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Homemade chai spice makes it easy to infuse those warm, cozy spices into muffins, scones, or a creamy drink!
Is there anything better than chai spice? The way the spices blend together…the aroma…Pure cozy goodness.
Let’s be clear – this is not a traditional chai recipe. It’s inspired by the spices in real chai, but is not authentic and also doesn’t include any tea. (For an authentic version, I loved this post!)
With that said, it tastes incredible baked into shortbread or muffins, warmed up with milk and maple syrup (see my recipe for maple chai below), and so much more.
And, it makes a lovely holiday gift! Grab the free printable gift tags below to share jars and serving instructions with your friends and family.
If you want to make more gifts to share for the holidays, explore over 60 homemade Christmas gift ideas in this mega post!
Ingredients
This mix is all about the balance of spices and honestly, it took a bit to find the right ratio.
After testing and tasting, I decided to keep the cinnamon at the forefront but with a hearty dose of cardamom to keep it prominent and just enough ginger for a little warmth.
To balance it out, I added nutmeg, cloves, and allspice, too.
You can absolutely add some anise for a subtle licorice note or some freshly ground black pepper for warmth!
⭐ I got most of my spices from Burlap and Barrel. Trust me when I say that you have NEVER had spices like this before. The Royal Cinnamon alone is beyond anything I’ve tried anywhere else (and I’ve tried a lot.)
How to Make Chai Spice Mix
Step 1: If grinding whole spices or toasting the cinnamon do this first.
Step 2: Combine all the spices together in a bowl and whisk to combine. Transfer to a jar for storage.
Get the Free Printable Chai Spice Gift Tags
Simply click the button below to view and download the printable tags, which include how to use the mix to make a cozy cup of herbal chai. No email required!
Storing Suggestions
Since this is a dry mix, it will store for a long time in a sealed glass jar. For the best freshness, aim to use within 6 months to a year (but it won’t go bad; it will just lose a little potency.)
The freshness will really depend on how old your spices are to begin with, so if you’re using 5 year old ground nutmeg, it will lose flavor faster.
Tips & Variations
- Toast the cinnamon. Cannot be overstated! I like to toast my cinnamon for all my spice mixes. Just spread it on a small pan lined with parchment and bake at 300F for 5-10 minutes. It will bring it out so much flavor!
- For a spicier blend, increase the ginger to 2 tablespoons and add 1/2 tsp of fresh black pepper.
- For less cardamom, reduce down to 1 tablespoon.
How to Use Homemade Chai Spice Mix
“So, what do you do with this?” Lots of things!
I generally use it similar to how you could apple pie spice – for adding to cookie dough, pies, muffins, and more.
Just imagine the cinnamon cardamom scent wafting out of an apple pie…Yes, please.
You can even made a chai sugar by using it to replace the cinnamon in this cinnamon sugar recipe or homemade snickerdoodle sugar cubes!
And of course, you can use a small amount to make a big, warm mug of creamy maple chai. This is an herbal chai since it’s really just sweetened and spiced milk, but boy, does it hit the spot!
How to Make a Maple Chai
Although you can use this chai mix in any way you’d like, this is my go-to! It’s rich and creamy with just enough sweetness from the maple and so much warmth from the spices.
- Warm 2 cups of milk on the stove. Add 1 tsp of chai spice (or a little more), 2-3 tablespoons of maple syrup, and a generous pinch of salt.
- Whisk to combine and heat until it’s creamy and frothy.
- Transfer into 2 mugs and savor every last drop!
Feel free to steep 1-2 bags of black tea or add some espresso for a dirty chai!
Can you use this to make chai drink mix?
So initially, I wanted to create a powdered chai mix for gifting, like my hot chocolate in a jar recipes or hot caramel drink mix recipes.
The spices taste great, but to get the right creaminess, you really need to add more than just powdered dry milk. Otherwise, the mix tastes kind of weak and watery.
Other recipes include THREE types of powdered milk (including two types of creamer), and honestly, that’s just a little too processed for me.
It makes more sense to keep it as a spice mix and have people use it for drinking OR baking.
P.S. The printable gift tag instructions include tips for making a drink, so your recipients will know how to do it!
More Homemade Gift Inspiration
If you’re making this mix to share as a homemade gift, make a jar of Spiced Christmas Coffee to go with it!
The flavors are complementary, and they both work really well together. Perhaps with a batch of homemade shortbread or honey gingerbread?
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment or ask a question below! I’d love to hear what you think or troubleshoot any issues.
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Chai Spice Mix
Ingredients
- 3 Tbs ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 Tbs ground cardamom
- 1 Tbs ground ginger
- 1 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine (or place in a jar and shake thoroughly). Keep stored in an airtight container.1 1/2 Tbs ground cardamom, 3 Tbs ground cinnamon, 1 Tbs ground ginger, 1 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1 1/2 tsp ground allspice
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