Chai Sugar Cookies Inspired by Taylor Swift
These Chai Sugar Cookies Inspired by Taylor Swift are soft, warmly spiced cookies infused with chai tea leaves and topped with a lightly sweet chai glaze. Cozy, aromatic, and perfect for fall baking or a comforting dessert moment.
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Servings: 12 cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 chai tea bag opened to release the tea leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar for topping
For the Chai Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 chai tea bag opened to release the tea leaves
Instructions
Prepare the Cookie Dough
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the unsalted butter, vegetable oil, and granulated sugar. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, cream the ingredients together until the mixture becomes smooth and light in texture.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and chai tea leaves to the bowl. Continue mixing until the ingredients are fully incorporated and the mixture appears evenly blended.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until a cohesive dough forms. Avoid overmixing, as this may affect the final texture of the cookies.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for approximately 1 hour. Chilling the dough helps the cookies maintain their shape during baking and allows the spices to develop deeper flavor.
Shape and Bake the Cookies
- After chilling, portion the dough into 1-tablespoon-sized portions and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Flatten each dough portion slightly using your fingers or the bottom of a glass. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with granulated sugar to create a light crust during baking.
- Bake the cookies for 9 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden while the centers remain soft.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before adding the glaze.
Prepare the Chai Glaze
- In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, whole milk, ground cinnamon, and chai tea leaves. Whisk until the mixture becomes smooth and reaches a pourable consistency.
- If necessary, adjust the glaze by adding a small amount of milk to thin it or additional powdered sugar to thicken it.
- Once the cookies have cooled, drizzle the glaze evenly over the tops of the cookies. Allow the glaze to set before serving.
Notes
To make Chai Sugar Cookies Inspired by Taylor Swift gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that includes xanthan gum or another binding agent. These blends are designed to mimic the structure of wheat flour and will help maintain the cookie’s soft texture.
Ensure that the chai tea and other ingredients are certified gluten-free, as some packaged teas may be processed in facilities that handle gluten products. If the dough appears slightly softer when using gluten-free flour, chilling it for an additional 15–20 minutes can help improve handling and prevent excessive spreading during baking.