Warm up on chilly days with cozy chai eggnog! The recipe is made with easy-to-find ingredients such as chai tea, brown sugar, and chai spice mix. The decadent drink bursts with warm, comforting flavors and is perfect for the holidays.
Love eggnog? Try our condensed milk eggnog, vanilla eggnog, and chocolate eggnog next!
What is chai eggnog?
Chai eggnog is a delicious variation of classic eggnog.
It has the same sweet flavor and rich texture you love from eggnog, but it’s laced with the aromatic flavors of chai tea and brown sugar.
A mug of homemade eggnog is one of the coziest things I can think of.
This chai-infused version charms your taste buds with cozy spices and makes your kitchen smell heavenly as it simmers on the stove.
For more Christmas drinks, try this creamy hot chocolate, Christmas morning punch, and eggnog milk shake.
Ingredients
This comforting chai eggnog comes together with a handful of simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store. Scroll down to the recipe card to see the corresponding amounts.
- Milk + cream are the base of this cozy winter drink. You could replace them with evaporated milk or half-and-half.
- Brown sugar sweetens the chai drink and adds a subtle caramel note that goes so well with chia spice. Light and dark brown sugar will work both fine.
- Egg yolks give the drink a wonderfully thick and creamy consistency. Use the egg whites to bake coconut macaroons, meringue cookies, or sawdust pie.
- Chai tea: You can use loose tea, tea sachets, or tea bags. Tea bags are the simplest and are what I would recommend for this recipe. Since we’re adding spice, you can also use your favorite black tea.
- Spices: To highlight the chai flavor, we’ll season the eggnog with chai spice, which is a mix of cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
How to make chai spice eggnog
A little patience is all you need to make perfect chai eggnog from scratch. Let’s go over the step-by-step instructions:
1. Combine sugar, spices, and yolks
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and spices.
- Add the egg yolks and beat until everything is well combined, and you no longer see yellow streaks of egg yolk.
2. Steep tea
- Place the milk, cream, and chai tea bags into a medium saucepan.
- Heat over medium-high heat until it steams and begins to simmer.
- Take off the heat, let cool for 5 minutes, and discard the tea bags.
3. Temper eggs
- Add a ladle of hot milk to the egg mixture while whisking vigorously.
- Continue adding milk, one ladle at a time, to temper the eggs.
4. Thicken eggnog
- Once most of the warm milk has been mixed with the eggs, pour it back into the saucepan on the stovetop.
- Cook the mixture, constantly whisking, until the mixture begins to thicken slightly, about 4 to 6 minutes.
5. Chill
- Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the eggnog to prevent a skin from forming.
- Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
6. Serve
- Pour the chai eggnog into mugs and serve with a sprinkle of spices, if desired.
Recipe tips
Be sure to look over my helpful tips before you fire up your stove and whip up this cozy beverage.
- Let steep: It’s crucial that you bring the cream-milk mixture to a simmer, and then remove from the heat so that the tea can steep. 5 to 10 minutes will give you great flavor.
- Whisk constantly: It’s also important to continuously whisk when you combine the egg and milk mixtures and as you heat the chai eggnog on the stove.
- Work slowly: With eggnog, it’s important to be patient. Add the warm milk-cream mixture slowly to the eggs. And once the eggnog is back in the saucepan, slowly heat it up. The egg will curdle if the heat is too high.
- Strain: If you notice bits of curdled egg yolk, pour the eggnog through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher or punch bowl. Straining removes any bits of cooked egg yolk and creates a super smooth consistency.
- Serve: Chai eggnog can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature, or chilled. To drink warm, reheat the eggnog in a saucepan over low flame.
Variations
- Maple syrup: Feel free to use 1/2 cup maple syrup instead of brown sugar.
- Orange zest: Infuse your chai eggnog with hints of citrus by adding the zest of 1 orange.
- Pumpkin pie spice: Substitute the spices for pumpkin pie spice.
- Dairy-free: Make it lactose-free by using coconut cream and your plant-based milk of choice.
Storage instructions
How to store chai eggnog
Keep the eggnog in an airtight container after it has cooled to room temperature. It will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days. Enjoy it cold or warm it up over mild heat.
Can you freeze chai tea eggnog?
Yes, you can freeze the holiday drink for up to 3 months. Pour the eggnog into a freezer-friendly container. Don’t forget to leave an inch at the top so the liquid has space to expand as it freezes.
When you’re ready to drink, thaw out frozen eggnog in the fridge before you serve or reheat it.
Prepare chai eggnog ahead of time
You can make the recipe 1 to 2 days in advance, and store refrigerated until ready to serve.
More holiday drink recipes
Do you love cozy and comforting holiday drinks? Then, I highly recommend trying some of our other ideas. They are easy and will put you in the spirit of the season!
- Cinnamon Eggnog
- Pumpkin Spice Eggnog
- Condensed Milk Hot Chocolate
- Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Christmosas
- Cranberry Truffle Smoothie
Chai Spice Eggnog Recipe
Warm up on chilly days with cozy chai eggnog! The recipe is made with easy-to-find ingredients such as chai tea, brown sugar, and chai spice mix. The decadent drink bursts with warm, comforting flavors and is perfect for the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup / 100 g / 3.5 oz brown sugar
- 2 tsp chai spice mix (see Note below)
- 6 large egg yolks
- 1 cup / 240 ml / 8 fl oz heavy cream
- 2 cups / 475 ml / 16 fl oz milk
- 3 chai tea bags
Instructions
- Combine sugar, spices, and yolks. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and spices. Add the egg yolks and beat until everything is well combined, and you no longer see yellow streaks of egg yolk.
- Steep tea. Place the milk, cream, and chai tea bags into a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until it steams and begins to simmer. Take off the heat, let cool for 5 minutes, and discard the tea bags.
Tip: If you’re using loose chai tea, put the tea into a tea bag filter. - Temper eggs. Add a ladle of hot milk to the egg mixture while whisking vigorously. Continue adding milk, one ladle at a time, to temper the eggs.
- Thicken eggnog. Once most of the warm milk has been mixed with the eggs, pour it back into the saucepan on the stovetop. Cook the mixture, constantly whisking, until the mixture begins to thicken slightly, about 4 to 6 minutes.
Tip: To ensure that the egg yolks are safe to consume, cook the mixture until it reaches 160°F / 71C° on a thermometer. - Chill. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the eggnog to prevent a skin from forming. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. The texture will thicken as it cools.
- Serve. Pour the chai eggnog into mugs and serve with a sprinkle of spices, if desired. You can enjoy eggnog cold, at room temperature, warm, or over ice.
- Store. Keep your eggnog in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
Homemade Chai Spice Mix
To mix your own chai spice blend, whisk together the following ingredients:
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 322Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 268mgSodium: 126mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 0gSugar: 22gProtein: 11g
FAQ
Does chai tea eggnog contain caffeine?
Yes, chai eggnog is a caffeinated drink because chai tea contains caffeine. If you need it without caffeine, either use decaf chai tea or skip the tea and only use chia spice.
Why do I need to temper the eggs?
Tempering refers to a process where ingredients with different temperatures are carefully combined. This technique is often used when one of the ingredients curdles easily.
In this case, it’s the egg yolks. The secret is to add the warm milk slowly and in increments. Constantly stirring is also important.
Can you fix curdled eggnog?
If your chai eggnog curled nonetheless, you might still be able to save it. Put the eggnog into a blender and blend a couple of times until smooth. While it’s not guaranteed, it’s worth a try.
Can this chai turned into an alcoholic drink?
Of course! For a boozy version, simply stir in your liquor of choice after the eggnog has cooked. Start with 1/2 cup and whisk until well combined and work your way up from there.
The alcohol helps to increase the eggnog’s shelf life. In the fridge, boozy chai eggnog will last for up to 3 weeks.
What alcohol is best with chai eggnog?
Traditional eggnog is made with rum, brandy, or bourbon. These options would be great for eggnog chai tea too. Other types of alcohol, like amaretto, vodka, or coffee liquor, might also taste great.
Reasons to love chai eggnog
For chai lovers: This recipe is a twist on classic eggnog by adding chai, a spiced black tea, and chai spice mix.
Delicious: Chai spice eggnog is a comforting, warm drink with an amazing, cozy flavor.
Quick: The recipe is easy to make at home and takes only 20 minutes to prepare.
