Once it’s December, all of us are suddenly in our baking era. It starts with that tiny ritual we all swear we’ll “do later”: you walk past the baking aisle, spot the cookie cutters shaped like Christmas trees, and suddenly remember last year’s Pinterest-inspired attempt that… let’s just say didn’t make it past your saved pins.
Well, this year, we’re making this happen, girl. No excuses this time! And the best part? Of course, we’re adding matcha. Because what if your classic Christmas tree cookies didn’t just look cute, but also tasted like the cozy, earthy sweetness of matcha? What if they had that soft green hue that screams “holiday magic but make it aesthetic”? If you’ve ever felt that regular sugar cookies are missing a little sparkle, or if you simply want a treat that stands out in the sea of gingerbread men, you’re in the right place.
These Christmas tree matcha cookies are fun, playful, and quite easy to make, and they’ll make your kitchen feel like a holiday TikTok in the best possible way. So go pull out your Matcha DNA stash and get creative. Because festive baking shouldn’t feel like a chore; it should feel like your new favorite December tradition waiting to happen.
what you’ll need
Get everything you need before jumping straight into mixing bowls and cookie cutters. Honestly, you don’t need the stress of realizing halfway through that you’re out of eggs or your sugar isn’t enough, right?
Here’s the essentials list:
-
2 cups all-purpose flour
-
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
-
½ cup sugar
-
1 large egg
-
1–2 tbsp Matcha DNA matcha powder, depending on how intense you want the color and flavor
-
1 tsp vanilla extract
-
½ tsp baking powder
-
A pinch of salt
If you want them extra festive, you can also keep on hand: white chocolate, royal icing, sprinkles, or crushed candy canes. You know, the usual suspects of Xmas cookie chaos.
how to make Christmas tree matcha cookies (the version that won’t stress you out)
-
Cream the butter and sugar: Start with a smooth base. Mix them until the texture is light, like you’re whipping air into it. If it still looks grainy, keep going.
-
Add the egg and vanilla: Crack, pour, mix. Nothing fancy. The dough should feel soft and cohesive here.
-
Mix the dry ingredients separately: In another bowl, whisk the flour, matcha, baking powder, and salt. Sifting the matcha keeps the color even and avoids green clumps.
-
Combine everything: Add the dry mix into the wet mix slowly. Your dough should turn into that perfect light green that practically begs to be cut into trees.
-
Chill the dough: Pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. The longer, the better. This helps the cookies keep their shape instead of melting into abstract blobs.
-
Roll and cut: Flour your surface lightly, roll to about 6–7 mm thickness. Cut out your little matcha trees.
-
Bake at 175ºC for 8–10 minutes: They won’t brown much, so don’t wait for that. When the edges look slightly set, they’re ready! Don’t they look adorable already?
-
Cool completely before decorating: Otherwise the icing will slide off…
make them your own (because holiday baking is personal)
Once you’ve got your base cookies, here’s where the fun really starts. You can keep it classic with a drizzle of white chocolate (honestly, the green and white combo looks incredibly clean and wintery). Or go full on creative and pipe little ornaments, stars, or even sprinkles shaped like snowflakes.
If you’re feeling extra creative, try these twists:
-
Peppermint matcha trees: dip the tips in melted chocolate and crushed candy canes
-
Matcha-stuffed sandwich cookies: add a layer of white chocolate ganache between two trees
-
Ginger-matcha cookies: mix a teaspoon of ground ginger into the dough for a warm, spicy kick
These cookies are festive, fun, and surprisingly easy to adapt, perfect for sharing, gifting, or just eating straight off the tray while pretending they’re cooling.
And honestly, half the magic of these cookies happens after the baking: the decorating, the experimenting, the “okay, maybe one more…” moment. That’s the part that makes them special. So if you try your own version, you know I loooove to see what you create. So make sure to tag us on TikTok @matcha.dna and Instagram @matchadna.
And if matcha finds its way into more of your winter recipes, you’re definitely in the right place. Want more ideas like this? Stick around, go check our blog, and we’ll keep the seasonal inspiration coming.
