#CreativeCookieExchange Chai Tea Cookies

I drink Chai tea pretty much all fall and winter long. Chai tea, chair lattes- I love the spices and warmth they give to everything it touches.

These cookies were no exception. I recently acquired an Indian classic Delhi Masala Chai tea and that’s what I used here. I also had the opportunity to dive into the Mexican vanilla extract I received as a gift last month.

Chai Tea Shortbread Cookies
adapted from Dorie’s Cookies by Dorie Greenspan

3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup white rice flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp. ground chai tea
4 oz. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Grease a shortbread pan or an 8 inch round cake pan.

Whisk both flours together, set aside. Toss the sugar and tea together and rub until fragrant. Add butter and salt and beat 2 minutes or until smooth. Beat in the vanilla extra. Turn off the mixer, and add all the flour at once. Mix on low speed until small, soft and moist curds form. Squeeze a few curds, and if they hold together, you’re good to go.

Press dough into pan, and prick the dough using the tines of a fork. If using a cake pan, press lines using the fork into the dough to make pieces. Bake 25-27 minutes until browned. Cool 5 minutes in pan, and turn out and break a part.

It’s fall–that means it is time to turn on the ovens, time to start baking, and time to start enjoying all those piping hot drinks you’ve been avoiding! We’ve decided we are going to help inspire you with all three of those with our cookies that have been inspired by warm cold weather drinks.

You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura at thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com and she will get you added to our Facebook group, where we discuss our cookies and share links.

If you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:

• Spiked Apple Cider Cookies from The Spiced Life
• Chai Tea Cookies from Cream and Butter Blog
• Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with White Chocolate Cappuccino Ganache from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Milo Brownies from All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
• Kahlua Hot Chocolate Cookies from 2 Cookin Mamas
• Cappuccino Biscotti from Flours and Frostings