients.
Electric mixer or whisk: Perfect for creaming butter and sugar until fluffy.
Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient quantities.
Baking sheet: Needed for baking the cookies evenly.
Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
Spatula or wooden spoon: Great for folding ingredients and mixing dough.
Wire cooling rack: Helps cookies cool down and stay crisp.
Whisk: Useful for mixing dry ingredients thoroughly.
Baking Matcha Cookies Step-by-Step
Fire Up The Oven Warm your oven to a cozy 350°F and slide a parchment paper onto your baking sheet.
Whip The Base Blend butter and sugar until they transform into a creamy, dreamy mixture that looks light and airy.
Introduce Moisture Crack in the egg and splash of vanilla, stirring until everything mingles smoothly.
Create The Powdery Mix In a separate bowl, swirl together flour, magical matcha, baking soda, and salt until perfectly combined.
Marry The Mixtures Slowly fold the powdery ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough emerges.
Optional Delightful Extras If you're feeling adventurous, sprinkle in white chocolate chips for extra yumminess.
Shape The Cookies Scoop out small dough balls and place them carefully on your prepared baking sheet, giving each cookie some breathing room.
Bake To Perfection Slide the tray into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges look golden and the centers remain tender.
Cool And Enjoy Let the cookies rest on the pan for a quick 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to reach perfect cookie consistency.
Adjusting Matcha Flavor for More or Less Boldness
Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and create a thicker, chewier cookie.
Replace butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine for a plant-based version that maintains the delicate matcha flavor.
Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies accessible for those with wheat sensitivities.
Keep cookies fresh by storing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months for longer preservation.
Experiment with adding chopped nuts like pistachios or a sprinkle of sea salt on top to enhance the matcha's earthy notes and add extra crunch.
How to Serve These Earthy Green Treats
Elegant Tea Pairing: Serve these matcha cookies alongside a steaming cup of green tea or Japanese sencha to enhance the matcha flavor and create a traditional cultural experience.
Dessert Platter Delight: Arrange cookies on a beautiful ceramic plate with additional white chocolate chunks, fresh mint leaves, and a light dusting of extra matcha powder for a stunning presentation.
Ice Cream Sandwich Magic: Transform these cookies into a cool summer treat by sandwiching a scoop of vanilla or green tea ice cream between two matcha cookies for a delightful texture contrast.
Gifting Gourmet Touch: Package cooled cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with a silk ribbon, perfect as a homemade gift for tea lovers or as a charming hostess present.
Store for Freshness or Pack as Gifts
Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to help them set without breaking, then transfer to a wire cooling rack for complete cooling.
Store cookies in an airtight container, layered between parchment paper, and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and prevent crumbling.
Wrap unbaked cookie dough balls in plastic wrap, place in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding 2-3 extra minutes to cooking time.
Prepare dough in advance and refrigerate for up to 48 hours before baking, which allows matcha flavors to develop and intensify, creating more depth in the final cookie.
Matcha magic unfolds in these delightful cookies, blending Japanese green tea’s rich essence with classic cookie comfort. Crisp edges, tender centers, and a subtle earthy flavor invite sweet moments of pure culinary joy you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
1 large egg
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
½ cup (85 g) white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate, optional
1 tbsp matcha powder (culinary grade)
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Prepare Workspace: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring an even surface for perfect cookie placement.
Create Creamy Base: Whip butter and sugar together until achieving a pillowy, aerated texture that promises light and tender cookies.
Incorporate Wet Elements: Gently blend egg and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture, creating a smooth, cohesive foundation for the dough.
Combine Dry Components: Thoroughly mix flour, matcha powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl, ensuring even distribution of all powdery ingredients.
Merge Ingredients: Gradually fold dry mixture into wet ingredients, stirring until a uniform dough emerges with a consistent green-tinged appearance.
Enhance Flavor Profile: If desired, delicately fold white chocolate chips throughout the dough, distributing them evenly for surprise bursts of sweetness.
Shape and Arrange: Craft uniform dough balls approximately 1½ tablespoons in size, positioning them strategically on the prepared baking sheet with sufficient spacing.
Bake to Perfection: Slide the sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for lightly set edges and soft, slightly yielding centers.
Cool and Serve: Allow cookies to rest on the baking pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling, preserving their delicate texture.
Notes
Adjust matcha powder quantity based on personal taste preference, as some find the flavor strong while others enjoy a more subtle green tea note.
Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help cookies maintain shape and prevent excessive spreading during cooking.
Remove cookies from oven when edges are slightly golden but centers remain soft for a perfectly chewy texture that doesn’t become overly crisp.
Substitute butter with coconut oil and use gluten-free flour blend to create a vegan and gluten-free version of these delightful matcha cookies.
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.
Michael Thompson
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.