These came from an awesome recipe on this blog HERE that of course I altered a bit, adding a bit more vanilla bean and tea, and using raw sugar for the edges 🙂 Check out how simple this is and how perfect they are with a quick little cup o’ tea or your morning joe:

• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup confectioner’s sugar
• ½-1 vanilla bean pod, split and seeds removed
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 egg
• 1 and ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ -1 teaspoon Earl Grey tea leaves from bag
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons raw sugar for edging

This recipe makes approx 18-22 cookies depending on how thick or thin you cut your slices (or how narrow you make your log.) You will be active TWICE during this recipe, with at least a two hour break between combining the ingredients/rolling and when you slice/ bake. (PLAN AHEAD, this is not a “I want a warm cookie in about 20 minutes” sort of cookie, but they are oh so worth the wait!)

1. In a small bowl, combine the sugars and vanilla bean seeds. Using your hands to combine, mix with fingers to distribute seeds throughout sugar. Rubbing fingers through sugar will help break up the seeds if they clump together.
2. Using a mixer (hand or stand), cream the butter with the vanilla sugar mixture. Add egg and vanilla and mix until blended well.
3. Add flour, tea leaves, baking powder and salt and mix to combine into a soft dough.
4. On a clean work surface, roll the dough into a log. Roll log in decorating sugar (if using). Wrap log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and up to 24 hours until ready to bake.
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and lightly grease a baking sheet or place parchment paper. Slice chilled dough into ¼-inch thick slices. Bake until the edges are light brown and the middles set, about 6-8 minutes. Don’t over bake, the bottoms will brown first so make sure to check on them!
6. Allow to cool (on rack or tray) in order to set. Moving too soon may cause breakage, so give ’em a few minutes, ok?

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Not only are they a great morning-time treat or dessert, they also make great gifts. Trust that teachers, co-workers, family and friends will definitely want the recipe after having these gifted to them!

Enjoy and look for more recipes added soon!