Masala Chai Hot Chocolate

This Masala Chai Hot Chocolate is a delicious, warming drink that's chocolatey and a little spicy and is the perfect drink to warm you from the inside out.

This time of year gets me on my moon milk, lattes, and all sorts of warm drink kicks. After all, this is the season to stay warm and cozy. And that's precisely what you can expect from this chai masala recipe. It's a bit of a twist on the classic chai tea. I like the richness of this masala chai hot chocolate which has hints of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.

The inspiration came when I wanted to pair a chai with my favorite hormone-balancing hot chocolate. The result was natural and a delicious masala chai recipe was born.

If you want more inspiration besides the one mentioned above, check out some of my other spice-infused favorites like this chamomile cinnamon moon milk latte, or this cardamom moon milk, pumpkin spice moon milk latte, gingerbread moon milk or my anti-inflammatory turmeric ginger latte.

Classic Masala Chai vs. Masala Chai Hot Chocolate

Masala chai means spiced tea at its core and it is classically made with water, spices, black tea, milk, and sugar. While my version includes tea, it is an optional component. You can add that little bit of caffeine kick if you wish, or skip it altogether and focus on the spices, cacao, and milk.

Jump To

• Classic Masala Chai vs. Masala Chai Hot Chocolate
• Why You'll Love This Masala Chai Hot Chocolate
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Top tip
• FAQ
• Related
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Masala Chai Hot Chocolate

• It's vegan, paleo, keto and low-carb
• Full of warming spices
• A perfect drink any time of day

Ingredients

• Cacao
• Ginger
• Cardamom
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Nutmeg
• Almond milk or milk of your choice
• Vanilla extract
• Black tea bag (decaf or regular)
• Optional: maple syrup or honey
• Optional: Star anise

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Step 1. Combine the spices, cacao, vanilla, and milk of choice in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Once the milk simmers, dip the tea bag several times (or skip the tea).

Step 2. If using, add star anise and let it infuse for 2 minutes. You can also transfer the star anise to your mug (just don't try and drink it) and enjoy your masala chai hot chocolate.

Step 3. I like to finish it with frothy milk.

Hint: You can use an electric milk frother or you can easily achieve a nice creamy texture and froth by adding a teaspoon of coconut oil and your chai hot chocolate (minus the star anise) to a blender and blending everything together.

Substitutions

Here are some substitutions you can make in case you're missing the recommended ingredients.

• Almond milk - you can use whatever milk you would like but I find almond milk or oat milk to work best in this recipe.
• Spice variations - if you have cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon that will be enough to make classic masala chai.
• Frothy milk - if you don't have a milk frother, no worries, you can get a creamy feel by adding 1 teaspoon coconut oil and blending everything minus the star anise in a blender for 10 seconds.

Variations

• Fennel - add a pinch of fennel for an extra something special
• Black pepper - a pinch of pepper will intensify the spice profile
• Allspice - if you don't have cloves, you can use ⅛ teaspoon allspice
• Cocoa powder - cocoa powder can be used in place of cacao
• Ashwagandha - if you feel inclined you can add ashwagahdha and it turns into a more calming drink.

See the original recipe that inspired this variation.

Equipment

• Small saucepan
• Optional: Blender

FAQ

Related

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