This incredible recipe will please cheesecake lovers and convert non-cheesecake eaters as well. Note that different green teas may produce different results in taste and tint; sweet matcha powder will obviously contain more natural sweetness, but the recipe turns out well when standard matcha is used, too.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: bars, cream cheese, tea
Author: Beth Cato
Ingredients
Crust
1 1/2cupsall-purpose flour
1tspbaking powder
1/2tspsalt
10Tbunsalted buttersoftened
1 1/2cupslight brown sugarpacked
2eggsroom temperature
1Tbvanilla extract
Cheesecake layer
8ozcream cheesesoftened
1/4cupwhite sugar
2Tbunsalted buttersoftened
2Tball-purpose flour
1Tbmatchasweet or regular
1eggroom temperature
1/2tspvanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven at 325-degrees. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with aluminum foil and apply nonstick spray.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixer bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar for about 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add 2 eggs and the vanilla extract, followed by the combined dry ingredients.
Use an uneven spatula to smooth out HALF of the batter in the prepared pan. Place the other half in another bowl for now. Clean the mixing bowl before the next stage, if desired.
To make the cheesecake layer, beat together the softened cream cheese, sugar, butter, flour, and matcha powder. Mix in the egg and vanilla until it is mostly smooth.
Pour about HALF of the cream cheese mix on top of the batter in the pan and smooth it out. Dollop the remaining crust and cheesecake batters over the top, and use a butter knife to swirl them together.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until it passes the toothpick test in the middle. Let cool at room temperature for an hour, then place in fridge to continue chill and set for another hour or two.
Lift it up by the aluminum foil and place on a cutting board to slice into bars. Store in a lidded container in fridge, with waxed paper or parchment between stacked layers.