The morning (and afternoon and evening) beverage of choice throughout South Asia is chai. And guess what? It’s been around a lot longer than the day it popped up in latte form on coffeehouse menus across the globe.
That being said, we’re really glad the world is now acquainted with this addictive, spiced stuff because that means we are now discovering new ways to enjoy it beyond just the cupful. From pancakes to pies and cookies to warm cocktails, use chai spice to make one of these 21 recipes that take the tea to new levels of tasty.
1. Healthy Chai Banana Pancakes
Add a dash of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger to your pancake batter to give these morning treats a distinct chai spice. It’s a great way to give them plenty of flavor without any added sugar whatsoever.
2. Chai Latte Chia Pudding
Besides being a tongue-twister to say, this chai chia pudding is a real palate pleaser. The strong black tea and spices pack in a flavor punch, and the Greek yogurt and chopped fruit topping adds plenty of extra texture.
3. Chai Fig Granola
The blogger suggests making this granola as a thoughtful gifting option, but we’re going to suggest tripling the recipe. Between the rich almond butter, the sweet figs, and the warm spices, it’s such a tasty mix that you’ll definitely need a batch (or two) for yourself.
4. Chai Coconut Milk Vegan French Toast
French toast meets Indian tea with this outside-the-box, egg-free, nondairy recipe. With cardamom and ginger sprinkled into rich coconut milk batter, it’s like dipping your bread into a chai latte.
5. Chai Latte Overnight Oats
No time to sit down for a morning cup of tea or a bowl of oats? You can still have both even if you’re rushing out the door, with these portable, chai-spiced overnight oats. Powered up with Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and hemp hearts, this recipe is so filling you can even split the portion in half and enjoy it twice to save more time.
6. Chai Spiced Almond Granola Bars
Granola can hold up to an impressive variety of flavors, but this combo might be among our favorite. With cloves, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon all bound together with drippy almond butter and honey, these no-bake bars are a perfect example of how spices, not sugar, really elevate a recipe.
7. Zucchini Pumpkin Chai Muffins With Protein
These muffins are so much more than just little carby morsels. With pumpkin purée and protein powder, shredded zucchini and chai spices, whole wheat flour and unrefined coconut sugar, each is a pick-me-up with some serious staying power.
8. Apple Chai Spiced Cake
Made with just a splash of maple syrup, this lightly sweetened cake lets the chai spices shine through more than the sugar. Whether you’re enjoying it for breakfast, snack, or dessert, a slice will go perfectly with a cup of… well, chai.
9. Spiced Chai Tea Latte Popsicles
Chai spice doesn’t always have to mean something warm and cozy. Lend that tea taste to these cool and refreshing frozen treats. With their chai tea bag base, touch of maple syrup, and richness from the milk (dairy or otherwise), they’re the perfect way to satisfy a sweet tooth and get a caffeine kick.
10. No-Bake Chai Spice Pie
Getting in your good fats just got a whole lot more delicious. With coconut in its crust, cashews instead of cheese for its filling, and a chopped pecan topping, this nondairy pie is as decadent yet heart-healthy as it gets. Meanwhile, cardamom and cloves help cut the richness with their spicy kick.
11. Easy Chai-Spiced Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse
You may have never thought to put these three (and only three!) ingredients together, but this gelatin-free, dairy-free recipe proves that dark chocolate, orange, and chai make for an incredible dessert. It also takes less than 10 minutes to come together so really, you just have to try.
12. Healthy Chai Spice Apple Crumble
Giving the timeless apple cinnamon pairing a twist, a few more spices create the chai-style flavor in the fruity bottom of this comforting (and low-fat) crumble. It’s just a few extra ingredients, but they make a world of difference.
13. Almond Chai Rice Pudding
Is there anything cozier than a warm bowl of rice pudding on a cold day? Made with basmati rice, chai spices, and almond milk, this one has a distinctly South Asian influence and is healthier than most.
14. Chai Spiced Oatmeal Cookies
No raisins or chocolate chips needed to jazz up these oatmeal cookies. With just seven wholesome and humble ingredients, these lightly spiced bites are simple but nowhere close to boring.
15. Iced Matcha Chai Latte
Taking two hot tea trends and turning them into one icy cool treat, this recipe uses both matcha powder and chai spices to achieve its fantastic color and flavor. If you can’t decide between green or black tea, this is the drink for you.
16. Apple Chai Hot Toddy
Hot toddies are known for being effective cold fighters, but immune-boosting ginger from the chai tea bag lends an extra congestion-easing component to this warm cocktail. Whether you’re drinking it as a nightcap or a flu-fighter, you’re bound to feel better after a mug of this.
17. Carrot Ginger Chai Iced Tea
Carrot ginger juice is one thing. Carrot ginger chai iced tea? You just have to try it to believe that the natural sweetness of the carrot complements the spicier flavors of the ginger and chai tea bags. This is definitely one drink you won’t find on a Starbucks menu.
18. Turmeric Chai Latte
With turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger infused into your milk of choice, this warming drink is a delicious fusion of golden lattes and chai. You’ll practically feel your insides glowing as you sip it.
19. Authentic Homemade Indian Chai
We can’t have a chai roundup without a recipe for good old-fashioned chai. Forget the unrefined sweeteners, the funky alternative milks, or the quirky added ingredients. With whole milk, a touch of real sugar, and those all-important spices, this recipe is all about taking chai back to its delicious roots.
20. Chocolate Dirty Chai Smoothie
Despite its name, this smoothie, using no added sugars and no dairy, is pretty clean-eating-friendly. With coffee powder, loose chai leaves, and cocoa, it’s also got pretty much all your caffeine needs for the day covered in one chocolaty glassful.
21. Chai Spice Smoothie
If a tea followed by a smoothie is just too much liquid in the morning, blend the two (literally) by simply tossing your chai spice in alongside your frozen banana and coconut milk. Alternatively, enjoy this as an afternoon snack or a really healthy dessert.
