These Yuletide Toddy Tea Cookies taste like a warm December evening by the fire — buttery, cozy, lightly spiced, and bright with citrus. Infusing the butter with Java Momma Yuletide Toddy Tea gives these soft holiday cookies a glow of cranberry, orange, cinnamon, and festive cheer. Top them with a swirl of orange–vanilla cream cheese frosting, and you’ve got the perfect Christmas cookie plate star!
Why You’ll Love These Cookies
- ✨ Bright citrus + warm spices — a perfect holiday combo
- 🫖 Tea-infused butter adds incredible depth of flavor
- ❄️ Soft, tender, buttery texture
- 🎄 Gorgeous for holiday parties and cookie exchanges
Recipe Overview
Yield: 24 cookies • Prep Time: 15 mins + chill • Bake Time: 12–15 mins
Yield: 24 cookies • Prep Time: 15 mins + chill • Bake Time: 12–15 mins
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 3/4 cup butter
- 2 Tbsp Java Momma Yuletide Toddy Tea
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- Zest of one orange
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- Pinch of salt
For the Frosting
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 tsp orange extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Turbinado Cinnamon Sugar (optional garnish)
- Orange zest (optional garnish)
- Sugared cranberries (optional garnish)
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Once simmering, remove from heat and stir in the Yuletide Toddy Tea. Steep 5 minutes. Strain or leave the tea in — it’s edible!
- Let butter cool for 10 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the tea butter, sugar, egg, egg yolk, orange zest, and vanilla bean paste. Mix until smooth.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Fold into wet mixture. Dough will be soft. Chill 15–20 minutes.
- Scoop dough onto a lined baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Gently press to flatten.
- Bake 12–15 minutes and cool completely on a wire rack.
- To make frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add confectioners’ sugar gradually. Mix in orange and vanilla extract.
- Pipe frosting in a swirl on cooled cookies. Garnish with turbinado cinnamon sugar, orange zest, or sugared cranberries.
Tips & Variations
- Keep the tea in the butter for an extra pop of spice and color.
- Make ahead: Cookies freeze beautifully (frost after thawing).
- Citrus swap: Use lemon zest for a brighter twist.
