Description

These Easy Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies are a perfect blend of buttery richness and warm chai spices. With hints of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves, these cookies offer a comforting and aromatic twist on classic shortbread. They are simple to prepare, requiring only a handful of ingredients and a quick bake for a delightful treat perfect for any occasion.

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 line two baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure the cookies don’t stick and bake evenly.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving a tender cookie texture.
Add Flavorings: Stir in the vanilla extract and the chai spice blend thoroughly until well combined, allowing the flavors to infuse the dough evenly.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the wet mixture, mixing only until the ingredients are just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
Shape Dough: Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheets. This spacing allows the cookies to expand slightly without sticking together.
Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cookies have turned lightly golden around the edges. This ensures they are perfectly baked with a delicate crispness.
Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet briefly before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set and maintain their shape.

Notes

Use room temperature unsalted butter for best creaming results.
The chai spice blend can be adjusted to taste or substituted with store-bought chai spice mix.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend suitable for baking.
Rolling dough balls into discs before baking can create thinner, crisper cookies if preferred.

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

Keywords: Vanilla chai cookies, shortbread cookies, chai spice cookies, easy cookie recipe, baked cookies, butter cookies