All of the wonderful spices of chai tea are showcased in these Chai Spiced Cupcakes that are simple yet packed with flavor.
If you like cupcakes with a little bit of spice, also try these Carrot Cake Cupcakes or these Sweet Potato Cupcakes.
So, I’m not a tea drinker. When I was overdue with my last baby, I had read that raspberry leaf tea helped to induce labor, and I tried. But no. I have never been able to do it. I like the idea of sitting down at night with a warm mug of herbal tea, but well, it’s just not for me.
I know that chai tea has become really popular in the last few years. But because of my non-tea ways, it has been one of those trends that I’ve just skipped over.
But then, as I was reading through a cookbook one night, I came across this recipe. And while I would have normally skipped over it, for some reason, I read through that recipe.
Wait – a recipe for chai spiced cupcakes, but there isn’t actually any tea in them?? I was definitely intrigued.
I’ve obviously been missing out. Because these chai spices? The flavors are phenomenal. You make a spice blend that has all of the flavors of chai tea, and then you add some to the cupcakes and some to the frosting. These cupcakes are warm and perfectly spiced and full of flavor. They may not look like anything special, but the flavor is perfection.
The original recipe said that the recipe made 12 cupcakes, but when I made my first batch with 12, the cups definitely had too much batter in them and the cupcakes were a mess. So on my second try, I made 17 cupcakes and they came out perfectly. So I think that this recipe should make between 16 and 18 cupcakes.
You may not find me sitting down with a warm mug of tea at night, but don’t be surprised if you find me sitting down with one of these Chai Spiced Cupcakes!
More Cupcake Recipes
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Key Lime Cupcakes
Caramel Apple Cupcakes
LOOKING FOR MORE FREE RECIPES?
Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more family-friendly inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
Chai Spiced Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup milk
Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
- cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Place cupcake liners in 16 muffin cups.
- In a small bowl, combine the ground ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and black pepper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and the vanilla, scraping down the bowl as needed. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the reserved spice mixture. Alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk, beating just until combined after each addition.
- Fill the prepared cups 2/3 full of the batter. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes the remove from the pans to cool completely on a cooling rack.
- To make the frosting, in a large bowl beat the butter until fluffy. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar, vanilla and remaining spice mixture. Beat until smooth. Add enough of the milk to reach your desired consistency. Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes, and if desired, sprinkle with cinnamon.
Millifa Jack says
Nor am I that much a tea drinker. This is just the coffee that makes me, you know, a human in the morning. I don’t like it.
Cadence says
This was a good recipe! However the icing was a little on the sweet side.We kept the cupcakes in the tin with no wrapper and the sides were nice and crispy.It even tasted like the Starbucks version.Everyone should try this!
Julia Stearns @ Healthirony says
These chai spiced cupcakes are so Instagrammable and adorable! As you know I made it a short while ago and it was lovely! Thx for sharing!
Leora says
These are so delicious! The icing is very rich. Just a little will do it. Highly recommend them if you like a spice cake.
Deborah says
I’m so glad you liked them!
Tori says
Did you use salted or unsalted butter? This recipe looks great, can’t wait to try it out!!
Deborah says
I always use unsalted butter. If you use salted, just cut back on the salt in the recipe a little bit.
Jess says
These are amazing, and your directions are perfect! I’m a pretty average baker (but I’m improving!) and I often find that some small thing goes wrong when I follow directions exactly – I’m not always clever enough to pick up on it before I end up burning things. Yours worked brilliantly and became an instant household favourite.
Deborah says
I’m so happy they turned out so well for you. Thank you for your kind words!
Grace says
These cupcakes were great! The spicing was perfect. I put less powdered sugar because I thought the 3 1/2 cups was a little too much, and they were perfect!
Kelly says
So I made the Chai Spice Cupcakes and the frosting is to die for however the cupcakes were a little off almost like a flour taste any ideas on why
Deborah says
I’m not sure – I haven’t heard of that happening before. I wonder if it was maybe the brand of flour you used? I’m not sure – you have me stumped!
Chels R. says
They sound marvelous! I love chai tea-I liked it before it was the cool thing to drink, lol! And I’ve come across several recipes with a chai blend in them and I’ve just always pinned or bookmarked them for another time. I have a recipe though, from a Food Network Magazine from last year, and I am going to make them once it gets closer to the holidays. The picture has me drooling.