These Chai Sugar Cookies are light and fluffy, sweet and filled with warm chai spices from real tea. They bake up tender with a classic sugar cookie glaze on top. They’re simple to make, cozy for the holidays and a great choice for gifting or cookie trays.
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About this Chai Sugar Cookies recipe
Calling all my fellow chai lovers! These cookies are just for us.
These cookies blend softened butter, a little vegetable oil and a mix of white and powdered sugar to create a soft, tender dough. The warm flavor of allspice, cardamom, clove and nutmeg comes from using the contents of a chai tea bag directly in the cookie dough, giving the cookies a sweet, spiced aroma without needing individual spices.
The glaze is a simple mix of powdered sugar and milk, and you can sprinkle a pinch of chai tea on top for extra flavor if you like. The cookies spread as they bake and finish with a soft, chewy center that becomes even more tender over the next few days. Perfect for holiday cookie trays!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Warm chai flavor: Real chai tea adds the flavor of sweet, warm spices without measuring from individual jars.
- Soft, tender texture: The mix of butter, oil and powdered sugar creates cookies that stay soft for days.
- Easy glaze: A quick powdered sugar glaze gives these cookies a simple, elegant look without much extra effort.
Tools & equipment
You’ll need a mixing bowl * and a hand mixer to cream the butter, oil and sugar. A rubber spatula * helps fold in the dry ingredients and scrape the bowl.
Use measuring cups and spoons for accuracy and line your baking sheets with parchment paper * to prevent sticking. A 2-tablespoon cookie scoop * gives consistent sizing, and a wire rack is helpful for cooling before icing.
baking essentials
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Ingredients
These cookies start with softened unsalted butter for rich flavor and a small amount of vegetable oil to keep them moist. White sugar and powdered sugar work together to create just the right texture.
The dry ingredients include all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and a pinch of salt for balance. The delicious flavor of the cookies comes from the contents of a chai tea bag mixed directly into the dough.
Vanilla extract * adds sweetness, and a simple glaze made with powdered sugar and whole milk finishes the cookies with a light icing. If you’d like extra chai flavor on top, use a pinch of dry tea from a second tea bag.
Instructions
Let’s make these chai cookies! Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (177°C) and lining your baking sheet * with parchment paper *.
Then cream together the butter, oil, white sugar, ½ cup of powdered sugar, and the vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and contents of the chai tea bag until just combined.
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Use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop * to scoop 6 balls of cookie dough onto a baking sheet * and bake for about 12 minutes. Then repeat with the rest of the dough and let cool.
While the cookies are cooling, make the icing by mixing together the remaining cup of powdered sugar and the milk. (Be sure not to ice warm cookies, or it can melt the glaze and make a sticky mess.)
Ice the cookies, and if you would like, lightly sprinkle a small amount of chai tea from another bag of tea on top of the icing before it sets. Then enjoy!
Tips & tricks
- Bake in small batches: Only bake 6 cookies per sheet since they spread.
- Wait before icing: Let the cookies cool fully so the glaze sets nicely.
- Use softened butter: Soft butter blends smoothly and improves texture.
Food pairings
These chai cookies pair well with cozy drinks and sweet seasonal treats. Try them with:
Beverages: A mug of chai tea, hot chocolate or mulled cider highlights the delicious spiced flavor.
Snacks: Salty pretzels or cheddar popcorn balance the sweetness of the icing.
Desserts: Serve alongside more spiced treats like ginger cookies or spiced cakes for a festive dessert spread.
ABOUT THE SWEETEST SEASON
This recipe is part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap co-hosted by Erin of The Speckled Palate and myself. Every year, we get a sizeable group of food bloggers together to share new holiday cookie recipes.
This year we are raising money for Cookies 4 Kids’ Cancer, a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer. This season, OXO will be matching every dollar raised through Dec. 31, 2025 up to $100,000. Any money raised will automatically double on our fundraising page!
For more holiday cookie recipe ideas, head to The Sweetest Season archive!
FAQ
They’re ready when the bottoms are slightly golden. They should not need more than 12 minutes.
No. It’s completely optional. You can also omit the chai from the dough for plain iced sugar cookies.
Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5 to 6 days. They soften over time and the icing sets into a glaze.
More tea-flavored cookie recipes
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Chai Sugar Cookies
ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1½ cup powdered sugar divided
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1¾ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 bags chai tea divided
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream together butter, oil, white sugar, ½ cup powdered sugar and vanilla extract *.½ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup vegetable oil, ½ cup white sugar, 1½ cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and contents of 1 chai tea bag.1¾ cups all purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 bags chai tea
- Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop 6 balls of cookie dough onto a baking sheet and bake for about 12 minutes. Then repeat with the rest of the dough and let cool.
- While the cookies are cooling, make the icing by mixing together the remaining 1 cup powdered sugar and milk.2 tablespoons whole milk, 1½ cup powdered sugar
- Ice the cookies, and if you would like, lightly sprinkle a small amount of chai tea from 1 bag of tea over the icing before it sets.2 bags chai tea
notes
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