Japanese Green Tea Petits Fours

I have had this, and several other green tea recipes for years, but I have yet to try them. I'm posting them now for a request on one of the boards. It is important to note that the green tea used in this recipe is the powdered form known as "matcha". It can be found in most Asian foods stores.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• Cake

• 2  eggs
• 3  egg yolks
• 6  tablespoons white sugar
• 1⁄3 cup cake flour
• 2  tablespoons cornstarch
• 1  tablespoon  green tea powder (matcha)
• 2  egg whites
• 1⁄8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2  tablespoons white sugar

• Whipped Cream

• 1  cup heavy cream
• 2  teaspoons  green tea powder
• 4  teaspoons  superfine sugar

• Marzipan

• 6  tablespoons almond paste
• 1  teaspoon  green tea powder
•  confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
2. Grease an 11x7 inch pan and line the bottom with parchment paper, and grease and flour the paper.
3. Sift together the flour, cornstarch and 1 tablespoon green tea; set aside.
4. In a large bowl, beat eggs, yolks and 6 tablespoons sugar until tripled in volume, about 5 minutes; fold flour mixture into whipped eggs.
5. In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy; add 2 tablespoons sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
6. Fold 1/3 of the whites into the batter, then quickly fold in remaining whites until no streaks remain; spread batter into prepared pan.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until center of cake springs back when lightly tapped.
8. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, then invert onto a flat surface and let cool.
9. For Green Tea Whipped Cream: In a medium bowl, whisk the heavy cream with 4 teaspoons superfine sugar and 2 teaspoons green tea until stiff peaks form.
10. For Decorative Green Tea Marzipan: Knead the almond paste with 1 teaspoon green tea; roll out between 2 sheets of plastic wrap, or lightly dust with confectioners' sugar while rolling.
11. To Assemble: When cool, remove parchment paper from bottom of cake; cut cake horizontally down the middle to make two layers; spread the bottom layer with 1/2 of the whipped cream, then cover with the top layer of cake and spread top with remaining whipped cream; cut assembled cake into 12 pieces using a knife or decorative cutters; roll out the marzipan and cut into 12 pieces to match the shapes of the cakes; place the decorative marzipan pieces on top of cakes.