Taylor Swift’s Cozy Cookie Era

If “sugar and spice” had an anthem, it would undoubtedly be these Taylor Swift Chai Cookies. Taylor is known for her love of baking for friends (Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss…just casual, as one does!), and these cookies perfectly represent something she’d lovingly bring to your doorstep.

Taylor initially shared this recipe with fans back in 2014, during her iconic 1989 era. She adapted Joy the Baker’s Giant Vanilla Sugar Cookies and gave them a unique chai-spiced twist. Of course, the internet went wild! Although the original post has since disappeared, dedicated Swifties have kept the recipe alive, resurfacing screenshots of her response to a fan’s request for the recipe.

According to Taylor, she spiced them up for “extra cozy holiday vibez” (her words, not mine!), and even served them at her legendary 1989 Secret Sessions, private listening parties where lucky fans got to preview the album and sample her baking skills.

So, turn up your favorite Taylor Swift song (I’ve had “The Fate of Ophelia” from her new album The Life of a Showgirl on repeat), preheat your oven, and get ready to bake the most famous chai sugar cookie of all time. These cookies are more than just a recipe; they’re a piece of pop culture history. Baking them is a fun way to connect with Taylor Swift’s world and enjoy a truly delicious treat. Whether you’re hosting a baking party or simply want to indulge in a cozy afternoon, these cookies are a guaranteed hit.

These cookies are also incredibly versatile. You can customize the spices to your liking, experiment with different icings, or even add a sprinkle of edible glitter for an extra touch of sparkle. The possibilities are endless! Don’t be afraid to get creative and make these cookies your own.

Gather Your Ingredients

Before you begin baking these delightful chai cookies, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients on hand. This will streamline the baking process and ensure you don’t have to make any last-minute trips to the store.

• Butter and vegetable oil: The combination of butter and vegetable oil gives these sugar cookies their rich flavor and wonderfully soft, tender texture. Be sure your butter is at room temperature so it creams properly with the sugars, creating a smooth and airy base.
• Granulated sugar and powdered sugar: The powdered sugar in this recipe absorbs a bit of moisture from the other ingredients, giving the cookies an extra-tender, chewy texture and that signature melt-in-your-mouth sensation.
• Egg: One large egg is needed to bind all the ingredients together, adding just the right amount of moisture to create the perfect cookie dough consistency.
• Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best and most authentic flavor. If you have homemade vanilla extract on hand, that’s even better! Its rich and complex notes will elevate the flavor of your cookies.
• Chai tea bag: Taylor’s original recipe suggests cutting open a chai tea bag and adding the contents directly into the batter. The tea leaves melt into the dough, infusing every bite with a warm, cozy chai spice. If you don’t have chai tea bags in your pantry, you can easily substitute with a mix of pantry spices instead (see the note below for the recommended blend).
• All-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt: These form your standard cookie base. Measure your flour correctly using the spoon-and-level method for the most tender chai sugar cookies. This ensures that your cookies have the perfect texture and don’t end up being too dry or dense.

You’ll also need powdered sugar, melted butter, and milk or eggnog for the icing. And as Taylor said, “I made an icing for the cookies, but they’re fine on their own. The more milk/eggnog you add, the more your icing will become a glaze. But glazes are legit too so basically just LIVE YOUR LIFE.” Wise words to bake by!

In place of the chai tea bag, use the following spice blend: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, and a pinch of black pepper.

Baking Instructions: How to Make Taylor Swift’s Chai Cookies

Now for the fun part! Follow these simple steps to create your own batch of Taylor Swift’s famous chai cookies. Remember to take your time, enjoy the process, and don’t be afraid to experiment with your own creative touches.

1. Cream the butter, oil, and sugars. You can use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a bowl and electric hand mixer. Cream together for about 2 minutes, until smooth and slightly fluffy. Proper creaming is crucial because it incorporates air into the mixture, resulting in a lighter, fluffier crumb.
2. Add the egg and vanilla. Mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies, so be gentle.
3. Whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and the contents of one chai tea bag (or your homemade chai spice blend). The spices will fill your kitchen with an incredible aroma, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Add the dry mixture to the bowl and beat on low speed until no streaks of flour remain. If you used a hand mixer earlier, switch to a spatula for this part to prevent overmixing. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky.

5. Chill the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour, or up to overnight. Chilling intensifies the chai flavor and allows the butter to firm up, preventing the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. This step is crucial for achieving those thick, chewy cookies we all crave.
6. Shape and coat in sugar. Use a cookie scoop to portion out heaping 1-tablespoon portions of dough. Roll them between your palms to form balls before coating them in sugar. Place the sugar-coated dough balls on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving a couple of inches between each to allow room to spread. This recipe will likely require two baking sheets.

7. Bake and cool. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 9 to 12 minutes, until the cookies are just set around the edges but still soft in the centers. Cool completely on the baking sheets before icing. This prevents the icing from melting and ensures a perfect finish.
8. Make the icing. Spoon the icing over the cooled cookies or drizzle it for a rustic look. Finish with a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg for a Taylor Swift-approved final touch.

Let the cookies sit for about 10 minutes to allow the glaze to set (if you can wait that long!). Brew a mug of tea or, my personal favorite, sip on chai-kissed hot chocolate from my cookbook while you wait.

My Tips for the Best Chai Cookies

To ensure your chai cookies turn out perfectly every time, here are a few additional tips and tricks:

• Don’t skip the chill. It’s tempting to rush, but chilling the dough prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, resulting in thick, chewy cookies. If your dough still feels soft after an hour, chill it for an extra 20 minutes.
• Short on time? Take a cue from Taylor’s original post and use store-bought cookie mix. As she put it, “’Cause you’re busy and you want making cookies to be a chill part of your day. Pow. Done.”
• Use a chai tea you actually like to drink. The better the tea, the better the cookies! I love Tazo Classic Chai and Trader Joe’s Spiced Chai, but use what you enjoy most. The quality of the tea will directly impact the flavor of your cookies.
• Customize the flavor. Want a stronger spice flavor? Use one and a half tea bags or increase the amount of my chai spice blend. Prefer a more subtle flavor? Stick to one tea bag or reduce the spice blend. Feel free to experiment to find your perfect balance.
• Jazz up the icing. Taylor’s original version calls for ¼ teaspoon each of nutmeg and cinnamon in the eggnog icing. She even suggested adding “a few drops of food coloring to make it festive.” Top the icing with red and green sprinkles for extra holiday cheer. Consider adding a dash of vanilla extract or a pinch of sea salt to enhance the flavor even further.
• Don’t overbake. Overbaked cookies tend to be dry and crumbly. Aim for a slightly soft center to ensure a chewy and delicious final product.
• Experiment with toppings. While the eggnog icing is classic, feel free to get creative with your toppings. Try a sprinkle of chopped nuts, a drizzle of chocolate, or a dusting of powdered sugar for a unique twist.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Proper storage will help keep your chai cookies fresh and delicious for days to come. Here are some helpful tips:

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Freezing the dough: Scoop and roll the cookie dough into balls, then freeze them on a parchment-lined baking sheet until solid. Transfer the frozen dough balls to a zip-top bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding 1 to 2 extra minutes to the bake time.

Freezing baked cookies: You can also freeze the baked cookies (before icing) for up to 2 months. Let them thaw at room temperature, then add the icing and any spices or sprinkles before serving.

Make-ahead tip: If you’re planning a cookie exchange or holiday baking marathon, bake the cookies a day ahead and wait to glaze them until the day of serving for the prettiest presentation. Check out my Holiday Cookie Baking Tips for tricks and easy ways to keep your cookies looking (and tasting) bakery-perfect.

More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out these other delicious cookie recipes:

• Cutout Sugar Cookies
• Salted Caramel Snickerdoodles
• Chocolate Sugar Cookies
• Slice-and-Bake Butter Cookies
• Holiday Pinwheel Sugar Cookies