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Friday, June 11, 2010

Matcha Choc Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

6.11.10




I'm in love with green tea - hot, cold, frappe, smoothie, cake, candy, cookie...you name it. There's one green tea beverage I don't like. It...is...iced green tea at Starbucks. It's like c'mon SBUX you can do better than mixing green tea with milk and ice and selling me at $2-something! Making it more complex and tasty wouldn't hurt your stock price. Sorry if this offends anyone in any way! I had the iced green tea once at Starbucks and I didn't like it at all..maybe I just had a bad day

Okay, yes I'm a green tea lover - especially the matcha type. The health benefits of matcha green tea exceed those of regular green tea because when you drink matcha you ingest the whole leaf, not just the brewed water. Did you know that one glass of matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of its nutritional value and antioxidant content? Pretty cool huh?



It's also claimed to naturally enhance mood. I wonder what that means!? Matcha is the oldest variety of shade grown Japanese green tea ground into fine powder. This has been a part of Zen Buddhist culture for over 800 years. Unlike regular teas where the most nutritious tea leaves are infused and thrown away, Matcha green tea is mixed with water and consumed entirely. It's a bit pricey but worth the price.

Since I love matcha, can't give up chocolate chips, and am also in love with macadamia nuts  (gosh I'm so greedy!), I will combine everything together. Matcha and chocolate are popular in baking and they're married in harmony. Those 2 flavors work really well together. They both have a uniqueness and complexity of flavors.


Macadamia nuts are nutty and delicate in flavor with a Hawaii-like feeling. It pairs well with matcha. Macadamias are also good for you. Medical research has shown that the consumption of macadamias may significantly lower the risk of heart disease and they contain no cholesterol. I need to get Keith (a.k.a. hubby) to like macadamias as he doesn't like them at all!

Cover with plastic wrap and let it chill in a fridge for 30 mins

Enough of the serious facts. Let's get back to the fun part. Cookies are a fun and finger-friendly dessert. I always have a Martha Stewart moment when making desserts - small packages delivered to lovely friends. I like a big chunk of macadmia. When I bite into it I can taste the whole nut and don't have to wonder if it's there! Here we go..my version of matcha choc-chip mac'nut cookies.

30 mins later..

Oh, if you like shortbread matcha, I have a recipe for you as well: Matcha shortbread cookies. It was my very first post when I decided to join the blogosphere. You then will see how I did it before and how I've done it today :)

Use an ice cream scoop for a consistency of an amount

Matcha ChocChip Macadamia Cookies
Yield: 30 cookies

Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 Tbsp good quality matcha powder
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, divide (you can change it to bittersweet or milk chips depending on your sweet preference; I found semi-sweet is a perfect sweetness)
1-1 1/2 cups macadamia nuts (or any nuts of your choice)

Garnish with semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 360 F and arrange parchment paper on a baking sheet
  • Sift flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside
  • Beat butter, sugar, and matcha at medium speed until it's all fluffy and greenish
  • Add eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Beat at low speed for about 5 mins
  • Gradually add sifted flour mixture into a wet mixture. Beat it at low speed. Change the speed to medium when the flour is all in. Beat until mixed.
  • Add only 1/2 cup semi-sweet choc chip, and macadamias into a mixture. Use spatula to mix it by folding it back and forth. Make sure it spreads all over the mixture.
  • Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and let it chill in a fridge for 30 mins
  • After 30 mins, remove the plastic wrap
  • Use an ice cream scoop or a round spoon to scoop it on a prepared baking sheet
  • Place 2-3 chips on top of each scoop. The reason we place on top because if we add all chips in, they make cookies too sweet and are hidden underneath the cookies
  • Bake for 12 mins
  • After 12 mins, cool them off on a sheet and move to wire rack
  • Let the cookies cool completely and until the chips are not melted anymore
  • Keep them in an air tight container or package them for your lovely friends!



Let them cool off on a wire rack. They smell so good! Fresh right off the oven


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25 comments:

Gourmande said...

That seems to be a delicious recipe. I love anything with matcha and I've never cooked with macadamia... because if I buy some, they never arrive home, they are eaten on the way.
About *$, I have been there maybe a dozen of times because that was the only choice in airports or station and I never appreciating anything they served me. Back luck every time ? Well they find enough other customers.

Chef Dennis Littley said...

Thats a great idea, matcha in the cookies...I have been seeing more and more of it in recipes, but this is the first cookie I have seen with it!
thanks so much for sharing!

Ma What's 4 dinner said...

Oh, god, excuse me, I'm having a moment here. I adore macadamia nuts. And chocolate, and cookies. Soooo yummy!

Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner?
www.MaWhats4Dinner.com

Monet said...

What an interesting idea. I can only imagine how good matcha would taste paired with macadamia nuts and chocolate. Yum!

Elin Chia said...

Tanantha..a great combo..matcha and chocolate chips with macadamia nuts all in one cookie...fantastic !! Thanks for sharing the recipe. Have KIV it :)

Roxan said...

Ok so when are we having that nice meal with a bottle of wine...... and your cookies? ;P

Unknown said...

I've never tried matcha, sounds intriguing. I love macadamia nuts in everything so I'll have to try this recipe, thanks for sharing!

Lazaro Cooks said...

T,

Your cooking is getting more and more creative. Gorgeous cookies. You did a great job with the instruction and photos.

Gotta love those Silpat mats.

Cheers!

lequan@luvtoeat said...

Tanantha, this is such a wonderful combination of ingredients. Matcha for the lovely fragrance, macadamian nuts for the perfect crunch, and chocolate chips for a touch of sweetness. A great recipe indeed! I clicked on your shortbread link and loved how you made those cookies into leaves...cute. I have never had a green tea or matcha cookie before but I can imagine the deliciousness. You are one smart "cookie"...teehee. Thank you for sharing. Have a lovely weekend Tanantha.

Cook with Madin said...

Hi Tanantha, very creative. Loving these cookies.
I love to drink green tea also. Thank you for sharing all these great information about matcha tea. I will get some.

Unknown said...

Macademia nuts + chocolate + green tea = awesomeness! Keep up the great work!

Judy said...

Yum! These cookies look delicious! Ew, I don't like the ice green tea there either!

Magic of Spice said...

Absolutely delightful! Love this recipe:)

Anonymous said...

Wow, those look so amazing! A wonderful combination of matcha, chocolate chips, and macadamia nuts! A must try for sure!

Stella said...

Hey Tanantha! I love green tea too-it's so healthful, and it really does curb the appetite in the afternoon while helping with energy.
I like these cookies too. I can see a hint of green in them. I might make these for the kids in my neighborhood and call them Shrek cookies (smile)...

Rick said...

If there was any cookie I have wanted more than a day of sunshine and happiness, it would be this one.

Jenn [Defunkt Gourmet] said...

I love green tea as well. I hate when you go to Japanese restaurants and order "green tea" they give you the brown rice one. There is a difference!
Love how you incorporated the green tea in to the cookies, awesome!
I don't mind the green tea frapps at Starbucks, but you're right, they could do so much better. tsk.

Katie@Cozydelicious said...

These cookies look amazing. I have never baked with matcha powder, but it sounds so great here.

Lawyer Loves Lunch said...

Wait, does the addition of the matcha mean these cookies actually count as health food and not dessert? If so, I'll take a plate full with a glass of milk please :)

sweetlife said...

matcha, chocolate, and macadamia oh my what's not to love..great cookies, super yummy

sweetlife

denise @ quickies on the dinner table said...

Oh me oh MY!! I just made chocolate chip cookies a few days ago and didn't think to add matcha though I adore green tea and have a little jar of matcha in my kitchen!!!! *arggh* Wish I'd seen this post sooner :(

These look scrumptious beyond words!!!

Le said...

These look great! I didn't know that matcha was a form of green tea! You learn something new everyday!

I was justhinking of making cookies with macadamias the other day. We have a lot of macadamias growing on our tree atm so will def keep this recipe in mind :)

Simply Life said...

yum, those cookies look perfect!

Anonymous said...

Oh YUM those cookies look and sound delicious!

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