Homemade Vanilla Chai Mix
The warming spices in Homemade Vanilla Chai Mix make it the perfect way to enjoy chilly days and this easy-to-make mix is great for gifting!
Homemade Vanilla Chai Mix with milk will keep you and your loved ones warm and cozy all winter! Blend a batch of ground ginger, cinnamon, white pepper, cloves, cardamom, sugar, dry milk, and vanilla coffee creamer with tea to keep in the cupboard and to give as delightful gifts to everyone you know!
Chai-tastic!
Cozy by the fire while reading a great book, that’s what a hot mug of Homemade Vanilla Chai tastes like to me. Sure, I don’t always get to sit and read a book, and there are usually children’s voices filling the air, along with carpool plans that need to be made, but a big sip of vanilla chai feels like a comfortable break. Mixing the spices, tea, and vanilla creamer up and storing them in a jar makes creating this drink so easy, and my friend’s eyes light up when I gift them jars of this chai mix!
The sweet and bold flavors of chai are perfect all year round, and you can enjoy a frosty Chai Tea Frappuccino in the summer and a sweet Pumpkin Chai Smoothie in the fall!
Other Recipes to Serve with Homemade Vanilla Chai Mix
- The perfect afternoon pick-me-up includes chai and a large, warm slice of Cinnamon Pecan Coffee Cake Loaf!
- Indulge in more cozy treats, that also make wonderful gifts, and make Eggnog Biscotti to enjoy with vanilla chai!
Ingredients
Pantry Items: To make this chai mix, you will need dry milk powder, granulated sugar, and vanilla powdered coffee creamer.
Tea: Purchase unsweetened instant or iced tea powder. If you prefer a caffeine-free drink, feel free to choose decaf tea powder.
Spices: Ground ginger, cinnamon, white pepper, cloves, and cardamom create an incredible chai flavor.
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Chai Mix
STEP ONE: Add the dry milk powder, granulated sugar, vanilla coffee creamer, tea powder, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, and cardamom to a blender or food processor.
STEP TWO: Cover and pulse until the mix is a fine powder. Transfer the chai mix to mason jars for storage.
STEP THREE: Add 2 Tablespoons of chai mix to 8 ounces of hot milk to make a vanilla chai latte. Stir until the mix has dissolved. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top, and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- If you prefer, leave out the powdered tea and steep a tea bag in hot milk for a few minutes. Discard the tea bag before adding the chai mix.
- Additional spice ideas for the chai mix include 1/2 teaspoon of star anise and/or one teaspoon of garam masala.
- Are you wondering how to make this chai mix dairy-free? Non-dairy powdered milk options are available today, along with non-dairy vanilla creamer! Soy and coconut powdered milk and creamer are great alternatives found at a few stores but mainly online.
What is vanilla chai tea made of?
Vanilla chai tea combines black, vanilla, milk, and spices. Assam tea is a popular choice for this drink, as is whole milk or cream for a full-bodied drink. The chai spice blend used varies according to who is making it, but the important spices- cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, pepper, and cloves- are universal, even if the amounts used are not. Additional spices like nutmeg and star anise are popular, too. Most coffee shops also use sugary vanilla syrup rather than powdered vanilla creamer, which can make the drink extra sweet.
What is a Dirty Vanilla Chai?
Need a big pick-me-up in the middle of the morning or day? The answer could be a homemade vanilla chai with a shot of espresso, otherwise known as a dirty vanilla chai! Brew a shot of espresso and stir it into your vanilla chai for a sweet, spicy, and power-packed drink to enjoy! You can also use decaf espresso if you love the taste but don’t need the caffeine.
Falling for More Perfectly Cozy Drinks
- Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate
- Homemade Eggnog
- Crock Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Irish Coffee
- Cinnamon Spiced Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
*This post originally posted on 01/07/2017
Homemade Vanilla Chai Mix
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry milk powder
- 2 cups vanilla powdered coffee creamer
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened instant iced tea powder (see note)
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground star anise optional
- 1 teaspoon garam masala optional
Instructions
Vanilla Chai Mix
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor. Cover and pulse until a fine powder forms. Transfer to an airtight container for storage.
Vanilla Chai Latte
- Add 2 tablespoons of the vanilla chai mix to 8 ounces of hot milk. Stir until dissolved and top with a touch of cinnamon. Serve warm.
Notes
- This recipe makes enough for 53 servings (2 tablespoons each) of chai mix. You can add more mix to your drink as desired to taste.
- If preferred, you can leave out the instant tea and add a tea bag to the hot milk to steep for a few minutes before stirring in the powder.
- The shelf life of this home chai mix will depend on the dry milk powder expiration date, but it’s usually good for around 18 months. Most powdered vanilla coffee creamers have a shelf life of 2 years.
If I leave out the instant tea, what tea bag do you recommend to pair it with?
Do you have recommendations for making it spicier?
Hey Shea! You could add more cinnamon or even cayenne if you want it really spicy!
great homemade vanilla chai mix! Thanks for inspiring me 🙂
Vanilla Chai is definitely my favorite comfort drink. Thank you!