If you love the comforting warmth of chai spices and the rich decadence of chocolate brownies, these Chai Spiced Brownies Recipe will quickly become your new favorite treat. This recipe blends fragrant cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger with smooth cocoa and a touch of brewed chai tea, resulting in brownies that are deeply flavorful with a subtle spicy kick. Every bite offers a cozy, aromatic experience perfect for chilly afternoons or sharing with friends over a cup of tea.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Chai Spiced Brownies Recipe lies in its simple, thoughtfully chosen ingredients. Each one plays a crucial role from creating the moist, tender texture to layering in those authentic chai flavors and rich chocolate notes.
- Boiling water: Used to steep the chai tea bags, infusing liquid with spice and warmth.
- Chai tea bags: The heart of the flavor, combining traditional chai spices.
- Butter: Adds richness and enhances the brownie’s tender crumb.
- Cinnamon: Brings sweet warmth and depth to the spice mix.
- Ground ginger: Offers zesty brightness balancing the sweetness.
- Ground cardamom: Adds a unique floral, citrusy note.
- Ground nutmeg: Provides earthy warmth and complexity.
- Ground allspice: Enhances overall spiciness with hints of clove and cinnamon.
- Ground cloves: Contributes a strong, aromatic punch that’s signature to chai.
- All-purpose flour: The base that gives structure to the brownies.
- Cocoa powder: Delivers deep chocolate flavor without heaviness.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies flavors.
- Baking powder: Helps the brownies rise just enough for a soft texture.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the batter and helps develop a delicate crust.
- Large egg: Binds everything together for a fudgy consistency.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the chocolate and spice notes.
- Dark or semisweet chocolate chips: Adds bursts of melty, rich chocolate in every bite.
How to Make Chai Spiced Brownies Recipe
Step 1: Steep Your Chai Tea
Start by bringing your water to a boil and steeping the chai tea bags in it for 20 minutes. This slow steeping allows the spices to fully infuse the water, creating a rich chai base that will permeate the brownies. After steeping, remove the tea bags and let the liquid cool completely before using.
Step 2: Spice Butter Infusion
Melt the butter gently over medium heat, then add the cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Heating these spices in butter helps release their essential oils and enhance their aromatics, giving the brownies a fragrant, spiced depth that sets this recipe apart. Remove the pan from the heat and allow this spiced butter to cool slightly.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and spices, which is key to achieving a consistent texture without any clumps.
Step 4: Mix Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk the spiced butter together with sugar until smooth and glossy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, continuing to whisk until fully incorporated. Then, stir in half a cup of the brewed chai tea you cooled earlier. This mixture combines richness with spice-infused moisture, setting a luscious foundation for the batter.
Step 5: Bring It All Together
Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients gently, stirring just until combined to avoid overworking the batter. Fold in the dark or semisweet chocolate chips, which will add delightful pockets of melted chocolate throughout the brownies.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Pour the batter into your prepared 8×8 inch pan lined with parchment paper for easy removal. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes—just long enough for a soft, fudgy interior with a slightly crisp top. After baking, let them cool completely in the pan for about an hour before slicing to allow flavors to settle and textures to become perfect.
How to Serve Chai Spiced Brownies Recipe
Garnishes
A light dusting of powdered sugar or a sprinkle of cinnamon on top will amplify those chai notes visually and in taste. You can also add a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream to contrast the warm spices with a cool, creamy finish.
Side Dishes
A hot cup of chai tea or a freshly brewed black tea makes a classic pairing, intensifying the overall chai experience. Alternatively, serve alongside a rich coffee or a creamy latte to complement the chocolate spiced flavors wonderfully.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, cut the brownies into bite-sized squares and thread them onto skewers interspersed with fresh fruit like orange slices or pomegranate seeds for color and brightness. You could also make brownie parfaits by layering crumbled brownies with spiced whipped cream and chopped nuts in clear glasses.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your chai spiced brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days to keep them moist and flavorful. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate them to maintain fresh texture, but bring back to room temperature before serving.
Freezing
If you want to keep these brownies longer, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then foil to freeze. They freeze well for up to two months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best texture.
Reheating
To revive the warm, gooey nature of these brownies, gently reheat individual squares in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds or warm them briefly in a low oven. This simple step helps the chocolate chips melt beautifully again and enhances those chai-spiced aromas.
FAQs
Can I use loose chai tea instead of tea bags?
Absolutely. You can use about 2 tablespoons of loose chai tea leaves steeped in boiling water just like the tea bags to infuse the same wonderful flavors.
What type of cocoa powder works best for this recipe?
A natural unsweetened cocoa powder is ideal because it brings that bright chocolate flavor which balances nicely against the spices without adding bitterness.
Can I substitute the butter with oil?
Butter is preferred here for its flavor and texture benefits, but you can use a neutral oil like vegetable or canola if needed, though it may change the richness slightly.
Are these brownies very spicy?
They offer a gentle warmth with well-rounded chai flavors rather than intense heat — perfect for those who enjoy subtle spicy undertones in their sweets.
How do I make these gluten-free?
Simply replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend that includes xanthan gum for best results; the rest of the recipe remains the same.
Final Thoughts
These chai spiced brownies combine comforting familiar flavors with an exciting twist that turns a classic dessert into an aromatic delight. Once you try this Chai Spiced Brownies Recipe, you’ll see why it’s become a beloved recipe for satisfying sweet cravings with a cozy, spicy flair. I’m confident these brownies will bring warmth and smiles whenever you share them.
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Chai Spiced Brownies Recipe
These Chai Brownies bring a delightful twist to classic chocolate brownies by infusing rich chai spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. The aroma of steeped chai tea combined with dark chocolate chips creates a comforting and flavorful dessert perfect for any occasion.
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 9 brownies
Ingredients
Tea Infusion
- 1 cup boiling water (250 ml)
- 3 chai tea bags
Spiced Butter Mixture
- ½ cup butter (113 grams)
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (148 grams)
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder (27 grams)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup dark or semisweet chocolate chips (120 grams)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 8×8 inch baking pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the brownies.
- Steep chai tea: Place the chai tea bags into 1 cup of boiling water and let steep for 20 minutes to extract the rich chai flavors. After steeping, remove and discard the tea bags, then allow the chai tea to cool completely before using.
- Melt and spice butter: In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the cinnamon, ground ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Heat the mixture for about 1 minute or until the spices become aromatic. Remove from heat and let the spiced butter cool slightly to avoid scrambling the eggs later.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder until evenly mixed.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the spiced butter with the granulated sugar and whisk until fully incorporated. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then whisk again until smooth. Stir in ½ cup of the brewed chai tea.
- Combine batter: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until everything is combined—avoid overmixing to keep the brownies tender.
- Add chocolate chips and pour batter: Fold in the chocolate chips evenly through the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. The brownies should be set at the edges but slightly soft in the center.
- Cool and serve: Remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool in the pan for 1 hour to firm up completely. Once cooled, slice into 9 squares and serve your delicious chai-infused brownies.
Notes
- For an extra intense chai flavor, use strong chai tea or brew the tea longer.
- You can substitute dark chocolate chips with milk chocolate or white chocolate chips as preferred.
- Make sure the spiced butter is cool before adding eggs to prevent curdling.
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- These brownies freeze well; wrap individually and store frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
