Gam’s Cinnamon Cookies Recipe: A Comforting Classic from the Meg Reed Mysteries

As I’ve been revisiting the Meg Reed Investigates series (formerly Pacific Northwest Mysteries) in preparation for its rerelease, one character has been especially present in my mind—Gam. Meg’s grandmother is a Reiki healer, intuitive listener, and, perhaps most memorably, a master cookie baker. She’s the heart of the Reed family, always ready with a comforting word and a fresh batch of cookies when Meg finds herself tangled up in mysteries and the chaos of early adulthood.

It felt only fitting to share one of Gam’s signature recipes here on the blog: soft and warmly spiced cinnamon cookies, perfect for cozy afternoons, journaling sessions, or your next armchair sleuthing marathon.

Cozy Cookies and a New Adventure

Gam’s cinnamon cookies are subtly sweet and perfectly chewy with just the right balance of spice. She is a familiar presence throughout the series—a steady comfort in Meg’s life as she navigates the fast-paced world of journalism and, more often than she’d like, unexpected murder investigations. These cookies are meant to be shared, savored slowly, and maybe even dunked into a steaming cup of chai (Gam’s favorite method, of course).

Whether you’re a longtime fan of the Meg Reed Investigates series or new to Meg’s world, baking a batch of these cinnamon cookies is a delicious way to step into the series’ cozy, rain-kissed Oregon setting.

Perfect for Cozy Mystery Fans and Home Bakers

If you love baking with cinnamon, are on the hunt for an easy cookie recipe with simple pantry staples, or you’re just looking to add a new favorite to your collection of cozy mystery-inspired bakes, this recipe is for you. It’s perfect for everything from fall gatherings to late-night writing sprints—or anytime you have a sweet craving.

These cookies store beautifully, are easy to make ahead, and fill the kitchen with a scent that says home.

Scroll down for the full recipe, and let me know if you give them a try. I’d love to hear how they turn out, especially if you pair them with your favorite cozy mystery.

And if you’re ready to dive back into Meg’s world (or discover it for the first time), all five updated books in the Meg Reed Investigates series will be re-releasing this summer—with a brand-new holiday rom-com on the way this fall.

Gam’s Cinnamon Cookies

Recipe by Ellie Alexander

0.0 from 0 votes

Prep time

1

hour 

20

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Total time

1

hour 

30

minutes

Ingredients

US Metric

• ¾ cup ¾ unsalted butter

• ½ cup ½ granulated sugar

• ½ cup ½ brown sugar

• 1 tsp 1 vanilla

• 1 1 egg

• 1 tsp 1 salt

• 1 tsp 1 baking soda

• 3 tsp 3 cinnamon

• 2 cups 2 flour

• cinnamon and sugar for rolling

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350º F.
• In an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars together.
• Then slowly beat in vanilla and the egg.
• Combine the salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and flour and mix on low speed until a soft dough begins to form.
• Cover the dough and refrigerate for 1 hour, or until it is firm enough to roll into balls.
• Once the dough has chilled, shape into one-inch balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar.
• Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350°F.
• Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool slightly before transferring them to a rack.
• Gam tip: dunk your cookie in a steaming cup of chai and enjoy

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