Chai Spice Sugar Cookies

14 March 2010

I heard about a recipe for Chai Cookies. The title alone piqued my interest. One of the ingredients included “Chai Spice”. Where does one find Chai Spice? I guess I don’t get out much because I was thinking maybe they were using the contents from chai tea bags. Just happen to time up that I visited the McCormick site to try to find out how old some of my spices are (Yikes! That’s a whole other story that I’m sure a lot of folks that use their kitchen to cook in can understand). It must have been my lucky day because I stumbled upon a McCormick spice from their Gourmet Collection called Chai Spice Blend! I couldn’t rest until I found it for myself at the market. Who knew? If you’ve never been to their Web site, they have a great tool for finding out the freshness of your spice and some delicious looking recipes.

This recipe for Chai Spice Sugar Cookies comes from their site. When it’s baking, it smells absolutely wonderful. Out of the oven, they just look like regular ol’ sugar or butter cookies. Your first bite is enough evidence that this is no regular ol’ sugar cookie. It’s a perfect biscuit with your Organic Chai Tea Latte, teas, coffee, hot chocolate or any other comfort beverage you can imagine. The hints of cinnamon, cloves and cardamom make it a sophisticated but easy cookie to enjoy.

Chai Spice Blend by McCormick

Plan these cookies in advance, as the dough should be refrigerated at least 2 hours for more easier handling.
Tastes great with or without rolling the balls of dough in sugar before baking.
Update: Since this original post, McCormick discontinued their Chai Spice Blend. Prepare your own by mixing 2 teaspoons each Ground Cardamom, Saigon Cinnamon and Ground Cloves with 1 teaspoon Ground White Pepper until well blended. Decrease spice blend to 2 teaspoons in cookie recipe.

Please NOTE: Since this original post, McCormick discontinued their Chai Spice Blend. The link provided in the source will take you the McCormick site, where they have reworked the spices in place of the spice blend they used to carry.

Chai Sugar Cookies

source McCormick Web site

Makes about 5 dozen cookies

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon McCormick Gourmet Collection Chai Spice Blend
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional sugar for rolling (optional)

Directions

Mix flour, Chai Spice Blend, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar in a large bowl of your electric mixer and set on medium speed, beating until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, and add vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture on low speed until mixed. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. You want the dough to be firm and easy to handle.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in additional sugar to coat. Place on ungreased cookie sheets about 2 inches apart (they spread considerably).

Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 1 minute and remove to wire racks. Cool completely before storing.

Chai Spice Cookies