Description
This Christmas Chai Latte recipe blends robust black tea with warm, festive spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and a hint of black pepper. Sweetened with brown sugar and topped with spiced whipped cream, it’s a cozy and flavorful drink perfect for the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Chai Latte
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk (or a plant-based alternative)
- 1 black tea bag or 1 tsp black tea leaves
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- a pinch of ground black pepper
Whipped Cream
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 tsp of the spice mix (combine cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and black pepper)
- 1 tsp honey
Instructions
- Prepare the Spice Mix: In a small bowl, combine 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cardamom, 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg, and a pinch of ground black pepper. This blend will be used both in the chai and the whipped cream.
- Boil the Water and Brew Tea: Pour 1/2 cup water into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, add the black tea bag or tea leaves and half of the prepared spice mix. Let it simmer gently for 3-5 minutes to infuse the flavors.
- Add Milk and Sweetener: Stir in 1/2 cup milk and 1 tbsp brown sugar into the simmering tea. Continue to heat the mixture until it is hot but not boiling, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar and blend the spices.
- Prepare the Spiced Whipped Cream: In a chilled bowl, combine 1/4 cup heavy cream with 1/4 tsp of the prepared spice mix and 1 tsp honey. Whip the mixture using a mixer or whisk until soft peaks form, creating a fragrant and lightly sweetened topping.
- Strain and Serve: Strain the chai latte into a mug to remove tea leaves and any spice sediments. Top the warm chai with a generous dollop of the spiced whipped cream. Optionally, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg on top for garnish.
Notes
- Adjust sweetness by increasing or decreasing the brown sugar according to your preference.
- You can use any milk substitute like almond, oat, or soy milk to make it dairy-free.
- Serve immediately while hot to enjoy the best flavor and texture of the whipped cream.
- For a stronger chai flavor, steep the tea and spices for a longer time before adding milk.
- The spice mix can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container for future use.
Keywords: Christmas chai latte, spiced chai, holiday drink, chai with whipped cream, festive tea latte