These matcha shortbread cookies drizzled in chocolate are gluten-free, buttery, crispy and perfect for dunking in that cozy holiday cup of coffee or tea.

*This post is sponsored by Vital Proteins.

If you asked me to rank my top 5 favorite kinds of cookies, shortbread wouldn’t even cross my mind to make the list.

Especially matcha shortbread.

Cookies like these almond chocolate thumbprints and tart cherry fudge thumbprints would pop right to the top (I’m a sucker for a jam or chocolate center), followed closely by any soft batch, flourless or chewy-gooey concoction like these cashew almond butter cookies.

Shortbread would definitely be pulling up the rear at best.

Recently though, in my mad love affair with a mug of afternoon tea that happens every year once the temperature dips and our wood stove starts blasting away, my mind wandered to shortbread cookies and those Danish cookie tins that used to adorn our dinner table in the winter after every meal growing up.

Ah, memories.

That’s when I remembered shortbread cookies and how perfect they were dunked in a mug of black tea.

And the idea of combining shortbread with matcha powder popped into my head.

MATCHA SHORTBREAD COOKIES

I’ve tried really hard to like matcha in the past.

I will say, this matcha mint chocolate chunk ice cream was a huge step in the right direction and I do really love this matcha bread but that’s because the almonds sort of disguise the true flavor of the matcha.

As far as drinking it straight up goes, I’m still not there.

And not sure I ever will be.

I’ve never loved green tea, I just can’t get past it’s grassy earth-like (nicer way of saying dirt) taste when sipped but since I didn’t mind it in ice cream, I thought why not try baking with it and making these matcha shortbread cookies?

Shortbread cookies will never rival thumbprints in my book but when you boost them up with delicious vanilla protein powder and drizzle them in dark chocolate, they kinda become the most perfect buttery accompaniment to a warm mug of whatever you’re drinking right around the 3-4pm afternoon slump.

For me it’s usually a cup of aromatic black tea and a splash of milk, no sugar!

GLUTEN-FREE MATCHA SHORTBREAD COOKIES

My mom recently decided to go gluten-free for a bit for health reasons.

When she was visiting last weekend and found out these were gluten-free and filled with gut healing protein, they quickly started disappearing from the container they were stored in.

So here’s your gentle remind about gluten-free, it doesn’t = healthy.

With almost a full stick of butter in these cookies, healthy wouldn’t be the descriptor that comes to mind first.

But, they’re true to their shortbread nature and with all the added benefits of matcha powder!

Matcha shortbread cookies are also super festive (that green is completely natural, can I get an amen for no food coloring?!), have health boosting ingredients like the wondrous matcha and collagen and if ever there’s a time to indulge a bit, it’s this time of year!

These gluten-free shortbread cookies are another great option if you’re looking for shortbread without the matcha.

Love this chocolate drizzled matcha shortbread cookie recipe?

Try other matcha recipes like Matcha Mint Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream or more fun festive recipes like this Green Oatmeal or these Orange Pomegranate Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies