Description
Spice up your hot chocolate game with this delicious and easy recipe for Hot Chocolate Chai made with real chai spices. Perfect for cozy nights in!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup half and half
- 1 tea bag
- 1 star anise
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 cloves
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 ounce dark chocolate, chopped
- 2 teaspoons honey (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Whipped cream, for serving
- Grated chocolate and cinnamon sticks, to garnish
Instructions
- In a small pot, bring the milk and half and half to a gentle boil. Remove from the heat and add the tea bag and star anise. Cover and steep 10 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag and add the cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, and honey. Place over low heat and stir until the milk is steaming. Stir in the vanilla extract and pinch of salt.
- Pour the hot chocolate into a mug. Dollop with whipped cream, and top with chocolate shavings and cinnamon sticks. If you’re feeling generous, add a light dusting of cocoa powder. Enjoy!
Notes
- I pour the hot chocolate chai through a sieve to catch any spices that haven’t completely dissolved with the drink before adding any whipped cream or garnish.
- Serving tip: For extra luxurious texture, you can gently froth the hot mixture with an immersion blender or milk frother before pouring into mugs.
- Watch out for bags labelled as “chai tea”. Even though this means “tea tea”, these bags usually include their own spice blends which, in combination with the spices in this recipe, may become overpowering.
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
