Matcha Christmas Tree Cookies

1. Beat the 100 g unsalted butter and 50 g granulated sugar together in a bowl until pale, creamy and smooth.
2. Add 1 egg yolk and ½ tsp vanilla essence, mix until incorporated.
3. In a separate bowl, mix 120 g all-purpose flour, 2 tsp matcha powder and 1 pinch salt until evenly distributed.
4. Sift the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until it forms a stiff dough.
5. To make the dough easier to pipe, add 1-2 tsp whole milk. If it still seems too stiff then add a little more milk, ½ tsp at a time.
6. Transfer the mixture into a strong piping bag with a star nozzle.
7. Line two baking sheets with baking paper and place the tree template underneath. (You can download my template or draw your own on a piece of paper.)
8. Pipe the dough onto the baking paper, leaving 2cm between each cookie. (If the mixture is too stiff, massage the piping bag with your hands to warm it a little. You could also hold it under warm water to soften it further, but be careful not to warm too much.)
9. Chill the cookies in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before baking. Start preheating your oven to 170 °C (338 °F) about 10 minutes before you take them out of the refrigerator.
10. Bake the cookies on the middle shelf for 12-15 minutes or until they start to turn light brown around the edges. (Don't let them brown completely.)Once baked, let them cool for a 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to allow them to cool completely.

Decorating

1. Customize the cookies with your own decorations. If you want to cover the trunks, melt 50 g chocolate using your preferred method and use a spoon to spread it over the cookie.To stick star decorations (or other decorations) to the top, mix 1 tbsp powdered sugar with a tiny drizzle of milk or lemon juice and mix until combined. It should have a thick consistency. (If it's too runny, add more powdered sugar.) Use a chopstick to dab the top with the sugar paste and attach the stars. You could also sprinkle with powdered sugar for a snowy finish.
2. Store in an airtight container and consume within a week. Enjoy!