Recipe

You'll Remember These Chai Sugar Cookies All Too Well

By Gabriella Berardi at University of Florida

Christmas season is here, which means Christmas cookie season is here, which means, of course, Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookie season is also here! In honor of Taylor’s re-recording of "Red" and her recent birthday, it seemed about time to re-bake Taylor’s cult-classic chai sugar cookie recipe.

From a relatively inexperienced home cook – but a seasoned Taylor fan – these chai sugar cookies were easy to make and tasted delicious. The cookies have a soft, crumbly texture and a subtle chai spice flavor, which is balanced nicely with a distinct vanilla sweetness that will keep you reaching for more.

Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookies

  • Prep Time: 1 hr 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins
  • Servings: 20
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup room temperature unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 chai tea bag

Gabriella Berardi

Step 1

Cue "Red" (Taylor’s Version). This step is not necessary but highly recommended for an optimal cooking experience.

Step 2

Beat the butter in a mixing bowl. Add the vegetable oil and mix until fully combined.

Gabriella Berardi

Step 3

Add the powdered sugar, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Mix until the ingredients are fully combined.

Gabriella Berardi

Step 4

Fold in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Tear open a chai tea bag and mix the spices into the dough. Mix until a soft dough forms and all of the ingredients are incorporated.

Gabriella Berardi

Step 5

Cover and chill the dough for an hour. After about 45 minutes of chilling, preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a baking sheet or line the bottom of a pan with parchment paper.

Gabriella Berardi

Step 6

Use a tablespoon to scoop the dough. Flatten each dough ball (there should be around 20) until they are each about ½ inch thick. Cover the tops of each cookie with granulated sugar.

Gabriella Berardi

Step 7

Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes or until the edges are just slightly golden.

Gabriella Berardi

Step 8

After letting the cookies cool completely, prepare a vanilla icing (see the note below). Top off each cookie with a generous helping of icing and serve. Enjoy!

Gabriella Berardi

In Taylor's original recipe, she doesn't include an icing recipe. I used this icing recipe and adjusted it by adding an extra splash of milk and one chai tea bag for more chai spice flavor. 

As the name would imply, these chai sugar cookies pair nicely with a hot cup of chai tea, and they also work well with a cool glass of milk. However you choose to enjoy them, Taylor’s Chai Sugar Cookies will be a holiday treat you’ll remember – dare I say, all too well.