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Home » Recipe Index » Dessert

Published: Feb 20, 2017 · Modified: May 1, 2020 by Tanya · This post may contain affiliate links · 26 Comments

Chai Tea Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing

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These Chai Tea Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing are a delicious treat. Just think of a Chai Latte but in cupcake form. So delicious, so fun!

chair tea cupcake topped with buttercream and in foil cupcake liner


 

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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.

I may be a bit late to the game but I just found my love for chai tea! I was never a big tea drinker but started getting into them when I decided to give up coffee for lent last year. You can read about that experience here.

Will I give up coffee this year? I don't know, I may but I would be fine either way thanks to Chai Tea! In addition to my new love for Chai Tea, I also have a love for cupcakes. Well, I've always loved cupcakes but decided it was time to bring my two loves together. Say hello to these Chai Tea Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing!

cupcakes on top of and in front of silver platter with cupcake in front half eaten

So this tea obsession of mine was pretty serious. I have green tea, black tea, purple tea (hibiscus) and a host of others chilling in my cabinet waiting to be drunk. I can't say I loved all the teas I've tried but have found an appreciation for the many that exist. Tea has always calmed me during times of high stress. The aroma is what gets my nerves to pause and relax.

So how did we get to cupcakes? The last cup of chai tea I made tasted like dessert, only because I sweetened with milk and sugar and topped it with whipped cream and cinnamon. I think professional tea drinkers would frown upon that but it was sooo good. The next natural step would be cupcakes.

cupcakes on platter with tea bag in middle and cupcake in front half eaten

These chai tea cupcakes remind me of spice cupcakes, because I used a lot of spice in them. It literally reminds me of a chai latte I would get from my favorite coffee shot. The buttercream icing is a typical butter cream flavor to contrast all the flavor of the cupcake. And of course, I topped with cinnamon to make them perty.

I hope you enjoy these chai tea cupcakes as much as we do. Daughter snuck and ate 4 in a row the first time I made them. I couldn't even stay mad at her.

Looking for more cupcake or mini cake recipes? Try my red velvet cupcakes or these mini rum carrot cakes. 

Chai Tea Cupcakes are a delicious treat. Made with chai black tea and delicious spices with butter cream frosting.
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5 from 6 votes

Chai Tea Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Servings 12
Calories 270.6kcal
Author Tanya
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 chai tea bags
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup vanilla flavored yogurt
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Buttercream Frosting

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon milk

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
    Place milk in a pot over medium heat. As soon as milk starts to boil and you see bubbles, remove from heat and add tea bags. Allow to brew for 10 minutes 
    Add all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt to a bowl. Set aside. 
    In another big bowl, combine milk and tea mixture, white sugar, vanilla flavored yogurt, and vegetable oil. Stir until incorporated.  Add dry ingredients and mix until flour disappears.
    Place in muffin tin and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool. Frost with icing and dust with cinnamon. 
    To make frosting, add butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and milk to a bowl and mix with mixer until fluffy.

Notes

Nutrition

Calories: 270.6kcal
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Step by Step Photos of Chai Tea Cupcakes

  • tea bags in liquid in saucepan
  • dry
  • wet ingredients in bowl with whisk in it
  • batter in bowl with whisk
  • baked cupcakes in cupcake tin
  • buttercream in bowl whipped
  • chai tea cupcakes on platter with tea bag in middle and half eaten cupcake on side

Pin Chai Tea Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing for Later

pinterest image of cupcake on top, text that says chai tea cupcakes with buttercream icing, and multiple cupcakes on bottom if image

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Comments

    5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery says

    February 21, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    What a great cupcake flavor! I love all the warm spices of chai and imagine they translate very well into dessert.

    Reply
  2. Just Jo says

    February 21, 2017 at 3:10 pm

    Oh I love chai tea! I can't blame your daughter for eating four of these lol - I would eat the lot 😉 They look beautiful.

    Reply
  3. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says

    February 21, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    I love chai tea but I've never thought about putting it into a dessert -- but it's a marvelous idea. You did such a beautiful job with decorating with the icing. A pleasure to look at and I bet it's even more of a joy to sample.

    Reply
  4. Stephanie@ApplesforCJ says

    February 21, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    Believe it or not I've never tried Chai tea. Of course I kind of go through periods of drinking tea but mostly green tea. Love the sound of the spices in here. Maybe I need to get some Chai tea and give it a go!

    Reply
  5. Anvita says

    February 21, 2017 at 11:58 am

    Interesting twist to the cup cakes. Had never tried Chai Tea cupcakes before. Would be a good idea for High Tea parties.

    Reply
  6. Byron Thomas says

    February 21, 2017 at 9:50 am

    I love chai tea, but I'm not sure I've ever had chai in a baked good. These little cupcakes look divine! I can't wait to try them!

    Reply
  7. Mark, CompassandFork says

    February 21, 2017 at 9:38 am

    Wow, I would never have thought to have used chai tea in a cupcake. But now looking at your post, they look divine. Nice photos by the way.

    Reply
  8. Priya Srinivasan says

    February 21, 2017 at 9:03 am

    Lovely cupcakes, never tried chai infused bakes before, this looks tempting!

    Reply
  9. Veena Azmanov says

    February 21, 2017 at 8:52 am

    I love anything chai flavor. this looks so good. Love your buttercream swirl.

    Reply
  10. Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says

    February 20, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    I love chai! These cupcakes looks so delicious! I'll definitely have to try them.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 20, 2017 at 8:13 am

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply
  11. Tracy Iseminger says

    February 20, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    Oh Chai... how I love thee. Why have I not had these cupcakes in my life yet? These sound so rich and delish... I think I've got to go bake!

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 20, 2017 at 8:13 am

      lol, Thank you!

      Reply
  12. Christine McMichael says

    February 20, 2017 at 8:16 pm

    My husband would LOVE these! Chai tea + cupcakes sounds like the best combo ever. Hope to try this recipe soon!

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 20, 2017 at 8:13 am

      Thank you! best combo indeed.

      Reply
  13. Dene' V. Alexander says

    February 20, 2017 at 7:13 pm

    Oooooo, brewing the tea bags in miik! Love the creativity. I am not much of a tea drinker, but would love to try these for the flavor.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 20, 2017 at 8:12 am

      Thank you! Chai is delicious as a drink or a cupcake.

      Reply
  14. Pam says

    February 20, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    These chai cupcakes sound really good. I don't like drinking warm drinks, but I love the taste of chai, so these would be great for me.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 20, 2017 at 8:12 am

      Thank you! Chai is delicious.

      Reply
  15. valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says

    February 20, 2017 at 4:27 pm

    Cupcakes are great because they make so many people smile. These are pretty and they sound like they'd be quite flavorful.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 20, 2017 at 8:11 am

      Thank you! They are the best!

      Reply
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Welcome to My Forking Life! Hi, I'm Tanya, attorney, busy wife and mom, and lover of quick, easy, and delicious meals.

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