“1989 Taylor’s Version” dropped October 27th, and you should make these chai cookies while you listen to it! If you want to learn more about 1989 Taylor’s Version see Maryrose Mahoney’s article Taylor Swift’s New Album: 1989. 

Swift posted these cookies on her Tumblr, and she made them for the 1989 Secret Sessions! (If you’ve never heard of the 1989 secret sessions: ahead of the release of 1989’s original release in 2014, Swift invited selected fans to various homes and held “living room parties” where they listened to the album before the release, had meet-and-greet experiences, and she baked treats for each one.) She later shared her recipe, and she got the base sugar cookie recipe from this blog she followed! She had the inspiration to add chai to these sugar cookies because “[she] thought it would infuse cozy holiday vibez into the cookie and it really did.” 

She says there are two ways to make these cookies, “the quick and easy way is to make sugar cookies from a sugar cookie mix and just cut open a packet of chai tea and pour it into the batter as you make it” or you can make them from scratch like “[she did] for the 1989 Secret Sessions.” Swift says the cookies are just as good without the icing and there are a bunch of customizable icing options (like pumpkin for Autumn)!

Taylor Swift Chai Cookie Ingredients:

Cookies:

½ cup of unsalted butter (room temperature)

½ cup of vegetable oil

½ cup of sugar (+ more for topping)

½ cup of powdered sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

2 cups of flour

½ teaspoon of baking soda

¼ teaspoon of salt

1 chai bag

Icing:

1 cup of powdered sugar

¼ teaspoon of nutmeg

¼ teaspoon of cinnamon

3 tablespoons of milk or eggnog

Taylor Swift Chai Cookie Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 350° and grease a baking sheet
2. Beat the butter and add vegetable oil
3. Add sugar, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla
4. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and the chai bag
5. Chill the dough for about 1 hour
6. Use 2 “TAYblespoon” dough circles on the baking sheet
7. Press down evenly and cover with sugar
8. Bake for ~nine minutes
9. While baking, make the icing. Mix powdered sugar, with ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg, cinnamon, and milk (or eggnog if you can find it). If you want more of a glaze consistency, add more of your liquid 
10. When cooled, cover with icing and sprinkle with more cinnamon!

By Amelia White ‘25, Ask Alice Editor and Social Media/Tech Editor

25awhite@montroseschool.org