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Matcha meets vanilla and things get a little artsy in the kitchen. If you've ever tried to pull off that fun checkerboard design, you know some patience and good chill time go a long way. Every bite tastes like someone packed a matcha latte into a bite-sized treat.
Last Saturday, I brought a batch to a tea get-together. Everyone took a second to admire them before snagging one. Turns out, cookies can wow the crowd and still taste great.
Unbeatable Ingredients
- Granulated Sugar: Keeps those green tones bright and sweet
- Arrowroot Starch: Makes them snap just right with that tender texture
- Vegan Butter Sticks: Use the solid kind so your dough holds up
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend: Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 is always a winner
- Ceremonial Grade Matcha: The top-notch stuff gives you bold color and richer flavor
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Whipping Them Up
Dough Mixing Moves
- Mix up your matcha-green dough in one bowl and your plain vanilla in another. Here’s the secret: keep them as cold as possible—it’s like you’re playing with Play-Doh in the fridge:
Grid Building Fun
- Shape your doughs into rectangles, stacking them to make a checker design. Imagine putting together mini blocks—each one should fit snugly for that crisp pattern:
Chill Break
- Don’t even think about skipping chilling—let those dough blocks harden all the way. Found out the hard way—rush it and your squares blur together:
Slicing Game
- Cut your cold dough into slices with a sharp blade. Each slice reveals those checkered squares, always a little surprise:
First go, my kitchen turned into a sauna and my checkers melted together. Now, I keep things chilly and those perfect squares finally stick around.
Timing It Right
Keep an eye out—edges should be pale with barely a hint of brown. They’ll finish cooking as they sit out, so don’t overdo it.
Tasty Pairing Ideas
Best with a fancy matcha drink or the tea you already love. Make a batch for afternoon hangouts or when you just want to knock some socks off.
Switch It Up
Swap in cocoa for matcha, play with fun extracts, or drizzle a bit of glaze on top—personalize any way you like.
Freshness Tricks
Store your cookies stacked with parchment in a tight container on the counter. They’ll stay fresh for about a week and the patterns won’t smudge.
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After plenty of tea parties and cookie swaps, these checkered treats have basically become my party trick. They show off your patience and some kitchen skills—no magic required.
Recipe FAQs
- → Is all-purpose flour okay instead of gluten-free?
- Absolutely! Swap it at the same ratio if you don't mind the gluten.
- → Why chill the dough two times?
- Chilling firms the dough, so cutting is a breeze and the square shapes stay sharp.
- → What kind of matcha works best?
- Go for culinary matcha — it’s budget-friendly and great for baking!
- → Can the dough be prepped early?
- Totally! You can refrigerate the dough for up to three days before baking.
- → How do I prevent the cookies from spreading?
- Keep the dough cold and make sure the vegan butter isn’t overly soft.