Cozy Chai Cookies: 10 Minute Bake

The cozy magic of a perfectly brewed cup of chai, right? Now imagine that warmth, those amazing spices like cinnamon and cardamom, all packed into a simple, tender cookie. That’s exactly what these chai cookies are all about! For years, the kitchen felt like a chore to me, just another thing on the never-ending list after a crazy corporate job. But then I discovered the pure joy of baking, starting with a simple challenge that eventually led me here, sharing recipes that feel like a warm hug. These chai cookies are a perfect example of that – simple, yes, but so incredibly satisfying and bursting with all those comforting flavors you love from a good chai latte. They’re genuinely soul-satisfying, and I can’t wait for you to try them!

Why You’ll Love These Chai Cookies

Seriously, these come together in a flash and are perfect for those times when you just need a little something sweet. They’re bursting with all those warm, comforting spices you love from a good chai latte, making them the ultimate cozy treat. Plus, they’re just fantastic for gifting – imagine tucking these beauties into a festive tin for friends or family!

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Gather Your Ingredients for Perfect Chai Cookies

Alright, let’s get everything ready so we can whip up these amazing chai cookies! Having all your ingredients prepped makes the whole process so much smoother, and trust me, it’s a game-changer. You’ll want to gather these essentials:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

And for that beautiful, extra touch, here are the glaze ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk or chai
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Make sure your butter is nice and soft – not melted, but you know, soft enough to make an indent with your finger. That’s the secret for getting that fluffy base for our chai cookies!

Crafting Your Delicious Chai Cookies: Step-by-Step

Alright, let’s get our hands a little floured and make some magic happen! This is where the real fun begins with our chai cookies. Don’t worry if it seems like a lot of steps; I’ll walk you through it, and you’ll see just how simple it is to get these gorgeous, spiced cookies on your cooling rack.

Creaming the Base for Your Chai Cookies

So, first things first, we need to get our butter and sugar all worked together. This step is super important for getting light and fluffy chai cookies. Grab your mixer – or a good strong arm and a wooden spoon if you’re feeling it! – and cream that softened butter with the granulated sugar until it’s pale and fluffy. It should look like fluffy clouds or maybe even like light whipped honey. This little bit of effort makes a huge difference in the final texture of your chai cookies, so don’t rush it!

Mixing the Dry and Wet Ingredients for Chai Cookies

Now, in one bowl, we’ve got our lovely dry ingredients whisked together – all those wonderful chai spices, flour, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, we have our creamy butter-sugar mixture with the eggs and vanilla. The trick here is to add the dry stuff to the wet stuff gradually. This helps everything come together nicely without getting tough. Just mix until you barely see any flour streaks. Overmixing is the enemy when it comes to tender baked goods, so be gentle with your chai cookie dough!

Chilling the Dough: Key to Perfect Chai Cookies

Okay, here’s a little secret for making sure your chai cookies don’t turn into flat, sad puddles in the oven: chilling the dough! Once everything is mixed, divide the dough in half, flatten each part into a nice disc, wrap them up snug in plastic wrap, and pop them in the fridge for at least an hour. This firms everything up, making it way easier to roll and cut your shapes, and it helps them keep their lovely form while baking. Patience here is key for perfect, well-shaped chai cookies!

Shaping and Baking Your Chai Cookies

Once your dough is nice and chilly, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and get your baking sheets ready with parchment paper – it’s a lifesaver for easy cleanup! Lightly flour your surface and roll out one disc of that chilled dough to about a quarter-inch thickness. Now for the fun part: use your favorite cookie cutters! I love using festive shapes, especially around the holidays. Place your cut-out chai cookies on the prepared sheets, giving them a little space (about 2 inches) so they can spread just a tiny bit. Bake them for about 8 to 10 minutes. You’re looking for the edges to be just lightly golden. Take them out and let them cool on the sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. Don’t overbake them; they’ll continue to firm up as they cool!

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Glazing Your Chai Cookies (Optional)

If you want to take these chai cookies to the next level, a simple glaze is the way to go! It adds just a touch of sweetness and a pretty finish. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, a couple tablespoons of milk or even some strong brewed chai (how cool is that?!), and that half teaspoon of vanilla extract. Keep whisking until it’s smooth and lovely. You want it thin enough to drizzle but thick enough that it doesn’t just run right off. You can use a spoon or a piping bag with a tiny tip to drizzle it over your completely cooled chai cookies. It adds such a nice visual pop!

Tips for Baking the Best Chai Cookies

Alright, so you’ve got the recipe, and you’re ready to bake! To make sure these chai cookies turn out absolutely perfect, I’ve picked up a few tricks along the way that really make a difference. Remember, it’s all about making things simple and delicious, right? First, always,always use room temperature ingredients! Softened butter and room-temperature eggs cream together so much better, giving you that lovely fluffy base for your chai cookies that’s crucial for texture. Also, don’t cram too many cookies onto your baking sheet. Give them a little breathing room so they bake evenly and don’t stick together. You want pretty, distinct spiced sugar cookies, not a cookie landslide! And keep an eye on them – ovens can be tricky, so watch for those lightly golden edges.

Storing and Serving Your Chai Cookies

Once your beautiful chai cookies are all cooled down, the best way to keep them tasting their freshest is to pop them into an airtight container. They’ll stay wonderfully tender and full of flavor for about 5 days, which is pretty great for homemade treats! If they happen to get a little less crisp than you like after a day or two, you can pop them in a low oven (like 300°F or 150°C) for just a couple of minutes to crisp them back up. They’re absolutely perfect with a warm cup of tea or coffee, and honestly, they make such a thoughtful, delicious gift. Imagine gifting a tin of these spiced sugar cookies – they’re always a hit!

Frequently Asked Questions About Chai Cookies

Understanding the Nutrition in Your Chai Cookies

Just a quick little note about the nutrition info you might see for these chai cookies – think of it as a friendly estimate! Depending on the exact ingredients you use and the brands you pick, those numbers can wiggle around a bit. It’s always best to use it as a general guide rather than anything super precise for your meal planning.

Share Your Chai Cookie Creations!

I’ve poured so much love into this recipe, and now it’s your turn! Did you make these delicious chai cookies? I would absolutely LOVE to hear all about it! Did you try a fun cookie cutter shape, or maybe add a twist to the glaze? Drop a comment below and let me know how they turned out, or give them a star rating if you enjoyed them. Sharing these simple joys is what Pure Cooking Joy is all about!

Chai Sugar Cookies

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Enjoy these warm, spiced chai sugar cookies, inspired by the popular latte flavor. They are perfect for gifting or adding to your holiday cookie collection.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 20 min
• Cook Time: 10 min
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 min
• Yield: 24 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

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• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• For the Glaze (Optional):
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tablespoons milk or chai
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
6. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.
8. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
9. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. For the optional glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, milk or chai, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cookies.

Notes

• For a snickerdoodle style, roll the dough balls in a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom before baking.
• You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
• These cookies make a thoughtful gift, especially during the holiday season. Consider adding them to your meal planning for festive occasions.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cookie
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 15g
• Sodium: 50mg
• Fat: 7g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 20g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 30mg