With fall in full swing, October is the perfect time to curl up with a cup of tea and a sweet treat. These cookies have been popular ever since Taylor Swift published an image of this recipe in 2014, saying that she loves to bake them during autumn. Taylor is a self proclaimed avid baker (and lover of fall) and her simple cookie recipe is perfect for these next few months. Taylor is known for baking these, among other sweet treats, at her “secret sessions.” These invite-only listening parties for fans started in 2014 before the release of 1989 and have continued for years. Highlights include getting to meet Taylor, listen to the upcoming album, and of course, eat dessert made by Taylor herself. These sugar cookies also incorporate chai and a sweet icing for a unique twist. “It tastes like fall,” said sophomore Lucie Piersma. Whether we get a chilly day or the weather continues at these decidedly not-fall temperatures, these cookies will transport you to a world of sweater weather and changing leaves.
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Recipe:
½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup sugar
½ cup powdered sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 chai tea bag
Preheat oven to 350º F, and grease the cookie sheet. Beat butter and add vegetable oil. Add sugar, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and tea. Chill the soft dough for about an hour
Line cookie sheet with 12 rough tablespoons of dough, Press evenly and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 9ish minutes. Cover with icing when completely cool.
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The cookies themselves probably took 20-30 minutes to make. I used one chai tea bag from the brand Tazo, which has small enough flakes that it doesn’t interrupt the smooth texture. Larger leaves can be placed in a food processor or blender. My cookies took about 12-13 minutes to bake, but it could be dependent on the size of the cookies or your oven. The cookies are very crumbly, especially when they are warm. Let them cool completely overnight before glazing them. I made a glaze of cinnamon, powdered sugar, and milk until it was the right consistency. You can change or omit the glaze, but it does add flavor. The chai is very subtle, so I would add an extra tea bag next time, especially if I wasn’t using the glaze.
Overall, these cookies were pretty simple and a great treat. They can be served as dessert, given as gifts, or eaten straight off the pan! No matter what, these are guaranteed to make your day a little sweeter.
