Taylor Swift Chai Cookies

5 from 50 votes
5 Comments

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The recipe for Taylor Swift Cookies comes straight from Taylor herself! Chai sugar cookies with eggnog icing – perfect for the holidays!

Chai sugar cookies on a plate - recipe from Taylor Swift
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients in Taylor Swift’s Chai Sugar Cookies
  2. Recipe Variations
  3. Recipe Tip
  4. Frequently Asked Questions
  5. More Sugar Cookie Recipes
  6. How to Make Taylor Swift Cookies
  7. Taylor Swift Cookies Recipe

This is an exciting recipe for me to share, as I am a HUGE Swiftie! Taylor Swift posted this recipe in response to a fan on her Tumblr back in 2014, and it became known as “Taylor Swift Cookies”. It has gained popularity again with the release of her newest album, Midnights. True Swifties, like me, know that Taylor thrives during the holiday season and these chai-flavored sugar cookies made from scratch with eggnog cinnamon icing are perfect for cozying up by the fire all season long. If your neighborhood cookie exchange sign-up sheet has a blank space, then you better write your name (and bring these cookies). Cause the baker gonna bake, bake, bake, bake, bake…..

Check out her original Tumblr post to be delighted by her quirky recipe writing. My favorite excerpts include “cozy holiday vibez” and “TAY-blespoons”.

Ingredients in Taylor Swift’s Chai Sugar Cookies

  • Unsalted Butter – Make sure the butter is at room temperature before using. Set it out on the counter for 20-30 minutes before cooking. This ensures the batter will have a smooth consistency.
  • Vegetable Oil – Oil mixes with the butter to keep the cookies moist and tender.
  • Granulated Sugar – For sweetness of course!
  • Powdered Sugar – Powdered sugar helps to make the cookies tender.
  • Egg – One large egg gives the inside of the cookies a fluffy texture.
  • Vanilla Extract – or Vanilla Bean, Vanilla is the perfect pairing for the chai flavors.
  • Flour – All-purpose flour creates the base of these cookies.
  • Baking Soda – Baking soda, along with the egg, gives the inside of the cookies a fluffy texture.
  • Salt – A bit of salt to balance out all the sweetness.
  • Chai Tea Bag – This is where all the yummy, warm chai spices come in – cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and star anise. Cut open the bag and pour the chai tea leaves right into the dough.
  • Homemade Eggnog Icing – Mix together powdered sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and eggnog. Eggnog frosting makes the perfect finishing touch for your Taylor Swift Cookies.
Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookies on a plate.


Recipe Variations

  • If you want to simplify this recipe, then Taylor herself suggests using a premade sugar cookie mix and just adding a packet of chai tea to the mix.
  • If you have an allergy, then you can use your favorite gluten-free or dairy-free sugar cookie recipe as the base.
  • Alternatively, if you have a sugar cookie recipe that you love, then use it as a base and just add the chai tea packet.
  • The icing is optional, as the chai cookies are delicious on their own, but I just love the eggnog flavor so I almost always ice them. If you aren’t icing the cookies, then sprinkle them with a little bit of white sugar before baking.
  • If you want the icing to be more of a glaze, then add a little more eggnog.
  • If black tea isn’t your thing, then you can still add that chai element by making up a chai spice mix to add to the dough. To a small bowl, add two teaspoons each of cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and four teaspoons each of ginger and cinnamon. Mix together and use one to two teaspoons of the mix in your cookie dough. Save the rest for later! This mix tastes great in overnight oats, chia seed pudding, and also in hot chocolate!

Recipe Tip

Chai Sugar Cookie dough scooped onto a cookie sheet.

The cookie dough is a little soft, so I like to use a cookie dough scoop to make the cookie dough balls. I also like the way the cookie scoop makes the finished product look. The original recipe says to use a tablespoon and spoon each dollop of dough onto the cookie sheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Taylor Swift Cookies?

No, they aren’t cookies shaped like Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift Cookies are these Chai Sugar Cookies that Taylor made for the 1989 Secret Sessions. She posted a picture of them on her Instagram and then posted the recipe on Tumblr. Kind of a cross between a sugar cookie and a snickerdoodle.

What can I use instead of chai tea?

If you don’t want to use black tea you can make your own chai flavored mix. To a small bowl, add two teaspoons each of cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and four teaspoons each of ginger and cinnamon. Mix together and use one to two teaspoons of the mix in your cookie dough. Save the rest for later!

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.

What do Taylor Swift’s chai cookies taste like?

They are like a cross between sugar cookies and snickerdoodles. They also have a yummy warm cinnamon spice flavor from the chai tea.

Read Next: 33+ Easy Dessert Ideas

How to Make Taylor Swift Cookies

Chai sugar cookies on a plate - recipe from Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift Cookies

5 from 50 votes
The recipe for Taylor Swift Cookies comes straight from Taylor herself! Chai sugar cookies with eggnog icing – perfect for the holidays!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 9 minutes
Refrigeration Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 24 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24

Video

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 chai tea bag

For the Eggnog Icing

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons eggnog or whole milk

Instructions

  • Add the butter to the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix until butter is light and fluffy. Then add oil and mix until fully combined.
    Oil and butter mixed together in a bowl
  • Add sugar, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
    Wet ingredients for cookies in a bowl
  • In a separate bowl, add flour, baking soda, salt, and the contents of the chai tea bag. Whisk until combined.
    Chai Sugar Cookies dry ingredients
  • Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients while mixing on medium speed. Mix until dough forms and all ingredients are fully incorporated. You may have to scrape the sides of the bowl. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
    Chai Sugar cookie dough in a bowl
  • Preheat oven to 350. Remove dough from the fridge and scoop onto a baking sheet either covered with parchment paper or sprayed with cooking spray.
    Chai Sugar Cookie dough scooped onto a cookie sheet
  • Bake for 9 minutes. Do not over-bake. The cookies will continue to cook on the pan once you pull them out.
    Sugar cookies baked on a cookie sheet
  • To make the icing, mix powdered sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and eggnog. Stir with a fork until combined.
    Eggnog Icing in a small bowl
  • Let cookies cool and then drizzle icing over the top of each cookie.
    Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookies on a plate

Notes

  • Want to simplify this recipe? Taylor herself suggests using a premade sugar cookie mix and just adding the chai tea bag to the mix.
  • The icing is optional, as the cookies are delicious on their own, but I just love the eggnog flavor so I almost always ice them. If you aren’t icing the cookies, sprinkle them with a little bit of white sugar before baking.
  • If black tea isn’t your thing, then you can make up a chai spice mix to add to the dough. To a small bowl, add two teaspoons each of cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and four teaspoons each of ginger and cinnamon. Mix together and use one to two teaspoons of the mix in your cookie dough. Save the rest for later! This mix tastes great in overnight oats, chia seed pudding, and hot chocolate!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 1gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 96mgPotassium: 21mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 301IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Kelsey Crist

Kelsey lives in Washington with her husband, Alex, and two cats, Diana and Nova. Her happy place is in the kitchen listening to an audiobook and trying new recipes. When she's not in the kitchen you can find her hiking, shopping at Trader Joe's, or playing Animal Crossing. Her favorite food is pasta and Alex loves when she makes Homemade Oreos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    loveeeeee this recipe. thank you. so easy for my little brain to follow. happy evermore season to those who celebrate!! 🍂🌙

      1. You should be able to store these for a few days in an airtight container. The icing shouldn’t go hard!