Description
Enjoy the warm, aromatic flavors of these Spiced Baked Chai Tea Cookies. Infused with the distinctive spices of chai tea bags, including cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg, these cookies boast a perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Soft in the center and lightly golden on the edges, they are ideal for pairing with a hot cup of chai or milk for a comforting, delicious treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Spices and Flavorings
- Contents of 2 chai tea bags
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure easy removal and even baking of the cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes, which aids in creating a tender cookie.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to incorporate air, then stir in the vanilla extract for added flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and salt throughout the dough.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing gently just until combined to prevent overworking the dough and ensuring a soft texture.
- Add Spices and Chai Tea: Open the chai tea bags and add the tea leaves to the dough. Add ground cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix until the spices and chai tea are evenly incorporated into the dough to infuse the cookies with authentic chai flavor.
- Portion the Dough: Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden. The centers might look slightly soft, which is desirable as they will firm up upon cooling to maintain a chewy texture.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring they set properly and maintain their shape.
- Serve: Enjoy these spiced cookies with a hot cup of chai tea or a glass of milk for a comforting and delightful treat.
Notes
- For stronger chai flavor, steep the tea leaves in a tablespoon of warm water for a few minutes before adding to the dough.
- Make sure not to overmix once the flour is added to keep the cookies tender.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- These cookies freeze well; freeze baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Adjust spices to preference – add more cinnamon or ginger for a bolder spice note.
