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‘Tis the season for all things sweet! This easy homemade Gingerbread Chai Brûlée Latte is the sweetest mug to cozy up to. Steamed milk, sweet molasses, hints of real vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, spicy chai, and a couple of shots of espresso. This latte is creamy, rich, just perfectly sweet, and must be topped with mounds of whipped cream. And the real treat, a sprinkling of salted caramel brûlée candy on top. Perfect for sipping while trimming the tree or watching your favorite holiday movie.
It’s finally time! I get to create over-the-top, cheesy, cozy Christmas recipes for the next 31 days!
Now that Thanksgiving is behind us – hopefully, you all had a nice time with family and/or friends – we can fully focus on Christmas! This year, I want to make every day have a little bit of holiday cheer! And a sweet gingerbread chai latte is a fun, yummy recipe to kick off the season. Many of us are pulling out our holiday decorations, decking the halls, and using this weekend to turn the house into a Christmas wonderland!
Or maybe you’re Black Friday shopping. Whatever you’ve got going, this chai latte is perfect to sip on while doing it!
I’ve been looking forward to sharing this recipe for weeks. It’s one of Starbucks’ secret menu items. But I tried to do mine up just a little more festively. It’s the caramel Brûlée topping that really sets this latte apart.
The latte is a mix of ginger, molasses, cinnamon, and vanilla with the warm flavors of Chai throughout. Using chai gives this sweet latte a spicy kick. There’s also cardamon, cloves, star anise, nutmeg, and black pepper.
Details
Step 1: make the caramel Brûlée
Before you do anything, you have to make the salted caramel brûlée candy. This is that extra special holiday touch the latte needs. It’s very easy to make and requires just two ingredients – sugar and flaky sea salt.
Melt granulated sugar on the stove until it turns deep caramel in color, then spread the caramel out over a piece of parchment paper. The caramel hardens in just minutes and can easily be smashed into small shards for sprinkling over your latte. Be sure you’re being careful when handling this, it gets VERY hot.
I’m not sure what Starbucks uses for their brûlée toppings, but these sweet little pieces are the most delicious thing to sprinkle over a latte. They melt into the whipped cream leaving an instantly sweet and salty caramel swirl throughout the latte.
Step 2: the latte
I use whole goat’s milk for this but use your favorite full-fat milk. Bring the milk to a simmer over medium heat on the stove. When the milk is steamy, pull the pot off the heat. Add the maple syrup, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, a whole star anise, and a pinch of salt.
Drop in the chai tea bags, cover the pot, and steep for 10 minutes. You can then discard the tea bags and return the milk to the stove to warm it back to a steamy mix. Once the milk is steaming, add a splash of vanilla. Then whisk everything for a minute or two to make the milk a little frothy.
Step 3: the espresso
Brew a couple of shots of espresso or your favorite black coffee. Pour that steamy gingerbread milk over the espresso. Add a couple of dollops of whipped cream and sprinkle over the brûlée candy.
If you’re looking for an extra treat, add a gingerbread cookie to each latte, then enjoy. This is definitely a dessert-style latte, so enjoy this any time of day and throughout the winter season.
Looking for other warming, rich drinks? Here are my favorites:
Lastly, if you make this Gingerbread Chai Brûlée Latte, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Gingerbread Chai Brûlée Latte
Servings: 2 lattes
Calories Per Serving: 375 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Caramel Brûlée
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- flaky sea salt
Lattee
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1-2 star anise
- 2 bags Chai tea
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 shots espresso or 1/2 cup brewed black coffee
- so much whipped cream (homemade recipe in notes)
Instructions
- 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a pot, cook the sugar over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a heat-proof spatula until the sugar has melted and turns a golden caramel, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully pour the caramel onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread in a thin even layer and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Let sit for 5 minutes. Once hardened, crush the caramel into small pieces/shards with the back of a spoon.2. In a pot, bring the milk to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Remove from the heat, add the maple syrup, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, star anise, and a pinch of salt. Add the chai tea bags, cover, and steep for 10 minutes. Discard the tea bags and star anise. 3. Rewarm the latte over medium heat, 3-5 minutes, until steamy again. Stir in the vanilla. Using a small whisk or a fork, whisk until frothy.4. Divide the espresso between 2 mugs. Pour over the gingerbread chai. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of caramel brûlée. Drink up!
Notes
Vanilla Whipped Cream: Using an electric mixer, whip 1/2 cup cream until soft peaks form. Add 1 tablespoon maple syrup and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whip once more until combined and fluffy.
Tieghan, this was so good. I could not wait to make this for my daughter. I tagged you in my instagram picture. Again, your recipes for drinks and food are amazing. Thank you !!
Aw thank you Karin! xT
This was so good! Better than Starbucks! I want to make a whole jug of this.
Hi Tanya,
I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback! So glad it was enjoyed:) Have a great week! xT
Made this today for a warming Sunday treat and oh my life, it is delicious. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Ooh I have enough left to make another, yum!
Hey Colleen,
I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it and your review! Happy Sunday! xT
Your video for this shows cinnamon sticks and slices of fresh ginger instead of what is listed in the recipe (I’m assuming it means ground cinnamon and ginger?).
Which is better for this? Ground spices, or whole? If using whole, how much? The video shows a LOT of ginger.
Thank you! Excited to try it!
Hey Anna,
You can go ahead and follow the recipe as written:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Is it ground cinnamon and ginger, or cinnamon sticks and fresh ginger? That was her question and it’s literally not written in the recipe.
Sorry for the confusion, it’s ground cinnamon and ginger:)
Made this today minus the caramel and molasses and it was still bomb!
Hey there,
So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
Ive seen some like this on Anthropologie . .so cool arent they!!
Yes, that’s where I found them:)
Love crème brûlée, my favorite dessert! Looking forward to trying this. May I ask were the tree mug and gingerbread looking mugs are from, they are so fun!
Hey Cheryl,
Thanks so much! Yes, of course:) Here are the links:
https://rstyle.me/+hLkffTnG9XgW27SGsuXddQ
https://rstyle.me/+OnNfw-ubxYmX–MG19TuRg
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Super yummy! I just halved the recipe for me!
Love to hear this, Anita! Thanks for trying this recipe and your comment! Have a great weekend! xx
Would the latte still be good without the chai tea bags? In other words, just a gingerbread brûlée latte? Or should I substitute the tea bags for something else? Maybe additional spices?
Thanks for all your recipes. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Hey Christy,
Yes, you can skip the chai tea bags for this recipe:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I have Chai concentrate but not tea bags. Would this work in place just at a different amount?
Hi Bethany,
Sure, I don’t see why that wouldn’t work for you! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Thank you! I actually did think of something else to ask. Do you think any extra brûlée crunch topping would be ok to keep for a few days? If so, how would you recommend storing it?
It should be good for a few days in an airtight container:)
I assume so, because she has an identical recipe (minus the chai and star anise) here:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/vanilla-gingerbread-latte/
This looks wonderful. Love your pictures with the beautiful mug. I ordered it in lustre and the snowman too. Wasn’t sure about the green one, but now I see it – it’s gorgeous!
Great was to kick off Christmas season. 🎄xx
Thanks so much Kelly-Jane!! Right?! The mugs are so cute!! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! xT
Where can I find the wonderful mug.?!?
Hi Lyn,
Here is the link for the mug:
https://rstyle.me/+OnNfw-ubxYmX–MG19TuRg
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx