Matcha Green Tea Sugar Cookies

In a bowl, combine the flour, matcha powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until blended and set aside.

In the bowl of your mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes.

Add the sugar and continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes more, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl once or twice.

Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract, beat well. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl.

Mixing on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture and mix until well blended.

Remove the dough and shape into 2 disks about an inch thick. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour and up to 2 days maximum.  

Once the dough is chilled, remove one disk from the refrigerator. Position a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat it to 350°F. Line two sheet pans with nonstick baking liners (silpat) or parchment paper.

With cookie cutter, cut as many shapes as you can, place cookies on the baking sheet. Re-roll the remaining dough and cut out more cookies. Repeat until all the dough is used.

Bake in the oven for 8 to 11 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through the baking time. Bake until cookies look set and are slightly golden underneath.

Let cookies rest on baking sheet for a few minutes and remove to rack to cool completely.

Working with half the chocolate chips at a time, melt in the microwave in 25 seconds increments.

Pour the chocolate into a pastry bag (with Wilton tip #233) or small plastic bag (cut off a very tiny corner). Starting from right above the cookie and moving your wrist quickly, drizzle the chocolate onto the cookies. If desired add coarse sugar or sprinkles while chocolate is still wet.