Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles {vegan}

Before I tell you about these amazing cookies, I wanted to say a HUGE thank you for all of the kind comments on my marathon recap. You guys sure know how to make me cry over, and over, and over again. Of course I do this for me first, but your support really makes it worth all of the pain and challenges so, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I made these cookies to compensate for my visually challenged cookies. As soon as they came out of the oven with that perfect crackle on top, I was thrilled that not just a better looking cookie had come out of my oven, but a downright beautiful cookie! Then the pessimist in me decided that surely they were going to taste bad, because that’s how that day was going.

You.Guys. They were so the opposite of bad!!! I bit into one, and was greeted with my most sought after cookie texture–slightly crunchy on the outside, with a soft, gooey, buttery (even though they include NO butter!) texture inside. In my book, that is cookie perfection!

When I stopped freaking out about the texture miracle, I started to focus on the flavor of these bad boys, and holy cow, they are delicious! Spicy homemade chai spice blend mixed with sweet sugar cookie flavor creating a sweet and comforting cookie that tastes like it came from your grandma’s old recipes.

“Okay maybe these are the best cookies you have ever made.” My husband’s cookie heart is so fickle.

Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles

yield 2 1/2 – 3 dozen

Lightly adapted from Post Punk Kitchen

For the cookies:

• 2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• dash salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 3 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

For the coating:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• pinch cloves
• pinch ground nutmeg

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat together apple butter,sugar, maple syrup, and almond milk until well combined. Add vanilla, then add dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
4. In a wide, shallow bowl, combine ingredients for the coating. Lightly spray hands with nonstick spray, then roll dough into one inch balls. Roll in the sugar mixture to coat completely, then transfer to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. They may look underdone, but do not over bake. They will set more as they cool. Let stand for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.