Chai-Spiced Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons loose-leaf tea , or more to taste
• 1.5 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoons ground ginger
• 0.5 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 0.25 teaspoons ground cloves
• 0.13 teaspoons salt
• 0.13 teaspoons ground black pepper , Optional
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 0.5 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

2. 2

   Grind tea into a fine powder using a spice grinder; transfer to a bowl. Stir in cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and black pepper.

3. 3

   Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer in a bowl until creamy. Add spice mixture; mix thoroughly. Fold in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a stiff dough forms.

4. 4

   Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface; roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough out with a 2-inch cookie cutter or knife; place cookies on baking sheets.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until edges begin to brown slightly, about 20 minutes.