Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies Recipe
These Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies are a delightful blend of rich buttery texture and warming chai spices, including cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves. Perfectly sweetened with both granulated and brown sugar and infused with pure vanilla extract, these cookies offer a comforting treat that’s perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Traditional
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp chai spice blend (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is smooth, light, and fluffy. This creates the perfect base for tender cookies.
- Add Vanilla and Chai Spices: Mix in the vanilla extract and chai spice blend thoroughly to infuse the dough with warm, aromatic flavors.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the wet mixture, stirring just until everything is combined to avoid overworking the dough and resulting in tough cookies.
- Form Cookies: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, portion out dough balls and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheets to allow room for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges turn a light golden color, indicating they are perfectly baked but still tender inside.
- Cool: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the pans for a few minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For an extra burst of flavor, consider adding a teaspoon of finely grated orange zest to the dough.
- Ensure the butter is at room temperature to achieve the best creaming results.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- You can replace the chai spice blend with a ready-made pumpkin pie spice if chai blend is unavailable.
- Make sure not to overbake; the cookies will firm up as they cool.
Keywords: vanilla chai cookies, shortbread cookies, chai spice cookies, homemade shortbread, spiced cookies
