Chai Tea Cookie Recipe

Chai Tea Cookie Recipe

Image provided by Joy the Baker

What is fall without a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte in your hand? If this is your go-to drink, we have the perfect recipe for you. Pop star and icon Taylor Swift added a spicy twist to her vanilla sugar cookies and created the most delicious fall treat: Chai Tea Sugar Cookies. And they taste just as good as they sound. Inspired by Taylor, Joy the Baker created this flawless recipe. Cabana Life's production manager, Lauren, made these for our founder Melissa’s b-day after discovering her love of chai tea & they were gone within minutes! Save this blog for an upcoming holiday party or just a chill night in with yourself!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil (canola or sunflower oil recommended)
  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Pinch of fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean pod
  • 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Cinnamon sugar for rolling

For the Glaze:

  • 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for sprinkling the top of the cookies
  • 3 tablespoons whole milk or eggnog

*For a thinner consistency, add 1 tbsp more of milk to glaze

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Using a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter in a large bowl on medium speed for about 1 minute. Add the vegetable oil. It’s okay if it does not fully incorporate with the butter. Add the granulated sugar, powdered sugar and all of the spices – beat to combine.
  3. Add the egg and vanilla, beating on medium speed until completely incorporated.
  4. Stir in the flour, baking soda and salt all at once using a wooden spoon or the mixer set on low.
  5. The dough will be soft. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour or freeze for 15 minutes just so it’s easier to handle.
  6. For large cookies, dollop 2 tablespoons of cookie dough onto the cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.  For smaller cookies use 1 Tablespoon for each cookie.  Press the dough evenly with your fingers or palm to 1/4-inch thickness.  Roll each cookie dough in a small bowl of cinnamon sugar.
  7. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes for larger cookies or 8 to 10 minutes for smaller cookies.  Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring to racks to cool completely.
  8. In a medium bowl, whisk together the glaze ingredients to thick but spreadable. Spread each cooled cookie with graze just over the center, leaving the edges of the cookie free of glaze. Sprinkle with a bit of fresh nutmeg if you have it. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

We are ready to get baking! Explore more of our fall recipes, travel guides and more on our blog. Even in colder weather, it is still so important to protect your skin with our UPF 50+ styles. Check out our new Fall Collection and sign up for email and text alerts to be the first to know about new collections and exclusive offers.

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