Copycat Dunkin’ Chai Latte

Skip the coffee-shop line and make a cozy Copycat Dunkin’ Chai Latte right at home! Warm chai spices, black tea, creamy milk, vanilla, and just the right amount of sweetness come together in an easy homemade drink that’s delicious served hot or over ice.

You don’t need an espresso machine or any fancy coffee equipment, and you can have your homemade chai ready in about 10 minutes.

It’s cozy enough for crisp fall mornings and just as delicious iced when September decides it’s still summer.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Dunkin’ Chai Latte

Chai is one of those drinks that somehow works in every season.

The cinnamon and warm spices make it cozy enough for fall and winter, while an iced chai is incredibly refreshing during warmer weather.

You’ll love this recipe because it’s:

• Ready in about 10 minutes
• Easy to make hot or iced
• Made with simple ingredients
• No espresso machine required
• Easy to customize
• Creamy and full of warm spices
• Less expensive than a coffee-shop drink
• Perfect for fall

And your kitchen is going to smell amazing.

Ingredients

For the Chai Latte

• 1 cup water
• 2 black tea bags
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
• Pinch of ground cloves
• Pinch of nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk

For Serving

• Ground cinnamon, optional
• Whipped cream, optional

How to Make a Copycat Dunkin’ Chai Latte

Step 1: Heat the Water

Add the water to a small saucepan.

Bring it just to a simmer over medium heat.

Step 2: Add the Tea and Spices

Add the black tea bags and cinnamon stick.

Stir in the ginger, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg.

Reduce the heat to low and allow everything to gently steep for approximately 5 minutes.

Step 3: Remove the Tea

Remove the tea bags and cinnamon stick.

Step 4: Add the Sweetener

Stir in the brown sugar and vanilla extract.

Continue stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.

Step 5: Add the Milk

Pour in the milk.

Heat over medium-low heat until the chai is hot and steaming.

Don’t allow the milk to boil.

Step 6: Froth

For a coffee-shop-style texture, use a handheld milk frother to lightly froth the chai.

Step 7: Serve

Pour into a large mug.

Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

For an extra-indulgent chai, add whipped cream.

Serve immediately.

What Is a Chai Latte?

A chai latte combines spiced black tea with milk and sweetener.

Traditional masala chai has roots in India and can include a variety of spices depending on the recipe and region.

Coffee-shop chai lattes are generally sweeter and creamier, often using a prepared chai concentrate mixed with milk.

This homemade version uses black tea and familiar chai spices to create an easy coffee-shop-inspired drink at home.

What Does Chai Taste Like?

Chai is warm, fragrant, sweet, and spicy.

The flavor usually includes some combination of:

• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Ginger
• Cloves
• Nutmeg

Black tea provides a slightly bitter base that keeps the milk and sugar from making the drink overly sweet.

The exact flavor can easily be adjusted depending on which spices you enjoy most.

What Kind of Tea Should I Use?

Regular black tea works perfectly.

You can use:

• English breakfast
• Assam
• Ceylon
• Darjeeling

A robust black tea is especially good because the flavor needs to stand up to the milk and spices.

You can also use chai tea bags if you already have them.

Can I Use Chai Concentrate?

Absolutely.

Using chai concentrate makes this recipe even faster.

Combine approximately equal parts chai concentrate and milk.

Heat them together for a hot chai or pour them over ice for an iced chai.

Because concentrates vary significantly in sweetness and strength, follow the package directions and adjust the ratio to taste.

What Milk Is Best for Chai?

Whole milk creates a rich, creamy chai latte.

But almost any milk works.

Try:

• 2% milk
• Skim milk
• Oat milk
• Almond milk
• Soy milk
• Coconut milk

Oat milk is one of my favorite plant-based options for chai because it’s creamy and slightly sweet.

Make It Dairy-Free

This recipe is incredibly easy to make dairy-free.

Simply substitute your favorite plant-based milk.

Oat milk and soy milk tend to create an especially creamy chai.

If you’re adding whipped cream, use a dairy-free version.

How to Make an Iced Dunkin’ Chai Latte

Still warm outside?

Make it iced!

Prepare the tea and spice mixture as directed.

After removing the tea bags and cinnamon stick, stir in the brown sugar and vanilla.

Allow the chai concentrate to cool completely.

Fill a tall glass with ice.

Pour approximately 1/2 cup of the chilled chai mixture over the ice.

Add approximately 1/2 cup cold milk.

Stir well.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve.

Make Chai Concentrate Ahead of Time

If you love iced chai, make the tea portion ahead.

Double or triple the water, tea, spices, brown sugar, and vanilla.

Allow the mixture to cool completely.

Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

When you’re ready for a chai latte, combine equal parts chai concentrate and milk.

That gives you homemade chai in about one minute.

Make It Sweeter

Add more brown sugar.

You can also sweeten chai with:

• Honey
• Maple syrup
• Vanilla syrup
• Simple syrup
• Brown sugar syrup

Each sweetener changes the flavor slightly.

Make It Less Sweet

Reduce the brown sugar or leave it out completely.

You can always add sweetener after tasting the finished drink.

That’s one of the biggest advantages of homemade chai.

Add More Cinnamon

If cinnamon is your favorite chai flavor, add another cinnamon stick while the tea steeps.

You can also sprinkle ground cinnamon over the finished drink.

Add More Ginger

For a spicier chai, increase the ginger slightly.

Fresh ginger is also delicious.

Add a few thin slices of peeled fresh ginger while the tea steeps and remove them before adding the milk.

Add More Cardamom

Cardamom gives chai its distinctive floral, slightly citrusy warmth.

If you love that flavor, increase the ground cardamom slightly.

You can also lightly crush whole cardamom pods and steep them with the tea.

Make a Dirty Chai Latte

Want coffee too?

Add one or two shots of espresso.

A chai latte with espresso is commonly called a dirty chai.

The bold coffee flavor works surprisingly well with cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom.

You can make it hot or iced.

Make a Pumpkin Chai Latte

September version!

Add 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree and 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice to the milk.

Whisk well while heating.

Combine with the chai and top with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice.

You can also top an iced chai with pumpkin cream cold foam.

Make a Maple Chai Latte

Replace the brown sugar with pure maple syrup.

Maple and chai spices are perfect together and make this variation especially good for fall.

Make a Vanilla Chai Latte

Increase the vanilla extract or add vanilla syrup.

Vanilla softens some of the stronger spices and creates a sweeter, dessert-like chai.

Make a Caramel Chai Latte

Add 1 tablespoon caramel sauce to the hot chai.

Stir until dissolved.

Top with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon.

Make a Chai Cold Foam

For an iced chai, try adding sweet cream cold foam.

Combine heavy cream, milk, and a little vanilla syrup.

Froth until thick but still pourable.

Spoon it over the iced chai and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Does Chai Have Caffeine?

Usually, yes.

Traditional chai is made with black tea, which naturally contains caffeine.

The amount depends on the type of tea, number of tea bags, and how long you steep it.

If you want a caffeine-free version, use decaffeinated black tea or a caffeine-free chai herbal tea.

What to Serve With a Chai Latte

Chai pairs beautifully with fall baked goods.

Try it with:

• Cinnamon rolls
• Pumpkin bread
• Apple cider donuts
• Snickerdoodle cookies
• Coffee cake
• Banana bread
• Apple muffins
• Pumpkin muffins
• Maple donuts
• Oatmeal cookies
• Scones

It’s also a great drink for a fall brunch.

Tips for the Best Homemade Chai Latte

Use strong black tea. The flavor needs to stand up to the milk.

Don’t boil the milk. Heat it until hot and steaming.

Adjust the spices. Chai is easy to customize.

Start with less sweetener. You can always add more.

Let the spices steep. Give them time to flavor the tea.

Make concentrate ahead. This makes iced chai incredibly easy.

Froth the hot version. A little foam gives it that coffee-shop texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Chai Latte Have Coffee?

No. A traditional chai latte is made with tea rather than coffee.

Does Chai Have Caffeine?

Usually. Black tea naturally contains caffeine.

Can I Make It Decaf?

Yes. Use decaffeinated black tea.

Can I Make It Iced?

Absolutely. Chill the chai mixture and combine it with cold milk over ice.

Can I Use Chai Tea Bags?

Yes. You can substitute chai tea bags for the black tea and reduce the additional spices if desired.

Can I Use Chai Concentrate?

Yes. Mix prepared chai concentrate with milk according to the package directions.

Can I Make It Dairy-Free?

Absolutely. Use your favorite plant-based milk.

Copycat Dunkin’ Chai Latte

You don’t need espresso to make a coffee-shop-worthy drink at home.

This Copycat Dunkin’ Chai Latte combines strong black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, vanilla, and creamy milk into a cozy drink that’s easy to make exactly the way you like it.

Serve it steaming hot when fall finally arrives.

Pour it over ice when September decides to give you another summer day.

Either way, you’ve got homemade chai in about 10 minutes.