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Making our Tuesday extra sweet with these Chai Spiced Santa Cookies. Chai spiced cookies made with butter, cream cheese, and warming holiday spices. Frost these Santa shaped cookies with a deliciously sweet white chocolate frosting and you’ll have yourself the most perfect Christmas cookie. Fun to bake, delicious to eat, and a great homemade gift too!
Tis the season for all things cookies, and I’m fully embracing every minute. December only comes around once a year, so I figure, if there was ever a time for cookies, it’s now.
The last week has been filled with busyness and the hustle and bustle that is December. It’s an amazing month, but it’s also a busy one! All the craziness, and a doctor’s appointment (promise, I am totally fine, I just have a major thing about doctor appointments) has left me filled to the brim with anxiousness. The only thing that’s helped slightly has been all the holiday recipe testing and photographing.
You may or may not have noticed, but I have basically thrown myself into holiday recipes. I’m working so hard to create nothing but the best to share with you guys this month. This major focus has been such a help in relieving some of my anxious thoughts. I know that might sound crazy, but rolling out cookie dough is truly a very stress relieving activity. I really have so much fun creating these recipes!
Long story short, it’s December, and if you’re feeling stressed…bake cookies! Specifically these Santa cookies! They’re extra cute, festive, and very fun to make. Oh, and SO GOOD!
I’ve said this before, but I have a bit of a pet peeve with sugar cookies. They tend to be bland and I can never, ever, make them look as cute as that photograph on Pinterest. Previous sugar cookie baking days have ended in tears. But over the years I’ve picked up a few tricks and have let go of trying to decorate the “perfect” looking Christmas cookies. Perfect is boring, and what really matters, is how the cookie tastes. Cookies need to be GOOD.
These cookies? These cookies are delicious. They’re down right, one of the best cookies I’ve ever made. They got rave reviews from Asher, the brothers + friends (must admit, not that hard). But Mom loved them too, and all were eaten within minutes.
My secrets?
One, using cream cheese in the cookie dough. Yes, cream cheese. It creates perfectly soft and fluffy sugar cookies that just melts in your mouth.
Two, chai spice. Also known as, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and all-spice. The best and most warming combination of spices, and so very holiday appropriate.
Trust me, this chai sugar cookie is so much better than those crunchy flavorless sugar cookies that we’re so often served this time of year. Hey, it’s true.
For the frosting, I knew I wanted to create something simple and sweet that would pair nicely with the chai spices, but not overpower them.
Enter the white chocolate frosting. It’s sweet, buttery, creamy, and has hints of vanilla. Perfection.
For decorating, I kept things simple, simple, simple (said in my best Eloise voice because that’s the mood I’m in).
I’m not a profession baker, and definitely not a cookie decorator. So I try to come up with easy ways to decorate cookies. I used red sanding sugar for Santa’s hat, mini chocolate chips for his eyes, and a red M&M for his nose. I had everything on hand at home. And while my first cookie was not perfect, my second was much cuter. And after that I had cookies decorated in no time.
So simple and easy, but still so cute!
Oh, and if you’d like the exact Santa cookie cutters I used, here’s the big one, and here’s the littler one. Both worked really well! And if you want to just do a one stop shop, here’s the red sanding sugar as well. Got to love Amazon!
If there was ever a cookie to make over the next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas, it’s this cookie. Hands down a favorite among everyone in my family (picky eaters included). And not only are these delicious, they’re cute too!
If you make these Santa cookies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Chai Spiced Santa Cookies with White Chocolate Frosting
Servings: 30 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 3817 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) sticks (1 1/2 cups) salted butter, at room temperature
- 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground all-spice
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
White Chocolate Frosting
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted, butter
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 11 ounce bag high quality white chocolate chips, melted and cooled to touch
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the egg and mix until evenly combined. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, all-spice, and salt, beat until combined and the dough forms a ball.2. Generously flour your work surface. Divide the dough in half and flatten each half into a disk. Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Make sure you're using enough flour or your dough will stick. Cut out the cookies using a Santa cookie cutter or your favorite holiday shape. Carefully transfer the cookies to a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and place the sheet into the freezer, freeze until firm, about 15-20 minutes. Roll out the leftover scraps, and repeat with the remaining disk of dough.3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the cookies on the middle rack of the oven for 10-12 minutes (for soft cookies) or until just lightly golden brown. Do not over bake. Cool on the baking sheet five minutes and then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.4. To make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer (or large bowl with a hand mixer) beat together the butter and powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the melted white chocolate, and vanilla, beat until combined. 5. To decorate. Transfer half the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small tip or ziplock bag and snip a very small portion of the corner off the bag. Using a knife, frost Santa's hat (the top portion of the Santa cookie) and sprinkle with red sanding sugar. Using the piping bag, draw on the white rim of Santa's hat, and the white ball at the tip of the hat. Now draw on his white beard. Make 2 dots for his eyes, and one for his nose. Place 2 mini chocolate chips in for his eyes, and a red M&M for his nose (use above photos for visuals).6. Store cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 3 days. And of course you can decorate these however you'd like. This is just how I decorated my cookies!
Hey Tieghan! (I wasn’t able to reply to your comment directly)
That’s wonderful that you’re doing well and I’m sorry you’re so busy. When does everyone get into town? Is anyone arriving early? Yes, I’m really busy also, but it’s nice! I’m looking forward to the Holidays! Also, I think I might make these cookies (instead of the eggnog scented or frosted ones) haha or I might bake all 3 (my mom is having 15-20 people over this year)?.
But thank you for sharing the Vegan recipes! I might make your Dark chocolate coconut bars or vegan chocolate cake (and add peppermints or coconut ‘snow’ or even your chocolate covered peanut butter crunch bars or vegan whole wheat chocolate chit banana bread muffins. My sibling loves banana bread and my moms enjoys whole wheat. ☺️ Also, I noticed your cinnamon crunch bagel loaf dough is vegan (if I switch honey for agave or maple syrup). Haha so many options! And I’m doing ok! Thank you. Busy with school (I don’t know if I told you but I transferred to Boston University this year) and am enjoying the cold. I’ll have to email you so we can catch up.
I hope you have a nice rest of the day and I’m looking forward to making all of the vegan and non-vegan desserts!
Hey Kristin! Yes everyone is arriving before Christmas, but all at different times haha! The muffins are definitely a must make, I totally think you should go with those!
I think you did mention that you transferred. How is it in Boston? Didn’t you recently see your first Boston snow?! So exciting! Hope you’re going to be with family for the holidays!
These look amazing – it is going to be cold and nasty in Atlanta this weekend so I am baking! I have two questions, do you put the cookies in the oven on the cold cookie sheet from the freezer or a room temp cookie sheet? and do you think the frosting will run off the cookies if they are sitting up right, in say a cookie jar I purchased on clearance last Christmas to use for gifts? TIA!
Sarah
HI! I put the cookies in the oven on the cold cookie sheet and no the frosting will not run off! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
I didn’t see the black pepper mentioned in the steps, just the ingredients list, so I didn’t add it. These got rave reviews from the neighbors and family. Loved them and will remake!
Thank you so much Anna!
How adorable are these cookies? Love it.
I am so glad you like these! Thank you Donna!
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Hey Tieghan!
I hope you’re doing well and these sugar cookies look lovely. Again, I haven’t been commenting in a while but loved these cookies and thought I’d check in. How are you? How have you been? I’m sorry about your anxiousness. I agree this time of year is busy. I’ve also been axious but agree baking helps. I hope the doctor appointment goes well (you’re your best advocate!) and all is ok. Also, I like how these Santa cookies looks like Santa wallpaper! Haha which do you like best, your eggnog scented sugar cookies, you’re eggnong frosted chi spiced snickerdoodles, or these? Also, do you have any vegan Christmas cookies or dessert recipes? My sibling and I are vegan and I wanted to make them something vegan this year and include them in on the holiday baking celebration. I love these cookies (and may make them for non vegan eaters) but wanted to be inclusive.
I hope you’re having a lovely week and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s post! ☺️
Hi Kristin! It is so nice to hear from you. I am doing great, just super busy! How are you? I personally LOVE these cookies, but any of those three will be amazing for the holidays! Also, I do not have any vegan recipes for Christmas, but I am sure it would not be hard to change the recipe with vegan butter + eggs. I’ll leave a few recipes below that are vegan though! I hope you have an amazing rest of your week!
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/mini-chocolate-pumpkin-seed-candy-peanut-butter-cups/#bo-recipe
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/vegan-chocolate-custard-cake/
Adding melted white chocolate to the frosting is such a great idea!
Thank you Brittany!
Love this recipe! Cannot wait to make them! Just wondering, do you have a cookie decorating/frosting recipe that you recommend so that cookies can be stacked? Need to make some for a cookie party at work so unfortunately suffer from space constraints. Thanks!
Hi! I do, recipe below! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/eggnog-scented-sugar-cookies-with-easy-vanilla-icing/
These look so adorable and would be perfect for me to bring to my Sister’s Christmas party – thank you!!
Rebecca | http://www.peppermintdolly.com
Yes! I hope everyone loves these cookies, Rebecca!
Tieghan – you are a wonder-woman. I am amazed by all the recipes you come up with, all the cooking that you do and the gorgeous photos you always post on your blog. I come to your blog for all of this. You have become my cooking/blogging hero. Thanks for all the inspiration. And BTW I love these santa cookies!!
Thank you so much! I am so glad you love these cookies and I hope you try them!
not recipe-related, but how in the world do you manage the amount of treats and goodies you have hanging around with the daily baking process?? I can hardly imagine everything from the recipe development process gets eaten… do you give batches of stuff away to friends/neighbors orrr? i’d love to bake more this holiday season but the thought of having so many treats constantly tempting me sounds dangerous haha!
thanks!
Hi! All the food that gets made is eaten by either my family and guests we have over or we give to my neighbors. Most times my brothers and their friends will be over, so they will eat a lot of it! I hope you love the recipes on my blog!
Do you bake the cookies frozen from the freezer or let come to room temp?
Thank you so much for the recipe and for referencing the cookie cutter – I just ordered from Amazon so will have to wait for it to arrive – but in the meantime, I will gather all my supplies. I made your pumpkin cookies – purchased the copper cookie cutter and they were amazing. My attitude about doctors, you are good until they tell you you are not- so don’t worry – breath – and enjoy the holidays. ?
Thank you so much Debbi! I am so glad you love this recipe and I hope it turns out amazing for you!
My cookie decorating party for the kids in my family is Sunday, and I am adding these to the menu! They look amazing! Could you please confirm that the cookies take 3 sticks of butter? Thanks! Glad to see you’re enjoying the season!
Hey dana, yes, the cookies have 3 sticks of butter. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
absolute cuteness overload, I loooove them!!
Thank you so much!!