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Have You Tried Taylor Swift's Chai Sugar Cookies?

She's been making this spin on Joy the Baker's recipe since 2009 and TikTok is obsessed.

October 10, 2023
Photo by Brian Friedman

If you keep up with music-industry news and stadium tours, the NFL, celebrity dating and divorces, Deuxmoi, or even the condiments celebrities are dipping their chicken into, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about Taylor Swift these last few months.

While the superstar is often a hot topic (and has been for well over a decade) among anyone tapped into pop culture, she’s been front-and-center in the news, social media, and dinner conversations since the start of the Eras Tour back in March.

That spotlight has only gained momentum as each tour night revealed surprise songs and alleged easter eggs, ties to rumored flings, and a long-awaited Taylor's Version announcement of her 1989 album.

Now, while Taylor is on a brief break from touring (she resumes October 18 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium), the latest focus—aside from The Eras Tour concert film hitting theaters this week—has been on her rumored budding romance with Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.

If you Food52ers are wondering why you’re getting a celebrity news breakdown instead of a recipe roundup or ingredient deep-dive, don’t fret, there’s a purpose to this pop-culture catch-up. Taylor's been making headlines for an additional thing this fall: her Chai Sugar Cookies from 2009.

Joy Wilson—known as Joy the Baker—has been sharing her recipes for sweet treats on her baking blog since 2008 and her cookbook Joy the Baker Cookbook: 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes was one of our Community’s favorite cookbooks in 2012. Back in 2009, Taylor tweaked Joy’s Giant Vanilla Sugar Cookie recipe by adding Chai spices and an eggnog glaze.

Now, nearly 15 years later, the recipe has resurfaced and is all over TikTok being made, rated, and reviewed by anyone searching for the perfect fall cookie. Have you given it a try?

@gabby.jaye @Taylor Swift chai cookies! Gabby’s Version) 🍂☕️ INGREDIENTS: COOKIES: -1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened -1/3 cup vegetable oil -2 tbsp milk -1/2 cup granulated sugar -1/2 cup powdered sugar -1 large egg -2 tsp vanilla extract -2 cups all purpose flour -1/2 tsp baking soda -1/4 tsp salt -2 chai packets -cinnamon sugar ICING: -1 cup powdered sugar -1/4 tsp nutmeg -1/4 tsp cinnamon -1 tbsp milk or eggnog #taylorswift #chaicookies #cookies #fall #autumn #fallrecipes #fallbaking #swifttok #swiftie #cozy #fallvibes ♬ august - Taylor Swift

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Have you tried making the cookie for yourself? Do you have a cookie that you think is a better fit for the fall? Let us know your seasonal cookie thoughts in the comments below!
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Julia is a Senior Editor here at Food52 and a freelance writer. She has written for Grub Street, Eater, PUNCH, Edible Brooklyn, and more. She is based in Brooklyn, NY.

1 Comment

HK October 17, 2023
I tried them, and thought they were fine. The flavor of the cookies seemed to deepen overnight, which I liked, but they were a little fussy for a "meh" result. I don't think I'll be adding them to my regular rotation!