Description
A homemade version of the popular Starbucks drink that is easy to make, costs less than a dollar per serving, and tastes just as good as the coffee shop original.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 chai tea bags (or 8–12 grams loose leaf)
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Ice
- 1 cup milk (whole, oat, or almond)
Instructions
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat.
- Add chai tea bags and sugar to the hot water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Let tea bags steep for 5-7 minutes. Remove bags and let concentrate cool to room temperature.
- In a small bowl, combine heavy cream, whole milk, vanilla extract, and maple syrup.
- Whisk vigorously until smooth and slightly thickened. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Pour 1/2 cup of chai concentrate and 1/2 cup of milk over the ice.
- Top with a generous dollop of the vanilla sweet cream.
- Serve immediately with a straw.
Notes
The chai concentrate can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. For a dairy-free version, use oat milk or coconut milk. Ensure the sweet cream is cold to prevent separation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16 ounces
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 45
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Protein: 4
Keywords: chai latte, iced chai, vanilla sweet cream, copycat recipe, Starbucks copycat, homemade coffee, easy drinks, morning routine