Introduction
These 23 spiced chai cupcakes are the perfect mix of warm spices, sweet comfort, and soft, fluffy texture. Each one brings the cozy aroma of chai into your kitchen — think cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves, all in one delicious bite. Whether you’re baking for guests or treating yourself, these cupcakes are guaranteed to disappear fast.
1. Classic Spiced Chai Cupcakes
The original, balanced blend of spices that defines chai perfection.
Ingredients
- 180g all-purpose flour
- 6g baking powder
- 3g baking soda
- 3g cinnamon
- 2g cardamom
- 1g ginger powder
- 115g unsalted butter (softened)
- 150g brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml brewed chai tea (cooled)
- 60ml milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C. Line cupcake tin.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, soda, and spices.
- Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs one at a time.
- Mix in chai tea and milk alternately with dry ingredients.
- Fill liners ¾ full. Bake for 18–20 min.
- Cool before frosting.
How to Serve It
Top with vanilla buttercream and sprinkle cinnamon sugar.
2. Vanilla Chai Cupcakes with Honey Frosting
Smooth vanilla base meets sweet honey and chai spice.
Ingredients
- 180g flour
- 5g baking powder
- 3g cinnamon
- 2g cardamom
- 115g butter
- 130g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
- 5ml vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and vanilla.
- Blend in chai tea and flour alternately.
- Bake 18–20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Top with honey buttercream and drizzle extra honey.
3. Chocolate Chai Cupcakes
A cozy blend of chocolate richness and chai spice warmth.
Ingredients
- 150g flour
- 40g cocoa powder
- 4g cinnamon
- 2g cardamom
- 2g cloves
- 100g butter
- 140g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat to 175°C.
- Combine flour, cocoa, and spices.
- Beat butter, sugar, eggs; add chai tea.
- Fold in dry mix.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Frost with chocolate ganache and sprinkle with cinnamon dust.
4. Caramel Chai Latte Cupcakes
Inspired by café chai lattes — sweet, creamy, irresistible.
Ingredients
- 180g flour
- 3g baking soda
- 2g cinnamon
- 100g butter
- 140g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 60ml caramel sauce
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and caramel.
- Mix in chai tea and dry ingredients.
- Bake 18 minutes.
How to Serve It
Top with caramel frosting and drizzle extra caramel.
5. Maple Chai Cupcakes
Maple adds a rich sweetness that pairs perfectly with chai spice.
Ingredients
- 180g flour
- 3g baking powder
- 3g cinnamon
- 115g butter
- 100g brown sugar
- 60ml maple syrup
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Beat butter, sugar, and syrup.
- Add eggs and chai tea.
- Stir in dry ingredients.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Frost with maple glaze and crushed pecans.
6. Pumpkin Chai Cupcakes
Pumpkin puree makes these cupcakes extra moist and festive.
Ingredients
- 160g flour
- 3g cinnamon
- 2g nutmeg
- 2g ginger
- 100g pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 100g sugar
- 80ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Combine pumpkin, sugar, eggs, and tea.
- Blend in flour mix.
- Bake 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Frost with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle nutmeg.
7. Apple Chai Cupcakes
Sweet apples and warm spices bring a cozy homemade feel.
Ingredients
- 180g flour
- 1 apple (grated)
- 3g cinnamon
- 2g cloves
- 100g butter
- 130g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 100ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Combine butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Add apple and chai tea.
- Stir in dry ingredients.
- Bake 18–20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Add apple slices on top and drizzle caramel.
8. Coconut Chai Cupcakes
Coconut milk softens the chai spice for a creamy, tropical taste.
Ingredients
- 180g flour
- 2g cardamom
- 100g sugar
- 80g butter
- 2 eggs
- 120ml coconut milk with chai spices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Cream butter and sugar, add eggs.
- Mix in coconut milk and dry ingredients.
- Bake 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Top with whipped coconut frosting and toasted coconut flakes.
9. Brown Butter Chai Cupcakes
Nutty brown butter adds depth and caramel-like flavor.
Ingredients
- 170g flour
- 115g brown butter
- 130g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2g cinnamon
- 2g cardamom
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Brown butter, let it cool.
- Mix with sugar and eggs.
- Add chai tea and dry ingredients.
- Bake at 175°C for 18 minutes.
How to Serve It
Top with brown butter glaze.
10. Almond Chai Cupcakes
A delicate nutty twist that enhances chai’s warmth.
Ingredients
- 180g flour
- 80g ground almonds
- 100g butter
- 120g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat to 175°C.
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Beat butter, sugar, eggs; add chai tea.
- Fold together and bake 18 minutes.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle with almond slices.
11. Chai Pistachio Cupcakes
Crunchy pistachios pair beautifully with cardamom-rich chai.
Ingredients
- 160g flour
- 40g pistachio flour
- 100g butter
- 120g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat to 175°C.
- Mix butter, sugar, eggs.
- Add chai tea, then flours.
- Bake 18 minutes.
How to Serve It
Frost with pistachio buttercream and chopped nuts.
12. Gingerbread Chai Cupcakes
Holiday perfection — spicy, soft, and comforting.
Ingredients
- 180g flour
- 4g ginger
- 2g cinnamon
- 2g cloves
- 100g molasses
- 100g butter
- 2 eggs
- 100ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat to 175°C.
- Beat butter, molasses, and sugar.
- Add eggs, chai tea, and dry mix.
- Bake 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Top with cream cheese frosting and mini gingerbread cookies.
13. Chai Mocha Cupcakes
For coffee lovers — this fusion of mocha and chai creates an irresistible aroma.
Ingredients
- 150g all-purpose flour
- 40g cocoa powder
- 4g cinnamon
- 2g cardamom
- 100g butter
- 120g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 60ml strong coffee
- 60ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Combine flour, cocoa, and spices.
- Beat butter and sugar until fluffy; add eggs.
- Mix in coffee and chai tea alternately with dry mix.
- Bake 20 minutes and cool before frosting.
How to Serve It
Top with mocha buttercream and a dusting of cocoa powder.
14. Chai Oatmeal Cupcakes
Oats add heartiness and a soft, nutty texture to classic chai flavors.
Ingredients
- 150g flour
- 50g rolled oats
- 3g baking powder
- 2g cinnamon
- 115g butter
- 100g brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Beat butter, sugar, and eggs until creamy.
- Add chai tea and fold in dry mix.
- Bake 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle oat crumble on top and drizzle maple syrup.
15. Lemon Chai Cupcakes
A zesty twist brings brightness to the warm spice base.
Ingredients
- 170g flour
- 100g sugar
- 100g butter
- 2 eggs
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 100ml chai tea
- 5ml lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Beat butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Mix in lemon zest and juice.
- Add chai tea and dry mix.
- Bake 18 minutes.
How to Serve It
Frost with lemon buttercream and sprinkle with zest.
16. Orange Chai Cupcakes
Orange adds a citrus aroma that pairs beautifully with chai’s warmth.
Ingredients
- 180g flour
- 100g sugar
- 100g butter
- 2 eggs
- 120ml orange juice
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 80ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat to 175°C.
- Mix butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Add orange juice, zest, and chai tea.
- Fold in dry ingredients.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Top with orange glaze and garnish with thin slices of orange peel.
17. Chai Banana Cupcakes
Bananas make these cupcakes tender and sweet with natural richness.
Ingredients
- 160g flour
- 2 ripe bananas (mashed)
- 100g butter
- 90g brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3g cinnamon
- 2g ginger
- 60ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat to 175°C.
- Beat butter and sugar, add bananas and eggs.
- Mix in chai tea and spices.
- Fold in flour.
- Bake 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Frost with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and a banana chip.
18. Honey Chai Cupcakes
Honey adds a smooth sweetness that complements the chai’s spice profile.
Ingredients
- 180g flour
- 100g butter
- 100g sugar
- 60g honey
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
- 3g cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Beat butter, sugar, and honey.
- Add eggs, then chai tea.
- Fold in dry ingredients.
- Bake 18 minutes.
How to Serve It
Drizzle with warm honey and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
19. Chai Cream Cheese Cupcakes
Rich and tangy cream cheese brings balance to the sweet chai base.
Ingredients
- 170g flour
- 3g baking powder
- 100g butter
- 100g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat to 175°C.
- Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add eggs, chai tea, and dry ingredients.
- Bake 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Top with whipped cream cheese frosting and dust lightly with cinnamon.
20. Chai Cranberry Cupcakes
The tartness of cranberries cuts through the warmth of chai perfectly.
Ingredients
- 170g flour
- 80g dried cranberries
- 100g sugar
- 100g butter
- 2 eggs
- 100ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat to 175°C.
- Mix butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Add chai tea and cranberries.
- Fold in flour.
- Bake 18–20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Decorate with sugared cranberries or cranberry glaze.
21. Chai Pear Cupcakes
Delicate pear flavor adds elegance to every bite.
Ingredients
- 160g flour
- 1 ripe pear (grated)
- 100g butter
- 90g brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat to 175°C.
- Beat butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Add pear and chai tea.
- Stir in dry ingredients.
- Bake 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Top with pear slices and drizzle caramel sauce.
22. Chai Walnut Cupcakes
The crunch of walnuts adds great texture and complements the spice mix.
Ingredients
- 160g flour
- 50g chopped walnuts
- 100g butter
- 120g brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Mix butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Add chai tea and walnuts.
- Fold in dry mix.
- Bake 18 minutes.
How to Serve It
Garnish with chopped walnuts and a drizzle of honey.
23. Chai Pecan Cupcakes
A Southern-inspired finish with nutty pecan crunch and chai spice fragrance.
Ingredients
- 160g flour
- 50g chopped pecans
- 100g butter
- 110g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120ml chai tea
- 3g cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C.
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Add eggs and chai tea.
- Fold in flour, cinnamon, and pecans.
- Bake 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Frost with brown sugar buttercream and top with toasted pecans.
Conclusion
From cozy Pumpkin Chai to nutty Pecan Chai, every cupcake here tells its own story of comfort and spice. These 23 recipes bring café-style indulgence right into your kitchen. Brew your favorite cup of chai, pick a recipe, and fill your home with the warm scent of cinnamon, cardamom, and love.
