Chai-Spiced Shortbread Cookies

• 2 tablespoons loose-leaf tea, or more to taste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper (optional)
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Grind tea into a fine powder using a spice grinder. Mix in cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and pepper.
3. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Add the spiced tea mixture and mix thoroughly. Fold in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a stiff dough forms.
4. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into 2-inch pieces with a cookie cutter or knife. Arrange cookies on baking sheets.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until edges begin to brown slightly, about 20 minutes.

looseleaf tea, ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, salt, ground black pepper, butter, white sugar, vanilla, flour

Taken from www.allrecipes.com/recipe/266818/chai-spiced-shortbread-cookies/ (may not work)