Christmas Chai Latte – A Festive Warmth in Every Sip Recipe
This Christmas Chai Latte is a cozy, festive beverage infused with warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and a pinch of black pepper. It combines robust black tea with a creamy milk base and a hint of sweetness from brown sugar, topped with spiced whipped cream for a rich, aromatic holiday treat perfect for sipping by the fire on cold winter days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian-inspired
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 (from the above spices)
- 1 tsp honey
Instructions
- Prepare the Spice Mix: In a small bowl, combine the ground cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and black pepper. Set aside 1/4 teaspoon of this mixture to use later for the whipped cream.
- Heat Water and Add Ingredients: In a saucepan, pour in the water and add the black tea leaves (or tea bag), brown sugar, and the remaining spice mix. Heat gently over medium heat until the mixture just starts to simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar and release the spices’ aroma.
- Brew the Chai Base: Lower the heat to a gentle simmer, stir in the milk, then allow the chai to steep for 5 minutes to blend the flavors and warm the milk without boiling.
- Strain and Serve: Using a fine strainer, strain the chai into a mug to remove tea leaves and spice sediments. Keep warm while preparing the whipped cream.
- Make the Whipped Cream: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, honey, and reserved 1/4 teaspoon spice mix until soft peaks form. This can be done by hand or with an electric mixer for faster results.
- Top and Garnish: Spoon or pipe the spiced whipped cream over the chai latte. For added festive decoration, lightly sprinkle a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg on top before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the brown sugar quantity to control sweetness according to your taste.
- For a vegan version, substitute milk with almond, oat, or soy milk and use a plant-based whipped topping instead of heavy cream.
- The spice mix can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container for future use.
- Ensure not to boil the milk to maintain a creamy texture and prevent curdling.
- Use fresh ground spices for best aroma and flavor.
Keywords: Christmas chai latte, spiced tea, holiday drinks, chai recipe, warm beverages, festive drinks
