Soft & Chewy Matcha Sugar Cookies for St. Patrick's Day Recipe
Delight in these Soft & Chewy Matcha Sugar Cookies, perfectly green and lightly sweetened for St. Patrick's Day. These festive treats feature a tender cookie base infused with culinary-grade matcha powder, topped with creamy cream cheese frosting and optional decorative sprinkles or shamrock toppers. Ideal for parties, gifting, or fun family baking sessions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Matcha Sugar Cookies
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ tablespoons culinary-grade matcha powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1-2 tablespoons milk or cream, as needed
Decorations (optional)
- Green sprinkles
- Gold sugar pearls
- Shamrock toppers
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and culinary-grade matcha powder until evenly mixed to ensure consistent flavor distribution.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together using a mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. This step incorporates air to help make the cookies tender.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix gently and just until combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can make cookies tough.
- Portion and Shape Dough: Scoop about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough and roll into balls. Place each ball on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gently flatten the tops of the dough balls with your hand or a flat surface for even baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft. This ensures a chewy texture.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Make Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt; continue to beat until fluffy. Adjust the consistency by adding milk or cream one tablespoon at a time until the frosting is thick but spreadable or pipeable.
- Decorate Cookies: Once the cookies are fully cooled, pipe or spread the cream cheese frosting on top. Decorate with green sprinkles, gold sugar pearls, or festive shamrock toppers to celebrate the holiday theme.
Notes
- Use culinary-grade matcha powder for vibrant green color and authentic flavor.
- Do not overbake cookies; soft centers ensure they stay chewy.
- If dough is too soft to handle, chill for 20 minutes before shaping.
- Store frosted cookies in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, bringing them to room temperature before serving.
- Unfrosted cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months in an airtight container.
