Thick, creamy vanilla chai breakfast shakes…
Have you ever tried chai tea?
My college roommate got me hooked on chai sophomore year, and the spicy beverage helped me through many a winter’s bike ride to class. I invested in a stainless-steel travel mug, which I’d fill with hot tea and stuff into the side pocket of my backpack. Today’s recipe is a milkshake version of that comforting chai.
(P.S. To anyone who currently attends SMU: buy a cheap bike. In the years I was there, two of my bicycles were stolen—locks and all!)
A thick, creamy, and secretly healthy milkshake with sweet chai spices.
Perfect for a post-workout drink or a late-night snack…
Or even for breakfast!
Vanilla Chai Breakfast Shakes
Vanilla Chai Breakfast Shakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice, or less for a thicker shake
- 1 very ripe frozen banana (Banana-Free Version Here)
- 1/2 tsp each cinnamon and powdered ginger
- Tiny dash each: pepper, cardamom, ground cloves, and nutmeg (You can omit any or all if desired. Or omit all the spices and simply brew your milk with a chai tea bag, then chill before blending)
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- optional sweetener if desired
Instructions
Crazy-simple directions: Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Serve cold, or gently heat if a hot drink is desired instead. (Side note: I bet if you make a bigger serving and tweak the recipe a bit, it could make a good ice cream. I might have to work on that!)
Link Of The Day:
Skinny Snickerdoodles or any variety of chocolate chip cookies
The best thing I got at a “bake sale” was called a Power Ball in Vermont. Basically a peanut butter ball w/ raisins and peanuts and rolled in sesame seeds. I think w/ your spin on things you could update that . It was not sticky – It was easy to throw in my purse and eat when I felt low – It didn’t crumble and make a mess.
This looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it! As for the nutritional facts, though, one medium banana alone is around 110 calories… How can the total for the entire recipe be only 115?
Coming from an obsessive calorie counter:
1 normal sized banana (90 grams without the skin) is only 75 calories.
I use Spark Recipe Calculator, since I’m not a calorie counter. So I don’t inherently know the values of a lot of items. I just plug in the ingredients…
lol mine came out to 100c total even with the milk. I guess I must be doing something wrong!
I, too, am somewhat of an obsessive calorie counter. I’m not saying this to perseverate on the topic, but I have checked and cross-checked this value many a time, as I eat bananas frequently. Even Dole’s website lists a medium banana at 110 calories, and a search for “medium banana” on Spark Recipes will yield the following: Banana, Fresh (Medium, 7″ – 7 7/8″ long) : 108 calories. The same goes for a search on My Fitness Pal.
Katie, I made the shake tonight and it is truly delicious, regardless of the amount of calories. And it’s infinitely healthier than a similar dairy-cholesterol-sugar laden concoction! I really didn’t mean to start a fuss here, I just wanted to help out a fellow cal counter.
No worries. Sorry, I am NOT a calorie counter… I have to trust what the recipe site gives me, but if you ever think my info is inaccurate, please let me know what should be correct and I can fix my post!
No, you did it correct, Katie! If we’re getting nit picky, those sites list “1 medium banana” but you have to remember that the peel adds grams and calories. But no one eats the peel! At least I hope they don’t! 😉
So doing it in grams is much more accurate. And I like how you changed the nutritional info link. I think you handled it perfectly! Don’t worry, we calorie counters have your back!
I’ve never tried a chai tea before – but this sounds so good! I’ll try it!
(I have tried chai power balls and they were good!)
A suggestion – you could make your Hot Chocolate Cookies or Funfetti Cookie Dough Balls! 🙂
Weird question: Do you actually read all the comments posted on your blog?
Just wondering, because I know you are busy, and you get TONS of comments 😉
Yup, I definitely do!
I have hundreds to answer each day, so it might take awhile if you’ve asked a specific question… but I DO try and answer as many as I can 🙂
I want to thank you for doing that!
It’s nice to know that you do read them all, since not all bloggers do that 🙂
Indeed, hundreds of comments to answer takes quite a while!
And I don’t mind waiting awhile to get a question answered! 😉
Oh, to answer your questions: yes I’d recommend my camera, and as for the hosting thing… I guess it depends on the goal of your blog. If you’re blogging for a hobby, I definitely would recommend taking advantage of the free service from wordpress.com as opposed to having to pay extra for hosting :).
Thank you for your help, Katie!
One last question for you – Which Canon Rebel do you have? (As in the Xsi, Xs, T1i, T2i, T3i, T3, etc)
By the way, I tried the Vanilla Chai Breakfast Shake and it was really good!
t2i
Oh, thank you SO much, Katie!
I love Chai! so good! And I’d just be sure not to have icing involved, that can get messy in transportation. I’d recommend some of the bars since those are more unique!
I have made something similar. I boiled (or close to boil) a small amount of water 1/4- 1/3 cup ish? Then steeped the chai tea bag. Remove the bag. Allow the remaining tea to cool (stick in the fridge or freezer to hurry it along! Then add that to blender with other ingredients. I use frozen banana slices to keep it cold and help it thicken. I use either almond or coconut milk. And because i’m not vegan I like to add some plain yogurt (1/2 cup ish?) Occationally I will add a touch of maple syrup or honey for sweetener. Oh and real vanilla.
Love Chai!
As for the bake sale I always take in a few pies as people don’t make them anymore and they love to leave with a whole, homemade pie…PLUS they bring in the big $$$. I also love GF macaroons! Have fun baking for a cause 😉
These look perfect Katie – except when I make them, I’m gonna omit the banana, cinnamon and all the spices and I will add chocolate syrup. Oh wait, that’s just a chocolate milkshake. Well, so be it!
Love the concept of this twist – though, I’ll stick with my old faithful. Heehee. 😀
Brilliant! Love chai, love cold shakes, perfect combo. Hallelujah girl! 🙂
You should bring your chocolate cupcakes and/or your chocolate chip cookies! 😉
Yes, anything chocolate! 🙂