Nothing feels cozier than a tray of freshly baked chai cookies filling your kitchen with warm, spiced aromas. These soft and chewy treats blend cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom with rich brown sugar for a perfectly comforting holiday dessert. With just one bowl and a chill time, they come together quickly and bake up beautifully golden. Vegan-friendly and full of classic chai flavor, these cookies are perfect for gifting, sharing, or savoring with a cup of tea during the Christmas season.
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Why You’ll Love These Chai Cookies
These chai cookies are everything you want in a Christmas treat—warm, soft, and deeply flavorful. Each bite balances cozy spice with just the right sweetness. The blend of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger makes them taste like a hug in cookie form. Plus, they’re dairy-free and egg-free but still buttery and rich. You can easily adjust the spices for a bolder kick or keep it mild for little ones. Because they’re made with vegan butter and a flax egg, they’re perfect for sharing at any holiday gathering without worry. They look lovely on a cookie platter next to your buttery shortbread cookies with a holiday twist and classic Italian cookies perfect for Christmas.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in these chai cookies plays a role in flavor and texture. Vegan butter adds richness and that classic cookie chew. Dark brown sugar gives depth and moisture, while cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and optional star anise and black pepper bring warm chai notes. A flax egg holds the dough together and keeps it soft. Vanilla bean paste adds aroma, and all-purpose flour forms the base. Baking soda gives lift, and a pinch of salt balances everything. You can roll the dough in sugar for sparkle and a crinkly look. Always measure flour properly by spooning and leveling or, better yet, using a kitchen scale.
How to Make Chai Cookies Step-by-Step
Cream Butter, Sugar, and Spices
In a bowl, cream vegan butter and brown sugar with the chai spices until fluffy. This step builds the base flavor and ensures chewy texture later. Take your time—the fluffier the mix, the better your cookies will spread.
Add Wet Ingredients
Next, stir in the flax egg and vanilla paste. Mix until smooth and glossy. This ensures the dough stays moist and binds well.
Mix in Dry Ingredients
Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda, then fold gently into the wet mix. The dough should feel thick but slightly sticky. Cover and chill for one hour to let the flavors develop and the dough firm up.
Scoop, Roll, and Bake
Scoop about 45–50g portions of dough. Roll into balls and coat in sugar if you’d like extra texture. Space them 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined tray. Bake at 350°F for 11–13 minutes, or a bit less for smaller cookies. Once baked, tap the tray gently to flatten them into perfect rounds.
Cool and Serve
Let cookies cool for 5–10 minutes before moving them. This helps the centers set into that perfect soft chew. Serve them warm with a cup of chai or hot cocoa.
Baking Tips for Perfect Chai Cookies
Chill the Dough for Best Texture
Chilling stops the dough from spreading too much and gives the spices time to bloom, enhancing aroma and depth.
Measure Flour Accurately
Using too much flour can make cookies dense. Always spoon and level or weigh your flour for accuracy.
Adjust Spices to Taste
If you love bold flavor, double the spices. Try adding nutmeg, allspice, or cloves for variety.
Use Parchment and Proper Cooling
Line your tray with parchment for even baking and easy cleanup. Cool cookies on the tray so they finish setting without breaking.
Customize Texture and Sweetness
Dark brown sugar makes cookies softer and richer, while light brown sugar gives crispier edges. Rolling in sugar adds a festive sparkle.
Storage and Freezing Guide
Keep cookies fresh for up to 3 days at room temperature or a week in the fridge. They freeze beautifully for up to a month. To freeze unbaked dough balls, arrange them on a tray until firm, then store in a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen with 2–3 extra minutes. For baked cookies, thaw at room temperature and rewarm gently if desired.
Common Questions About Chai Cookies
Why do people like chai tea?
People love chai tea for its comforting mix of warming spices, which create a soothing and aromatic flavor.
How many calories are in Taylor Swift’s chai cookies?
Each of these vegan chai cookies has around 180 calories per serving, making them similar to her version.
Can you freeze Taylor Swift chai cookies?
Yes! You can freeze both baked cookies and dough balls for up to a month without losing quality.
What is a dirty filthy chai?
A dirty chai is chai tea with a shot of espresso added for extra richness and caffeine.
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
- chewy maple cinnamon cookies for cozy baking days
- soft gingerbread cookies to spice up the season
- cherry snowball cookies for festive cookie platters
- Christmas crack recipe with salty-sweet crunch
Conclusion
These chai cookies bring warmth and comfort to any holiday moment. Their chewy texture, spiced aroma, and vegan simplicity make them a treat everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re baking them for friends, adding them to a cookie exchange, or enjoying them with tea, they’ll fill your home with cozy joy. For more festive inspiration, visit Pinterest for holiday baking ideas.
Chai Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowl For combining ingredients
- electric mixer For creaming butter and sugar
- Baking tray Lined with parchment paper
- Cookie scoop Helps form even-sized cookies
- Cooling rack For setting cookies after baking
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan butter (Earth Balance sticks recommended)
- ½ cup + 2 tbsp dark brown sugar (light brown also works)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp ground star anise (optional)
- ⅛ tsp black pepper (optional)
- 1 flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water)
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar (for rolling, optional)
Instructions
- Cream vegan butter, brown sugar, and spices together until soft and fluffy.
- Add the flax egg and vanilla paste. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
- Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix until a thick dough forms. Chill for 1 hour.
- Scoop 45–50g dough balls, roll in sugar if desired, and place 2 inches apart on parchment. Bake at 350°F for 11–13 minutes.
- Let cookies cool for 5–10 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
