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!)
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This…was…OUT OF THIS WORLD. Better than any frozen chai from any coffee shop. Creamy, sweet, and incredible with the perfect blend of spice. UHMAZING. I used the cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
Pure Genius. Just made it! I’m so mad at myself for drinking it in 30 seconds! Why???????
I am not a huge fan of chai, so last night I made only half the recipe to try it. Well, today I made the full recipe…. :)P
I always make coconut macaroons for bake sales! One of the main reasons is they are always a hit and there are never any other macaroons made by anyone else at any sale I’ve been to! They easily wrap two or three in one little package and you can tie them up with cling wrap and a ribbon 🙂 I started using a delicious recipe for raspberry coconut macaroons that I found here: http://smittenkitchen.com/2012/03/raspberry-coconut-macaroons/
that chai milkshake looks delicious! I simply love chai tea, it’s always reminded me of a warm cinnamon bun in a cup!
i just made this and it was literally the best thing i ever drank in my life. i stood in my kitchen licking my glass much longer than i should have.
YUM! I was a little skeptical at first, even though I love drinking chai. But this is really yum, even without the tea! This has the warmth of drinking chai (ginger) and enough icy sweetness from the banana and other spices! Delish! Just a tip, Starbucks used to sell an apple chai. They will still make it for you if you ask, but it’s easy to make at home. Mix approximately equal parts natural apple juice and chai concentrate. Microwave/heat until hot. Hands-down my favorite drink!
I want to know if you can always substitute vanilla extract with just pure vanilla flavor, the difference between the two is pure vanilla flavor contains no alcohol unlike regular vanilla extract. I just want to know if it will make a difference in your milkshakes since it will alter the taste. An example, is from this website: http://www.singingdogvanilla.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KGB&Product_Code=AFVF002&Category_Code=PVE
compare
http://www.singingdogvanilla.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KGB&Product_Code=PVE002&Category_Code=PVE
I made this today, and it was ahhhmazing! However, I made a slight variation. Instead of adding all the spies, and brewing tea, I used unsweetened Oregon Chai Latte Concentrate.
Hey Katie! Can I use both the spices and brew the chai tea bag for a stronger flavor? If I only use either one will the flavor be the same as of the other one I didn’t use? If I use only the spices will it have the same flavor as the chai tea bag without all the spices? I was wondering if you recreated the spices to be a similar flavor of the chai tea bag. And I wasn’t clear on the instruction of should the spices be in a powdered form or a seed form?
Powdered form. I’ve only tried it with one or the other, not both.
YUMMM! I just made this with my breakfast and holy cow, delicious. my only thing is next time i’m gonna cut back on the ginger a little (just my liking.) Thanks so much for this awesome recipe!!:)
When I asked about the flavor of this recipe before, I wanted to know if the spices will taste the same as the chai tea bag, I’m meant that if you’re going to omit the spices and exchange for the chai tea bag it must taste the same right? Can you explain why you have it like that because I’m confused as to which kind of flavor it will come out if I only use the spices or only use the chai tea bag, do both of these have a different flavor? If it has a similar flavor as each other I want to know how you got the mixed spices to taste the same like the chai tea bag because I was wondering if you had to reinvent the flavor of the chai tea bag with the spices mixed in together?
You are incredible! I made this yesterday morning for breakfast and had thoughts of it being a breakfast, lunch, and dinner sort of thing. AMAZING!!!! Didn’t even need sweetener. Thank you for another indulgence I feel guilt-free about eating. :o)
Just made this milkshake… no sweetener needed… MMMMMMMMM!!!! It was perfect!
Your recipes are amazing. THANK YOU!
Chai vanilla shake – incredible!!! I subbed a piece of fresh ginger since we don’t have any powdered on hand and it was perfect. Lovely. Amazing. Thanks!
Can you taste the banana in this? I’m not a huge banana fan…
I make a similar shake I call Banana Spice Eggnog, and I add pumpkin pie spice to the mix-delicious. Your version looks fabulous! I never had a bike when I was there, but I went to SMU too, although that was many, many years ago 🙂