Taylor Swift chai cookies are the perfect balance of fall spices including chai, cinnamon, and vanilla. They are surprisingly delicious and pair all too well with a cup of tea and a candle on a cool autumn day.
Disclaimer: this post is written by Christina’s daughter, Denisa, who is also an avid baker (and has been a Taylor Swift fan since 2008).
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Taylor Swift’s famous chai cookie recipe has been going around the internet since 2014.
EDIT: The Tortured Poets Department release inspired me to make these Earl Grey cookies.
These cookies came about from a seemingly innocuous Instagram post where Taylor Swift described them as tasting like “Christmas in September.” Really, I’d argue that you could get away with making them in August.
When a fan posted this screenshot to tumblr begging for the recipe, Taylor obliged. She credited Joy the Baker with the original sugar cookie recipe that she used for the base, adding in chai tea and an icing glaze to make it her own. It hits different.
I recently got my hands on the handwritten recipe and decided to give it a try. I’m not the biggest chai person, so I wasn’t expecting to enjoy these as much as I did. Honestly, the incredible flavor of these cookies was not a hoax! I can confidently speak now: Taylor Swift’s baking skills may rival her songwriting skills.
The recipe is so foolproof that Taylor herself made them in bulk for her 1989 Secret Sessions listening party. Naturally, now is the perfect time to make them ahead of the re-release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version). But don’t worry if you can’t get to baking them now, they’ll never go out of style.
Is this Taylor Swift Chai Cookie Recipe the Original?
The original recipe is really great if you love a super sweet cookie. The first time I made these, I found the amount of sugar to be unnecessary for my palate, so I made a few tweaks myself (mostly cutting down on the sugar and adding a dash of cinnamon to garnish). Fret not, they’re still sweet (nothing)!
I also opted for a healthier oil option, using a light flavored olive oil instead of vegetable oil due to the health benefits. If your cookie dough smells like olive oil as you’re baking—breathe. The smell and flavor won’t stay forever & always. Once cooked, you won’t be able to tell the difference! Believe me, this recipe is the 1.
So, are you ready for it?
Taylor Swift Chai Cookies
Recipe adapted by Denisa Wartinbee, originally by Taylor Swift Yield 22 cookies
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
Cookies
- unsalted butter
- light olive oil (extra virgin is too strong for these)
- sugar
- powdered sugar
- large egg
- vanilla extract
- flour
- baking soda
- salt (omit if using salted butter)
- chai tea bag
Icing
Special equipment: you’ll need a rasp or grater for whole nutmeg, but it’s so much better than pre-grated and you can use it for citrus rind, garlic, ginger and more.
Directions
Make the Cookie Dough
Beat the butter and then add the oil.
Next, add sugar, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla. Mix well.
Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and tea (yes, tear open the tea bag and dump in the whole thing!).
Chill the soft dough for about 1 hour or overnight.
Form cookie dough balls into approximately 2” rounds. Add to greased cookie sheet. About 8 cookies should fit on each tray. I used this cookie scoop.
When I formed all my cookies, I realized I had made 22. You can’t make this stuff up (Taylor Swift fans will know what I mean).
Press slightly to even out cookie shape.
Bake for approximately 9 minutes. The cookies should be slightly golden but the edges should not start to burn (they’re not a picture). They won’t look super well done, that’s okay.
Shake it off, and remove with a spatula to cool completely on a wire rack, about 10-15 minutes. Be careful, the cookies are delicate in this stage.
Make the Icing
While cookies cool, prepare the icing.
Combine powdered sugar, whole milk, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Stir until smooth. Icing shouldn’t be too thick, but not runny enough to take a getaway car off the edge of the cookies.
Cover the cookies with icing.
Dust with extra cinnamon, if desired. Allow the icing to harden before serving.
Make a cup of tea, pull your cardigan out from under your bed, light a candle, put on your favorite Taylor Swift album, and enjoy for evermore! You’ll wish it was forever winter after one bite.
If you loved these Taylor Swift chai cookies, you’ll love my mother’s recipes for shortbread, Empire biscuits and custard creams–British staples in the afternoon tea department. If you know a London boy, I’m sure he’ll love them. My friend Betty does!
This mad woman is signing off. You’re on your own, kid.
Taylor Swift Chai Cookies
Yield: 22
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 29 minutes
Taylor Swift chai cookies are the perfect balance of fall spices including chai, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1/2 c (113 g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
- ⅓ c (80 ml) light olive oil
- 1/2 c (113 g) sugar
- 1/3 c (35 g) powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 c (240 g) all purpose/plain flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt (omit if using salted butter)
- 1 chai tea bag
Icing
- 1 c (105 g) powered sugar
- 2 Tbsp whole milk (add a little at a time)
- dash of nutmeg
- dash of cinnamon
Instructions
- Beat butter and add the olive oil.
- Add sugar, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla.
- Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and tea (yes, open up the tea bag and dump in the whole thing!).
- Chill the soft dough for about 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Form cookie dough balls into approximately 2” rounds. Add to greased cookie sheet. About 8 cookies should fit on each tray.
- Press slightly to even out cookie shape.
- Bake for approximately 9 minutes. The cookies should be slightly golden but the edges should not start to burn.
- Cool completely, about 10-15 minutes.
- While cookies cool, prepare the icing. Combine powdered sugar, a little of the milk at a time, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Stir until smooth. Icing should be viscous, but not thin enough to run off the cookies.
- Cover the cookies with icing and dust with extra cinnamon, if desired.
- Allow icing to harden completely before plating or serving..
- Put on your favorite Taylor Swift album and enjoy with a cup of tea!
Notes
Best served with a cup of tea, autumn weather, and 1989 (Taylor's Version).
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 22Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 201Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 68mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 0gSugar: 17gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information is only estimated.
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