A versatile spice blend inspired by an Indian tea variety, this homemade chai spice mix can also be used on toast, in baked goods, or as a unique meat rub.
Chai tea is one of those things I never tried until I started blogging. That particular list of foods is a long one, but chai was honestly never something I felt like I was missing out on.
I’ve never been very fond of Indian food (working on it,) but after getting my first taste of cardamom, I was suddenly really curious how to use it.
As it turns out, cardamom is one of the main ingredients in what has become my favorite tea blend – chai. I still haven’t been able to find a brand with a chai tea that I really love, though, so I make my own chai syrup to go with this chai spice mix that I find myself using more and more instead of allspice (my former go-to.)
The spices in my chai blend just scream fall & winter.
Warm cinnamon, spicy ginger, peppery…pepper. You get the idea.
Imagine a cool autumn morning: the windows are cracked open, and the house is filled with fresh breezes and the scent of your favorite candle burning in the kitchen. You’ve just poured yourself a cup of steaming coffee, and you sit down at the table to slices of pumpkin-flavored French toast, your favorite warmed maple syrup, and a log of homemade chai butter, freshly made the night before.
You run your knife through the soft, hand-molded butter, the flecks of chai spice turning the normally pale yellow butter a shade of mahogany. It spreads over the toast, still warm from the oven, and quickly leaves a shiny trail of spice flecks across the orange-tinted bread. The smells bring a smile to your face as the rest of your hungry family joins you at the table.
Fancy prose aside, that could be your morning in the near future. Hungry for chai, yet?
To make your Homemade Chai Spice Mix:
Grab a small mason jar or emptied spice container. Combine the following spices together inside, then close the lid and shake it up (all affiliate links below!):
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground cardamom
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Simple as that, and you’ve got a homemade chai spice mix ready to use in all your fall baking!
Now that you have the basic formula – get baking! This homemade chai spice mix will be the star of any of these recipes (plus a NEW one coming at you on Wednesday!)
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Awesome spice mix!!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
I’ve got to try this out! I love Chai tea!!
Art from My Table says
I love Chai tea, so I can only imagine how much I’d love this spice blend!
Sherry says
Would love the recipe for your chai syrup.
Erica says
I’ll work up a post sharing it soon! In the meantime, it’s something similar to this one from Tasty Kitchen!
Alli says
You are the second site I have looked at that does not give any hint of how much to use in , say an 8 oz cup of hot water. I would appreciate anyone answer. Thanks