Goodbye summer’s afternoon diet coke, hello chai latté de fall.
Now that my coffee shop is just 18 strides from my office desk—when you work at home you have the luxury of doing things like actually counting how far the kitchen is from the computer—I’m finding that my afternoon routine has made a major switcheroo.
Lately I’ve been craving a different afternoon pick me up rather than the cold diet soda I sometimes wished could be pumped straight into my veins. I’ve been craving a cuppa something hot.
I tend to get all wrapped up in what I’m working on, so lately I’ve been making it a point to get up from my chair, move away from the computer screen, stretch my legs and clear my head with a 5-minute afternoon timeout.
My new favorite ritual is partaking of a moment in the waning afternoon sun, sitting on my deck with my chihuahua in my lap and a simple coffee drink in my hand. Lately my favorite has been an afternoon latte. Warm, milky and creamy.
I’ve been making them for myself the past few days and adding a dose of Tipu’s Chai Now, an instant Chai mix from a sweet little company based in Montana. Chai tea in Montana? Apparently so. And no, there’s nary a sign of steers or roping cowboys on their packaging.
Savoring the warming flavors of Chai—cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg—got me thinking I should be cooking something tasty that included the same flavors I love drinking.
And then Smudge started asking me for cookies. And then I put two and two together and waah-laah, Chai Shortbread Cookies were being created in my kitchen.
Oddly, I was compelled to add chocolate and sea salt. I’m sure you’ll understand.
Chai Shortbread Cookies with Sea Salt
PrintIngredients
- 2 sticks butter
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoons vanilla
- ¾ tablespoons Tipu's Chai Now mix or 1 tablespoon chai tea ground fine
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup cream
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add vanilla and blend well. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt and Chai mix and fluff with a fork or whisk. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and mix until ingredients come together. Mixture will be crumbly. Mold dough into an 8-inch log, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour or 20 minutes in the freezer.
- With a serrated bread knife cut logs into ¼-inch thick discs and place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on a baking sheet.
- While cookies are baking, prepare the chocolate chip ganache. In a small saucepan add 1-inch of water, place a glass or heat-proof bowl filled with chocolate chips over the saucepan and bring water to a boil. Stir chocolate chips often as they melt. Add cream and mix until smooth. Remove from heat.
- Dip cookies halves into chocolate mixture and lightly sprinkle with sea salt.
Notes
Nutrition
The feeling of fall leaves us plenty of room for more chai-inspired recipes, and there’s even one you can make for dinner!
Christina makes it impossible to pass up these gorgeous little creamy Chai peaks in Dessert for Two’s Pumpkin Chai Cupcakes
Karen did it again! Nutty brown rice flour gives sweet carrots the perfect lift in Gluten-Free Goddess’ Gluten-Free Carrot Bread with Chai Spices
Yes there are a few steps and a few ingredients in this recipe created for Marsh Madness, but oh man, does Bree bring it again with Baked Bree’s Chai Latte Marshmallows
With 3 active boys to shoosh out of the house for school, Alison has found the secret to a hearty and simple breakfast with This Homemade Life’s Overnight Chai Steel Cut Oats
Staving off her Starbucks Pumpkin Chai latté addiction, Carey has given the rest of us a new addiction with Reclaiming Provincial’s Chai Iced Pumpkin Cookies
With holiday baking around the corner, I have my eye on the sweet love note of a dessert Caitlin presented to Charles in Judicial Peach’s White Chocolate Chai Truffles
The humble almond’s health benefits abound in Leanne’s spiced-up Chai Spice Roasted Almonds from Healthful Pursuit
Kita goes double Chai-time using both chai concentrate plus chai tea in Pass the Sushi’s Chai Pumpkin Spice Thumbprints
Yes! Finally! A savory main meal recipe with our feature ingredient: introducing da, da, da, dahhhhh! Dan’s Good Side’s Chai Spiced Salmon Steaks. Ah, Dan you are the man!
Related Posts
Sweet on Sugar Cookies
5 Snickerdoodle-Style Cookies
Announcing Cookie Cravings Cookbook and Nutella No-Bake Cookies
Disclosure: I was sent a sample pack of Tipu’s Chai Now tea but I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. I just like the tea. And they’re from Montana and keeping it real in the old west.
Thanks for reading and please keep in touch. Subscribe to Foodie Crush and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest and check out Foodie Crush magazine and Cookie Cravings cookbook.
Dan @ Dan's Good Side
I somehow just stumbled upon this now (not using stumble upon, do people still use that?!), thanks for the mention. Leave it to me to put tea in the oddest, but tasty, things! ;)
Charissa
Omg i love chai & this entire bumper crop of chai recipes was so awesome! Thanks for all the chai recipe ideas!
kelley {mountain mama cooks}
Chai? Chocolate? Salt? The ultimate trifecta in cookie world. I’m sure of it!
Kasey
Heidi, those shortbread cookies look positively stunning! Love the spices you find in chai :)
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking
I’m in love with these cookies! I love chai and your pairing with chocolate sounds so good!
great chai recipe round-up. Knew already some, going to check the rest out
Heide M.
Love your ideas, everything looks tempting!
Christy @ My Invisible Crown
Hi! I’m Christy and I just registered for my first conference…Mixed! I’m so happy you’ll be speaking! I just cannot stand myself right now! Wanted to stop by and say hello!
That is so great! Can’t wait to meet you!
Kristen
You always have the best blogs on your roundups! I am a big fan of Chai – and those cookies look superb!
vianney
I love chai~ a perfect fall cookie! and what a tasty round up!!
pattyabr
wow awesome conglomeration of recipes. impressive
Elise Hagood
You have no idea how perfect this is for me! Thank you for posting so many delicious things to make with my favorite morning ritual: Chai!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I’m in love with these cookies, so beautiful!
carrian
These are beautiful and I bet your porch is perfect for relaxing year round. Maybe someday you’ll look out the window, and there I’ll be. A little wave, and back to my book… or maybe that’d be creepy. eh, I don’t care. ;)
Becky
confession… I’m a chai lover!! It’s my very favorite drink. If you ever go to the Beehive Tea Room you must get their green tea chia, it’s out of this world!! I’ll be trying these cookies for sure!
alison
Thanks for including me in your list. So many great Chai recipes!
Varada at Tipu's Chai
Thanks for your kind words about our little chai company in Montana. And these are awesome recipes, can’t wait to try some of them myself. I have experimented with putting chai in just about everything from marmelade to oatmeal to peach pie but never dreamed of some of these ideas! Very glad you liked the chai and I look forward to continuing to read your creative and beautifully illustrated posts. You have class, Heidi!
Wendy@chezchloe
I’m a chai lover and happy to see some many ideas in one place. One of my favorites I do at Christmas is a masala style milk chocolate truffle.
From here, I will first have a go with the chai oats.
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
Such great ideas! Love sweet and salty combos so these cookies will be a good one I’m sure!
Gin
You had me at 2 sticks of butter…
Erin
I’ve been holding out on starting being excited for fall but between the 40˚ weather in Illinois, a new pair of boots, and this post- I think I have to give in. I want those cookies (and anything that is topped with chocolate/sea salt is fine by me!)
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
I have not jumped on the cooking/baking with chai train yet. I do like the warming feeling you get from drinking a chai latte, so I might have to venture out of my comfort zone. Beautiful pictures as always Heidi!
Delishhh
Love it – i am a huge chai tea fan but never cooked with it. These look fantastic.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
love this Heidi! Hope you are well! Miss you!!
Kathryn
Chai tea always reminds me of being at university and spending hours in Starbucks ‘revising’ over a cup with friends. I’ve made other tea shortbread before but not chai tea shortbread; love this idea (especially with the sea salt and chocolate!)
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Oh wow! Had no idea there were so many great chai recipes that I totally missed and I love it! Your cookies look awesome and so do Kita’s and everyone’s everything….I love chai!