Easy Chai Syrup

This easy homemade Chai Syrup recipe shows you how to make a simple syrup from scratch with the warming flavors of chai spices, just like at Starbucks. Use it in coffee or tea, cocktails, or drizzled onto pancakes or your favorite desserts!

Chai Syrup is surprisingly easy to make at home from scratch! Seriously, you'll never buy it again. Make Starbucks-style drinks with it, or enjoy it on pancakes, waffles or desserts.

Even though I love the flavor of chai all year long, it always feels extra comforting and cozy in the Fall and winter months.

While you can easily get a chai tea latte or chai flavored anything at the store these days, I love using a homemade chai simple syrup that is made quickly and easily.

For this recipe, you’ll need basic simple syrup ingredients such as sugar and water.

After they dissolve together, mix with chai spices and a touch of vanilla extract for added flavor.

Once it's cooled and poured into a jar, you can enjoy it in coffee, tea, and as a flavor option on your favorite desserts and breakfast foods.

You can even bottle it up as a great homemade gift for the holiday season!

This chai syrup recipe was inspired by my blackberry syrup, strawberry syrup, and mango syrup recipes. I love turning fruit or spices into tasty simple syrups! They're so easy and versatile.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Homemade chai syrup is made with simple ingredients that don’t contain any chemicals or preservatives.

The entire syrup is made up of 5 ingredients including a homemade chai spice blend.

You can use it to flavor coffee, tea, desserts, or even sweet breakfast foods.

This syrup lasts 4 weeks in the fridge making it a great option to give as a holiday gift.

Ingredients

• Water - Thins out the chai syrup mix to help give it a pourable consistency.
• White Sugar - Gives the syrup a sweet flavor that pairs well with the chai spices, and creates the thick syrup consistency.
• Brown Sugar - Additionally sweetens the syrup while giving a lightly toasted caramel flavor.
• Chai Spice - A special blend of warming and spicy seasonings that make up chai flavor. You can make your own blend or use chai tea bags.
• Vanilla Extract - Infuses the syrup with a light natural vanilla flavor.

Please see the recipe card below for quantities.

Instructions

Wondering how to make this Chai Syrup recipe? It's easy! Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.

Make the simple syrup: Add the sugar and the water to a small pot and stir together. Bring the mixture to a boil, then bring the heat back down to a simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the chai spice: To the simmering mixture, add the chai spices. Give it a good stir, then simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

Add vanilla and cool: Remove the syrup mixture from the heat, then stir in the vanilla. Let the mixture cool off the heat until it can be handled.

Strain and store: Using a fine-mesh strainer or a mesh bag, pour the syrup through the strainer into a bowl. Funnel the syrup into a sealed jar with a lid and use it within 4 weeks when refrigerated.

Top tips

Do not add the spices to the simple syrup until the mixture is dissolved. The chai spice can cook too long and become bitter if left in.

Instead of adding the spices, you can use chai tea bags to flavor the chai syrup.

Make sure the syrup cools enough to handle as hot sugar syrup can cause serious burns when handled.

A sanitized jar or container is best to hold homemade syrup to prevent any bacteria growth.

For a lighter-colored chai syrup, you may need to strain the mixture twice to remove any leftover spice particles and use all granulated sugar instead of brown.

Serving Suggestions

Try chia syrup in your coffee, latte or tea.

Enjoy on pancakes, waffles, oatmeal or yogurt. Try it with vegan pancakes, almond milk pancakes or vegan waffles. Perfect on baked oats or gingerbread pancakes too!

This syrup is delicious on vanilla cheesecake, poured over a pound cake or other desserts - get creative!

Use the simple syrup in cocktails such as an Old Fashioned.

Variations

Change up the flavor of the syrup by using a maple or almond extract instead of vanilla.

You can use two chai tea bags to flavor the syrup if you don’t have the ingredients for a homemade spice blend.

If you enjoy a particular flavor or spice and want it to be stronger, feel free to add more of it to customize to your tastes.

For a deeper caramel chai syrup, use only light brown sugar or dark brown sugar in the mix.

Storage

Storing: You can store homemade chai syrup in the fridge for up to 4 weeks as long as it's in a sterilised airtight container or sealed jar with a lid. 

Freezing: To freeze chai syrup for later, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Then transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container.

FAQs

More simple syrup recipes

I love how easy simple syrups are to make, whether spiced or fruity. They're an easy way to add 'WOW' factor to coffee, cocktails, pancakes, desserts and more!

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📖 Recipe

Chai Syrup

Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts

This easy homemade Chai Syrup recipe is simple and perfect in coffee or tea, cocktails, pancakes, or drizzled onto your favorite desserts!

5 from 11 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Condiments

Cuisine American

Servings 20

Calories 61 kcal

Equipment

• Pot
• Strainer

Ingredients

 

• 1 cup (250ml) water
• 1 cup (200g) granulated white sugar
• ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons chai spice or 2 chai tea bags
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Stir the sugars and water together in a pot, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the chai spice and cook for a further 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla and allow to cool.
• Strain in a fine mesh strainer (or mesh bag) over a bowl.
• Pour into a jar or bottle and keep in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

Notes

• Do not add the spices to the simple syrup until the mixture is dissolved. The chai spice can cook too long and become bitter if left in.
• Make sure the syrup cools enough to handle as hot sugar syrup can cause serious burns when handled.
• A sanitized jar or container is best to hold homemade syrup to prevent any bacteria growth For a lighter-colored chai syrup, you may need to strain the mixture twice to remove any leftover spice particles.
• Change up the flavor of the syrup by using a maple or almond extract instead of vanilla.
• You can use two chai tea bags to flavor the syrup if you don’t have the ingredients for a homemade spice blend.
• If you enjoy a particular flavor or spice and want it to be stronger, feel free to add more of it to customize to your tastes.
• For a deeper caramel chai syrup, use only light brown sugar or dark brown sugar in the mix.

Nutrition

Calories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 9mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.