Cardamom Cookies

Similar to Indian Chai, cardamom cookies get their flavor from cinnamon and, as the name says, cardamom. They are soft and chewy, and are complemented with perfect spiced icing. Cardamom cookies taste so much like Chai that, when I made these for my friends, they called them Chai cookies. These cookies are perfect with a scoop of ice cream or alongside a hot cup of tea.

for cookies:
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 ½ cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter, room temperature
1 egg

for icing:
½ stick butter, room temperature
½ tsp vanilla
¼ cup milk
¼ tsp ground cardamom
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Whisk together baking soda, cardamom, cinnamon, and flour. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and beat until thoroughly combined. Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture and beat until just combined. Roll dough into balls and transfer to prepared baking sheets, spacing dough about 2 inches apart. Carefully press dough with a flat edge and bake until lightly browned, 14-16 minutes. Remove from oven and let the cookies cool completely. Remember, these cookies will be iced with a frosting that contains butter. If the cookies are still hot, the butter will melt and the icing won't hold up. It will just melt away!
In a large bowl, beat butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add milk, cardamom, and cinnamon and beat well. Reduce speed and add powdered sugar. Spread icing on cooled cookies.

Recipe from Matt Boisen of Owatonna, MN.