French Vanilla Chai Sugar Cookies Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Chai Sugar Cookie

Name: French Vanilla Chai Sugar Cookies Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Chai Sugar Cookie
Prep time: 1 h 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 2 h
Ingredients: Cookies; ½ cup sweet cream unsalted butter (room temperature); ½ cup expeller-pressed sunflower oil; ⅔ cup granulated sugar (plus extra for rolling); ½ cup powdered sugar; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; ½ tsp baking soda; ¼ tsp salt; 1 French Vanilla Chai tea packet (contents only); Icing; 1 cup powdered sugar; ¼ tsp ground nutmeg; ¼ tsp ground cinnamon; 3 tbsp whole milk; ⅛ tsp vanilla extract (optional); Sugar sprinkles or edible glitter dust (for decoration); 1 drop almond extract (optional)

A shimmery chai sugar cookie inspired by Taylor Swift’s Red-era Tumblr recipe — cozy, spiced, and ready for its spotlight.

Holiday Refreshing Cookie

Desserts

Prep Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Origin & History

We wanted to try the now-famous chai sugar cookie recipe that singer-songwriter Taylor Swift once shared on Tumblr during her Red era. Her version was a cozy twist on a sugar cookie recipe originally created by Joy Wilson, aka Joy the Baker. We’re big fans of both, and this cookie is our tribute to their creativity — with a few NewOrchards-style tweaks.

Taylor has said she considers herself a songwriter who sings, and this recipe feels like a sweet extension of that spirit — personal, expressive, and full of flavor.

This cookie isn’t limited to one season or holiday, but we especially love it in our fall era. It’s perfect for sweater weather, pumpkin spice cravings, and yes — listening parties for the next album drop. Whether you’re a fall girl, chai guy, or just love warm spices, this one’s for you.

Our Twist

We used organic expeller-pressed sunflower oil instead of traditional refined vegetable oil. We prefer expeller-pressed for its cleaner extraction method and more natural flavor, but either option works — it’s always the baker’s preference.
We’re experimenting with:
- Light olive oil, which offers a neutral-ish flavor that blends smoothly with the chai spices without overpowering them.
- Extra virgin olive oil, which brings nutty and grassy undertones that add a rustic, earthy depth — especially complementary to warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and clove.
We swapped classic chai for French Vanilla Chai to add a creamy, aromatic depth. Some of us here at NewOrchards are chai latte fanatics, so this was a natural choice. Just a heads-up: chai contains caffeine, so keep that in mind if you're baking for little ones or late-night snacking.

Icing & Sparkle

Our icing includes a drop of almond extract, along with vanilla and milk, for a smooth, fragrant finish.

And to pay homage to Taylor’s latest album, Life of a Showgirl, we added a touch of sparkle — orange and turquoise edible glitter dust — because cookies deserve a little stage presence too.

Interesting Facts

Taylor Swift’s chai cookie recipe was originally posted during her Red era and quickly became a fan favorite.
The original recipe was adapted from Joy the Baker, a beloved food blogger known for her creative spins on classics.
Chai tea blends typically include cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves — all perfect for fall baking.
French Vanilla Chai adds a creamy, aromatic twist that elevates the traditional spice profile.
Chai contains caffeine, so consider your audience when baking for kids or nighttime treats.
Edible glitter dust (like Tinker Dust or Luster Dust) is food-safe and adds a magical touch to baked goods.

Tips

Use very ripe chai tea packets for maximum flavor — crush them finely before adding.
Chill the dough to prevent spreading and enhance texture.
Roll cookies in sugar before baking for a sparkly finish and slight crunch.
Let cookies cool completely before icing to avoid melting or sliding.
Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft and fresh.
Freeze extras for up to 3 months — they thaw beautifully!

Ingredients

Icing
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Sugar sprinkles or edible glitter dust (for decoration)
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tbsp whole milk
⅛ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Cookies
½ cup sweet cream unsalted butter (room temperature)
½ cup expeller-pressed sunflower oil
⅔ cup granulated sugar (plus extra for rolling)
½ cup powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 French Vanilla Chai tea packet (contents only)
1 drop almond extract (optional)

Directions

For the Cookies:

Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Line cookie sheet with precut parchment paper.
Beat butter until smooth, then add sunflower oil.
Mix in granulated sugar, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla.
Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and chai tea spices.
Chill dough for 1 hour.
Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough. If the dough rolls easily, lightly roll into a ball, dip in sugar, and press evenly onto the cookie sheet.
- If the dough is too soft to roll, drop spoonfuls directly onto the cookie sheet, sprinkle sugar on top, and gently press to flatten.
Bake for 9–11 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
Cool completely before icing or decorating.
For the Icing:

In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and whole milk until smooth. Add more powdered sugar if too thin.
Add a drop of almond extract for a subtle flavor boost (optional). Can mix in edible glitter dust if desired at this stage to add extra color.
Once cookies are completely cool, spread or drizzle icing over each cookie.
Decorate with sugar sprinkles or brush on edible glitter dust for a custom sparkle.

💖 Glitter-Dusted & Album-Ready 💖

We’re off to enjoy these with cable-knit sweaters, boots, football, and falling leaves — maybe with a little music in the background and a good book on the Kindle app. Warm spices, sweet icing, and a touch of showgirl glam — because cookies deserve a spotlight too.