Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Cinnamon Chai Shortbread with Cinnamon & Vanilla Bean Glaze #Creative Cookie Exchange

This is my first post for The Creative Cookie Exchange group I just recently joined and I'm really excited about it. First of all, I LOVE cookies. Cookies are my favorite snack, dessert, comfort food et al... I eat them when I'm happy, I eat them when I'm sad, I'm eat them when I'm mad. Seriously, shouldn't there be a Dr. Seuss book about cookies already? I could totally write it...
But back to these cookies. The theme for this month's Creative Cookie Exchange was cinnamon. I happen to think cinnamon and chai pair perfectly together, maybe that's a bit redundant because cinnamon is an ingredient in chai, but oh well..
While searching for cinnamon inspiration, I found fell in love with this blog called i bake he shoots. Amazing photography and great recipes. I was captivated by Mondo's Chai Shortbread and knew I wanted to make these for the cookie exchange with a few modifications. I decreased the orange zest, omitted the anise (didn't have it) and added vanilla bean paste to the glaze. Can I just tell you how amazingly delicious these cookies are? The flavor of the warm spices complimented by the zing from the orange zest make you want to slap your mama cuddle up in your favorite armchair with a cup of tea, a fuzzy throw and a good book. 
Make them for the holidays. Everyone will love you.
Cinnamon Chai Shortbread with Cinnamon & Vanilla Bean Glaze
Makes 18 2" cookies
Cookie Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon fresh orange zest
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
Glaze Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
dash of cinnamon
splash of vanilla bean paste
3-4 teaspoons of milk or cream
Whisk together the flour, spices and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
Place the sugar and orange zest in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and using your finger tips squeeze the orange zest into the sugar to release the oils and create orange "scented" sugar. The sugar should smell really fragrant.
Add the softened butter and mix at medium speed until fluffy (approx. 2 minutes), scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
Place the dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet and place another piece of parchment on top. Roll into a disk about 1/4" and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
Remove dough from refrigerator and preheat oven to 350f.
Line 1-2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Using a cookie cutter (mine was a 2" square cutter with scalloped edges) cut about 18 cookies.
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets (they don't spread) and bake for approx. 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and carefully place on a wire cooking rack to cool completely.
While the cookies are cooling, make the glaze by combining all of the ingredients in a small bowl and whisking with a fork or whisk until smooth. Start with only 3 teaspoons of milk/cream and mix well to check the consistency. Gradually add more milk/cream little by little (stirring well after each addition) until you reach desired consistency.
Drizzle or dip your cookies into the glaze as desired.
Enjoy!!
Leftover cookies (if any!) can be stored in an air tight container for 2 days.
Are we the only ones who start craving cinnamon when the weather gets colder? We can't be! And we are talking anything sold under the word cinnamon--cassia, "true cinnamon", Ceylon cinnamon, Vietnamese Cinnamon--if it is sold as cinnamon, it is what we want! Check out all of our cinnamon cookies below! Hint: A lot of them could be used for your holiday cookie table!

You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:

12 comments:

  1. Love those pictures. The cookies , and especially with that dripping glaze, look delicious!

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  2. Welcome to the group! Love, love, love these cookies! I was just hunting for shortbread cookie recipes to make and this one sounds perfect! I like that you scented the sugar with orange (I'll have to keep that in mind) and added plenty of cinnamon. Can't wait to give them a try! Love your blog by the way. :-)

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    1. Thanks so much Linda! You made by day. I'm excited to be a part of the group because, you know... cookies! Haha

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  3. Welcome to CCE! Those are adorable!

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    1. Thanks so much Karen! I appreciate the comment & the compliment : )

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  4. Welcome to the group! These cookies look particularly yummy with the icing.

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  5. These look so perfect. I love the scalloped edge! I think I need to get my hands on some vanilla bean paste.

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    1. Thanks Julie! You do...I love vanilla bean paste : )

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  6. These cookies look amazing!! Love the chai flavors that you added to the shortbread. Yum!

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