Cooking with Matcha, the power of the green powder

Matcha tea is for Japanese, what coffee will be for Italians – beverage to die for! Right! Starting the day without coffee is like a soup without salt! Well, Matcha-Chai will be an equal alternative. Matcha crumble or Matcha cookies, both are great sweets, which go perfect with Matcha tea! What about fir tree shaped cookies decorated with gold dust for Christmas? They look pretty cute. The Chef’s Handyman team favorites the Matcha Chai!

Matcha Chai, green powdered beverage

Chef’s Handyman, Matcha Chai

Matcha Chai is easy to make and a delicious drink. To make the Matcha Chai, soak 1 tbsp. of Matcha powder in 4 tbsp. of hot water. Pour 0.5 cups of soy or almond milk into a milk froth maker. Add the Matcha mixture and foam it. Serve in glasses. Add 1 tbsp. of agave syrup and 1 tsp. of Chai spice. Foam additional 0.5 cups of soy or almond milk with vanilla sugar. Garnish the Matcha Chai with vanilla foam.

Shopping list for vegan friendly Matcha Chai: Matcha powder, Chai spices, vanilla sugar, agave syrup, 2 lb soy or almond milk.

Matcha crumble with cranberries and apples

Chef’s Handyman, Matcha Crumble

To make Matcha crumble, combine 100 g or 3.5 oz. of cold plant based margarine, 150 g  or 5 oz. of flour, 50 g or 1.5 oz. of sugar, a dash of salt, 2 tbsp. of Matcha powder, 1 dash of tonka bean, 1 tsp. of Jamaica pepper and 1 dash of cinnamon.  Cut 4 apples into slices. Place the slices in 4 small oven-save bowls. Add 1 tbsp. of agave syrup and a tbsp. of cranberries (dried or fresh). Apply the crumbles on top. Bake in oven at 180°C or 350°F for 10-15 minutes. When finished take them out. Serve the crumble lukewarm with vanilla ice cream. Decorate with grated pistachios.

Shopping list for 4 vegan friendly crumbles: Matcha powder, 100 g or 3.5 oz. plant based margarine, 150 g or 5 oz. flour, 50 g or 1.5 oz. sugar, a dash of salt, 2 tbsp. of Matcha powder, 1 dash tonka bean, 1 tsp. Jamaica pepper and 1 dash cinnamon, 4 apples, 1 tbsp. agave syrup, 4 tbsp. cranberries (dried or fresh), 4 tbsp. grated pistachios.

Matcha cookies fir tree shaped

Chef’s Handyman, Matcha Cookies

To make vegetarian dough, combine 200 g or 7 oz. of flour, 100 g or 3.5 oz. of sugar, 2 tbsp. of Matcha powder, 0.5 tbsp. baking powder, 1 tbsp. vanilla sugar, 1 dash of salt, 1 dash of tonka bean and 1 tsp. Jamaica pepper. Add 150 g or 5 oz. butter, 1 egg. Knead well. Form the dough into a roll. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in fridge for 1 hour.

Roll the dough out. Shape the cookies with a cookie cutter. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cookies on top. Bake in the preheated oven with recirculating air at 150°C or 300°F for 10-15 minutes or until baked through. Take them out and cool on wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar.

Shopping list for approx. 40 Matcha cookies: 200 g or 7 oz. flour, 2 tbsp. Matcha powder, 0.5 tbsp. baking powder, 1 tbsp. vanilla sugar, 100 g or 3.5 oz. sugar, 1 dash tonka bean, 1 dash salt, 1 tsp. Jamaica pepper, 150 g or 5 oz. butter, 1 egg, powdered sugar.

Chef’s Handyman tip: Use Matcha powder for cooking. Decorate the fir tree cookies with gold dust when served for Christmas.

Have a great weekend, yours Chef’s Handyman team.

More desserts: Chocolate Cake with Cranberries and Nuts