Chai Spice Cookies with Vanilla Bean Icing

Chai Spice Cookies with Vanilla Bean Icing

I created these cookies because my favorite thing to get at Starbucks is a chai latte, it's like pumpkin pie in a drink.  And what better way to top a yummy cookie than with a yummy frosting!  I'm still working with the measurements on the spices so try it out and let me know what you think.

You Will Need-

4 ½ cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

½ cup milk

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Icing

2 cups powdered sugar

¼ cup milk

½ lemon

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ vanilla bean pod

Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.

 

Add the dry ingredients, 1 cup at a time, alternating with the milk and vanilla, beating well after each addition.

Cut the chilled dough into ¼ inch rounds and place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Cool on a rack.

While the cookies are cooling make the icing. 

Put the powdered sugar into a bowl.  Sqeeze in the lemon and 2 tablespoons of the milk.  Slice open the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds with the backside of your knife.  Whisk everything together.  Add more milk as necessary, 1 teaspoon at a time, to get the desired consistency.

Frost the cooled cookies with the vanilla bean icing.  If you let the cookies sit for at least an hour the icing will harden up slightly.  I've heard that you can put powdered egg whites in the icing to make it harden up more, but I've never tried it.  If you have, please let me know your thoughts on it. 

Enjoy!

 

Put ½ the dough on a piece of plastic wrap and form into a log using the plastic. Do the same with the other ½ of the dough. Refrigerate for at least an hour, 2 is better.
Add the eggs and beat well.
Sift together dry ingredients.