Tea Macarons

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 250 g very fine sugar
• 200 g ground almonds (peeled)
• 1 tbsp matcha tea powder
• green food coloring (optional)
• 150 g butter
• 60 g powdered sugar
• 120 g plain cream cheese
• 1 tbsp matcha tea powder

Instructions

1. 1.

   Preheat the oven to 150°C with top and bottom heat. Beat the egg whites with lemon juice until very stiff peaks form, gradually adding the sugar. Continue beating until a firm, glossy batter forms and gently fold in the almonds. Color the dough green with matcha powder, intensify if desired with green food coloring, and fill a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe small half-moon shapes about 2 cm across onto parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for about 35 minutes, leaving the door slightly ajar.

2. 2.

   For the filling, beat butter with powdered sugar until fluffy, then gradually fold in cream cheese and matcha powder. Fill a piping bag with a smaller tip and pipe filling onto half of the macarons on their flat side. Place another macaron on top and press lightly.