17 Best Chai Recipes

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If you love chai, you’ll want to make these delicious sweet and savory recipes that are all made with the Indian spiced tea.

6 photos of drinks and food made with chai tea as an ingredient.

Recipes with Chai

Masala chai is a spiced tea that originated from India. It has become very popular in America, where the name has been shortened to just chai, which means tea.

(So when you order a “chai tea,” you’re actually saying “tea tea.”)

Chai is traditionally made by steeping strong black tea with a combination of warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, and ginger.

It’s usually sweetened and combined with milk.

Every company that makes chai has their own recipe and none will taste exactly the same. The best chai blend is the one you make yourself.

At Starbucks, chai drinks are made with a Tazo concentrate, which can be purchased online and at supermarkets. It’s the secret to making the chai drinks from Starbucks at home.

17 Best Recipes with Chai

1. Iced Chai Latte from Scratch

Pouring milk into a cup with Iced Chai Latte.

An iced chai latte is a sweet, spicy, and creamy drink made with black tea, milk, sweetener, and a blend of spices.

The best chai latte is one that you make from scratch rather than using store-bought mixes, which can be overly sweet.

This recipe features a chai concentrate that’s made by steeping fragrant spices in a strong black tea.

It can be stored in the fridge and used to make hot or cold lattes at any time.

2. Starbucks Chai Latte

Starbucks Chai Latte in a clear mug.

A hot chai latte is the most popular tea drink at Starbucks.

The spiced black tea is very easy to make at home using only a store-bought chai concentrate and milk.

The concentrate is the same as the one used at Starbucks, but more diluted.

In this recipe, a French press is used to froth up the drink so you get a delicious frothy foam just like at Starbucks.

3. Chai Latte from Scratch

Chai Latte from Scratch in a glass mug with star anise on top.

Using whole and ground spices gives this chai latte a deep, rich flavor. A full-bodied, strong Assam tea is used but any kind of black tea will work.

Tested multiple times to get the right balance of spices, you MUST make this drink that’s made from scratch at least once.

It’s topped with whipped cream, which I make in seconds using a handheld milk frother.

4. Starbucks Chai Frappuccino

Starbucks Chai Frappuccino in a clear cup topped with whipped cream and ground cinnamon.

Starbucks Chai Frappuccino is a frozen beverage made by blending chai tea concentrate, whole milk, and creme Frappuccino syrup.

This easy recipe recreates it using similar ingredients, including a homemade Frappuccino syrup that you can make ahead of time and add to any copycat Frappuccino.

My version of the chai Frappuccino is super smooth and creamy. The drink is topped with a homemade whipped cream that’s fluffy and delicious.

Just like at Starbucks, you can garnish with a sprinkling of cinnamon.

5. Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Latte

Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Latte in a glass.

Recreate an iced chai tea latte the same way Starbucks does.

All you need are 3 ingredients, which are milk, ice, and a chai concentrate that tastes just like the one used at Starbucks.

There’s no prep work required since all that’s needed is to combine the ingredients in a cup.

It’s THE easiest drink to make.

6. Chai Kettle Corn

Chai Kettle Corn in a long-handled pot.

Sweet-and-salty kettle corn is a delicious snack and gets even better when chai spices are added to the mix.

The key to making kettle corn at home without scorching your pot is to work quickly.

As soon as the oil is hot enough, add the corn kernels and chai-sugar mix, then shake to keep everything moving.

Transfer the popcorn to baking sheets, let cool, and enjoy! See the recipes to get instructions on how to make this tasty treat at home.

7. Chai Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chai Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies on a cookie sheet.

Chai spices bring a warming note to chocolate chip cookies in this delightful recipe.

To get pockets of perfectly melted chocolate, chop up chunks from a dark chocolate bar.

The dough is chilled for at least an hour to make crispy, yet still chewy cookies.

There are also tips in the recipe on how to freeze the dough so you can have some ready whenever a craving for chai spice chocolate chip cookies hit.

8. Iced Matcha Chai Latte

A layered Iced Matcha Chai Latte in a glass.

This recipe combines two teas (chai and matcha) into one delicious iced drink.

Black tea is first steeped with chai spices and fresh ginger and sweetened with sugar.

Once the tea is cool, it’s mixed with milk and topped with a 2-ingredient matcha cream.

It’s definitely a decadent beverage!

9. Chai Hot Chocolate

Chai Hot Chocolate with whipped cream in a white mug.

This recipe combines a chai concentrate with cocoa powder and milk to make a cozy chai hot chocolate.

It’s a simple 3-ingredient recipe that comes together in no time.

The drink is topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Chai hot chocolate would be especially comforting on a cold winter day.

10. Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte

Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte in a clear mug.

This twist on a pumpkin spice latte is for tea lovers who also crave the fall flavors of a PSL without the coffee.

The drink is made from scratch using chai tea bags that are steeped with milk, brown sugar, and vanilla, along with real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices.

Use an electric milk frother or French press to give it a cafe-quality froth topper.

11. Chai Rice Krispie Treats

Chai Rice Krispie Treats on a white surface.

This recipe gives Rice Krispie treats a grown-up spin by infusing the nostalgic snack with the flavors of chai.

Sprinkle in the chai spice mix as you combine the melted marshmallows and cereal together, then spread out into a pan.

Make sure the cereal treats have cooled completely before cutting.

They’re delicious alongside a cup of the tea that inspired them!

12. Brown Butter Chai Cookies

Brown Butter Chai Cookies on a white background.

These soft and chewy cookies are like a cross between a sugar cookie and snickerdoodle!

Brown butter adds a toasty, nutty flavor that nicely complements the chai spice sugar that the cookie dough balls are rolled in.

Each cookie is finished with a drizzle of vanilla bean glaze.

The recipe is full of tips on how to get a batch of perfect brown butter chai cookies.

13. Chai Biscotti

Chai Biscotti on a white surface.

Biscotti is a classic Italian cookie that gets baked twice to become nice and crunchy. They’re typically accompanied by a cup of coffee for dunking.

This creative variation works chai spices and brown butter into the dough, which gives the crisp baton-like cookies a lovely warm aroma.

A bit of kosher salt helps bring everything together.

Instead of coffee, dunk this biscotti in a cup of homemade chai.

14. Milk Chocolate Chai Truffles

Milk Chocolate Chai Truffles piled in a bowl.

Homemade truffles are always great to give as a gift or serve at a party.

This no-bake recipe for bite-sized milk chocolate chai truffles has all the tips you need to get the creamy texture just right.

The key is adding warmed cream to the chocolate so it doesn’t seize.

Let the mixture chill in the fridge, then roll in cocoa powder for that classic chocolate truffle look.

15. Chai Granola

Chai Granola in a glass container.

Not only is making granola at home more affordable, it’s always better because you know exactly what’s going into it.

This gluten-free granola is made with whole grains and sweetened with maple syrup.

The recipe is highly customizable so you can add nuts, seeds, shredded coconut, and whatever else you like.

Just don’t skip the chai spice mix, which gives it a lovely cozy aroma.

16. Chai Spice Baked Oatmeal

Chai Spice Baked Oatmeal on a plate.

Described as “the love child of a warm mug of milky chai tea and a pecan pie,” this baked oatmeal is a wonderful for weekend brunch.

It can also be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Recommendations include eating it with a dollop of apple butter, serving it with a side of yogurt, or slicing it into bars once the oatmeal cools.

All the ideas sound delicious, especially with a cup of tea.

The baked oatmeal is also easy to store and reheat, so you can make it ahead of time for busy mornings.

17. Chai Cinnamon Rolls

Chai Cinnamon Rolls on glass plates.

It’s always wonderful to have the scent of baking cinnamon rolls fill up the kitchen.

These rolls will no doubt smell even better thanks to the cardamom, ginger, cloves, and other chai spices that are in the sugar filling.

For even more chai flavor, the icing is infused with brewed tea, too.

Enjoy with a cup of tea, of course!

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