I decided to try out making lovely Christmas-green matcha shortbread yesterday.

I based my recipe on the Chocolate and Zuchinni Blog's version which I found to be lovely. See her blog for baking instructions.

Of course I made some changes :) But the neighbor's little kids and my own picky girl2 gave it a thumbs up, so my only slightly guilty version didn't make them unedible :)

7 tablespoons good-quality butter, softened (I use semi-salted butter; if you use unsalted, add 1/4 teaspoon sea salt)
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1/4 cup white flour
- 6 tablespoons finely ground almonds (a.k.a. almond meal)
- 1/8 cup wheat germ
- 2 teaspoons matcha (green tea powder)
- 2 tablespoons sugar, preferably an unrefined cane sugar in coarse crystals, such as turbinado or demerara for rolling the log in before slicing off square rounds for baking
optional melting chocolate for streaks

What I like about this recipe is that the matcha bitterness is softened by the sugar/butter without being overpowered completely.