Spiced Baked Chai Cookies Recipe

Introduction

These Spiced Baked Chai Cookies bring warm, cozy flavors to your kitchen with a blend of aromatic spices. Perfect for sharing with friends or enjoying alongside a cup of tea, they offer a delightful twist on classic cookies.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for dusting)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Step 3: Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Step 4: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cardamom, ground cloves, and ground allspice.
5. Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in the chopped nuts, if using.
6. Step 6: Using a tablespoon, drop dough by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches apart between each cookie.
7. Step 7: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set.
8. Step 8: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
9. Step 9: Once cooled, dust the cookies with powdered sugar using a fine mesh sieve.

Tips & Variations

• For a softer cookie, slightly underbake by reducing the baking time by 1-2 minutes.
• Substitute walnuts or pecans with toasted almonds for a different nutty flavor.
• Add a pinch of black pepper for a subtle heat that complements the chai spices.
• Use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in a warm oven for a few minutes to restore their softness.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. This helps the flavors meld and can improve the texture.

What can I use instead of powdered sugar for dusting?

If you don’t have powdered sugar, you can skip the dusting or lightly sprinkle cinnamon sugar for an extra spiced touch.

Spiced Baked Chai Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 132 reviews

• Author: Julian
• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Spiced Baked Chai Cookies are a fragrant and flavorful treat combining classic chai spices with a tender, buttery cookie base. These cookies are perfectly soft in the center with lightly golden edges, enhanced by warm cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and allspice, with an optional crunchy nut addition, then finished with a delicate dusting of powdered sugar.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

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 and Spices

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

Optional and Garnish

• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for dusting)

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Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure they are fully mixed. Stir in the vanilla extract for added aroma and flavor.
4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and all the ground spices—cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and allspice—until evenly distributed.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing. Fold in the chopped nuts if you opt to include them for texture and flavor.
6. Form Cookies: Using a tablespoon, drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading as they bake.
7. Bake: Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cookies have lightly golden edges and the centers are set but still soft.
8. Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes to firm up, then transfer them carefully to wire racks to cool completely, preventing sogginess.
9. Dust with Powdered Sugar: Once cooled, dust the cookies lightly with powdered sugar using a fine mesh sieve to add a sweet finishing touch and aesthetic appeal.

Notes

• For nut-free cookies, omit the walnuts or pecans or substitute with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower.
• Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent cookies from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
• Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help reduce spreading for thicker cookies.
• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: chai cookies, spiced cookies, baked cookies, chai spice, cinnamon cookies, holiday cookies, tea cookies