I Tried Taylor Swift’s Chai Sugar Cookies

I spotted Taylor Swift’s recipe for Chai Sugar Cookies on Reddit and immediately scrolled through the comments. There were so many positive reviews with users saying they bake the cookies “all the time” and they’re “so good.” I am an avid tea drinker, so I had a feeling that just like the reviewers, I would love them. Here’s what I thought of Taylor’s recipe, including why it’s the perfect cozy winter dessert.

How to Make Taylor’s Chai Sugar Cookies

Taylor originally shared a handwritten copy of the recipe online, and fans have been making it ever since. Here’s a quick look at the basic instructions.

1. Once you’ve preheated the oven and greased a cookie sheet, cream together butter and vegetable oil. Add in granulated sugar, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla.
2. Stir together the dry ingredients, including flour, baking soda, salt, and the contents of a chai tea bag.
3. Mix the dry into the wet ingredients, and let the dough chill for about an hour in the fridge.
4. Drop the cookies on the prepared sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for about 9 minutes and cool completely. Once cooled, frost with a homemade powdered sugar glaze.

What Do Chai Cookies Taste Like?

Our recipe tasters unanimously loved this recipe. Each cookie is the perfect combination of buttery shortbread and bold chai tea flavor. There was just the right amount of chew to the finished cookies. The flavor of the tea really comes through, and our recipe tasters preferred the flavor of the iced cookies to those without frosting. This is a great wintertime cookie recipe when you want something comforting and cozy.

Tips for Making Taylor Swift’s Cookie Recipe

Here are a few things I learned when trying this sugar cookie recipe in the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen.

• We tried the recipe as written with a one-hour chill time, and the cookies came out flatter and crispier. We also tried baking the cookies after an overnight chill time, and the finished cookies were smaller and taller. Both were delicious—it all comes down to personal preference.
• Make sure to spread the dough balls out on the cookie sheet to keep them from baking together. We found about 4 inches apart was ideal.
• When testing the recipe, we used Stash Chai Tea. Tazo would also be delicious.
• If you don’t have chai tea on hand, swap in a blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cardamom, nutmeg, and cloves.
• For the powdered sugar icing, we used 1 cup of powdered sugar and 2 Tbsp. of milk. You could add in a bit more cinnamon or cardamom for even more chai flavor.

The Verdict on Taylor’s Cookies

Every single person that tried these cookies loved them. I think it’s the lightly spiced flavor and buttery texture. The crispy sugar on top is the perfect contrast to the tender cookie. I’m already planning on making a batch of these cookies for Valentine’s Day with colorful sprinkles on top. If you love chai tea, you need to try this cookie recipe.