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Some days just call for COOKIES!
Today is that kind of day. I’m not going to beat around the bush here, I’ve had a couple stressful days in a row, with some blog hiccups (sorry if you are viewing this post through Safari and have been seeing weird characters – hoping this is going to be fixed soon…like today!), work related issues, and a few other little things. But I am totally not here to complain. It’s my favorite time of year and happy thoughts will be had all around!
So to cheer myself up a bit, I made pumpkin chai snickerdoodles! OKok, I’ve had these cookies planned for a while now, but the timing to make them could not have been more perfect. And I mean, come on?!? When is anything pumpkin, snickerdoodle AND chai not a good idea?!
Answer: it’s always a good idea!
Also, did you notice that today I spelled Chai correctly!! Yes, after everyone pointed out on my Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Chai Frosting that I had spelled Chai, Chia, I was so beyond embarrassed that this time I made sure every last spelling of the word was correct. Promise, I know the difference, but when typing quickly, I easily get the two mixed up.
NOT TODAY. 🙂
Watch the How-To Video Here:
Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles from Half Baked Harvest on Vimeo.
Anyway, back to the actual cookies at hand! Back when I was a kid my family would go to our Aunt Debbie’s for Thanksgiving dinner in Pennsylvania every year. My aunt made a HUGE spread of all kinds of amazing sides, rolls, and probably three turkeys in order to feed all the family members present. I think she must have worked for weeks and weeks leading up to the big day. My mom and I had a favorite recipe that my aunt made for us every year. Looking back now I realize what a pain it must have been, not wanting to disappoint us, and therefore making them year after year. Every year when we arrived, there they were, Aunt Debbie’s famous Turkey Cookies. Pretty sure I’ve talked about them before, but guys they are good! Sadly, I do not have the recipe to share, but this year I decided to make my own little Thanksgiving cookie, and well, these are almost just as good!
These are actually very different from Aunt Debbie’s Turkey Cookies, which were more of a frosted butter cookie…and pretty dang cute with all of the varied colors in the tail. But these snickerdoodles are delicious in their own special way!
I think most of us are pretty familiar with a snickerdoodle. In my book, they are an essential holiday cookie and should be in every Christmas cookie gift box (just sayin’). As I was hiking a couple of months ago, brainstorming about pumpkin recipes and all of the Christmas cookies I would make this season, this cookie came to mind. And when it did, I knew it was one of those recipes I just had to make.
These cookies have a pretty simple twist on the traditional snickerdoodle, but trust me – it makes all the difference.
Pumpkin + Snickerdoodle + Chai Spice Sugar. Yesss! Literally I am jumping up and down as I horribly attempt to type this post. I really do love these cookies, they represent everything I love…sweet, chewy, soft, cinnamony, totally not cakey, and all things cozy. <–if you didn’t already know, cozy is probably my favorite word ever.
Can I just say that I do think chai sugar is totally the new cinnamon sugar. It’s just cinnamon sugar kicked up a notch with ginger, all-spice, cardamom, and cloves added, but it is truly my current obsession. I’ve been adding it to everything from warm tea, to toast…to cookies, SO GOOD.
Oh, and I forgot to add that these cookies can totally satisfy your cookie craving in under 30 minutes. Yep, in less than a half hour you can be chewing away through soft doughy bliss. Soo, can we please all agree that these are the perfect holiday cookie for both Thanksgiving and Christmas? I always fear that pumpkin recipes aren’t relevant in December, but is that really true? I think this could just be my crazy brain? What’s your thoughts on this? Pumpkin in December? yes? no? Tell me I am dying to know!
As of today I am going to be changing my tune. These cookies will for sure be getting sent out in my Christmas cookie gift boxes. Plus, they’re totally happening again on Christmas Eve because they are just that good. AND I will also be making a double batch for Thanksgiving, because well, they just might be better than pumpkin pie…don’t hate me, but I think it’s true!
Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles.
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 76 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chai Spice Sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon all-spice
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg.
- Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla and beat until combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just fully combined.
- Make the chai spice sugar. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, all-spice, cardamom, and cloves.
- Roll the dough into 1 tablespoon size balls and then generously roll through the chai sugar. Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies 2 inches apart. Transfer to the oven and bake for 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and tap the baking sheet on the counter 2 times to flatten them down. Return to the oven and bake another 1-2 minutes or until the cookies are just beginning to set on the edges, but still doughy in the center. Remove from the oven and tap the baking sheet on the counter 1-2 times to flatten them down again. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet. They will continue to cook slightly as they sit on the baking sheet. Eat warm (highly recommended) or let cool and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
Cookies adapted from Martha Stewart.Â
Tuesday cookies saving the day!
These look amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing, I’ll have to try this 😀
Awesome! I hope you love them Carla! Thanks!
I am totally baking these tomorrow! Can I use anything instead of cream of tartar or do I need to make a trip to the grocery store?
I just made these last night and they were so good!! I think this will be how I make snickerdoodles more from now on 🙂 I had to make a few modifications as the friend I made them for cannot have dairy, so I used coconut oil instead of butter. I unfortunately did not have all the spices needed for the spiced sugar, so I just used sugar, cinnamon, and some ginger for that. They still came out really well and had the same texture as a snickerdoodle – thank you again for this recipe!
So happy they turned out great for you Ankita!! Thank you so much!
These look sooooo delish. I also live in Colorado and have family in Pennsylvania! Love your blog btw. I’ve worked as a baker and your recipes make me want to create again!
Awh I am really happy my recipes make you want to bake again! Really awesome to hear. Thanks so much Jaclyn!
Whoa! Yummmmmm
Thanks Sara!!
Oh yes!!!! Give me stacks of snickerdoodles any day and all is right in the world!
Its all we need! Thanks Tori!
Wow these look (and sound) so good! I absolutely love snickerdoodles and pumpkin but have never combined the two. These cookies are definitely making it onto my holiday cookie making list. 🙂
YES! Hope that you love them!! Thank you Elizabeth!!
I can ALWAYS contrive a reason to bake cookies. Bad news? Comfort cookies. Good news? Celebration cookies! And I’m sorry it’s been stressful for you recently, I hope it gets better. You are such a light to so many people, and so enormously talented. If pumpkin isn’t still relevant until midnight on December 31st, the food world is too trend-oriented and moves too fast.
YES! So agree theres always a reason to bake!!
Wow that is so so nice!! Thank you so much!!
Can I make these ahead and freeze? If so how best to freeze then bake?
Hey Danielle,
Sure, that should work well for you, I would allow the dough to thaw slightly and then bake as instructed. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Oops! I meant to say I can’t wait to make these cookies !
These look delicious! Can’t w air to make them. You’re very talented. 🍂🌰🐿🍁
Thank you Catherine!! Hope you love them(:
These look great! And I’m going to make a triple batch of the sugar just to have on hand. I say we rock pumpkin all the way through New Years. Why not? It goes so well with all the cold weather spices I see no reason to abandon it when Thanksgiving is over.
Thats true, and its just so delicious!!
They look SO good! I’ve never had snickerdoodles, it’s sad! And can I say once again that I’m obsessed with your photography?! If you don’t mind me asking, do you use natural or artificial lighting? 🙂 Have a great day!
Thank you so much!! OMG you need to try them!!
I use natural lighting!! Hope that helps!!
Perfect holiday cookie! These are some of my FAVORITE flavors!! And I haven’t seen any glitches with your site on my end and I’ve been using Safari. Hopefully whatever you’ve been seeing got all worked out. I know how stressful it can feel when your blog seems like it’s being wonky. Just another reason to eat an extra cookie, right? ; )
Thank you!! They’re my favorites too!!
Its so frustrating!! Luckily everything is under control!! More importantly the cookies were exactly what I needed!!
My mouth is watering here – they look so delicious! Love the mugs! 🙂
Thanks so much Julia!!
Oh my Goodness, Tieghan! You caught my attention with these! I love the idea on all accounts, then looking at your recipe I am sure these will be amazing! Butterscotch Gingerbread cookies have been my fall favorite cookie for years, but this might give them some strong competition. Pinning to my menu for this week. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much Melinda!! Hope you love them!! Let me know what you think!! (:
Weeeee, what a quick and easy soiloutn.