What if you mixed tea and eggnog? Chai and eggnog both feature warming spices, making them close siblings in the world of drinks. Tea goes great with milk, so in theory, a chai-flavored eggnog would be amazing, and it is! If you want to level up your eggnog game this season, you need to try this easy chai eggnog!
Here’s how to make chai eggnog at home!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s super easy and saves you money from buying eggnog out!
- The two flavors work so well together.
- Make a delicious flavored eggnog for a party or gathering!
- It’s fun and creative!
What is Chai Eggnog?
A chai eggnog is a chai-infused eggnog. Not only does it have real brewed tea in it, but it captures the essence of chai in eggnog. Instead of just chai spices in eggnog, I brew chai and replace the milk portion of eggnog with chai. That way, it’s truly chai eggnog, brewing and all.
It tastes amazing and blends two techniques together. While homemade fresh chai tastes best, you can also use chai concentrate for convenience.
Chai Eggnog Latte at Starbucks
Starbucks launched a chai eggnog latte as part of their 2025 holiday collection, and I believe it’s made with chai concentrate and eggnog over ice. It’s basically a sweet, creamy, spiced latte. However, people have been complaining about the eggnog this year, as it’s made from a powdered mix instead of actual eggs and milk. It gives it a weird chemical flavor, which is a bummer because it would taste so good with real eggnog!
Luckily, you can always use this recipe to make it yourself!
What Does a Chai Eggnog Taste Like?
It tastes like melted chai ice cream! It’s sweet, spiced, thick, and custard-like, which makes it so addictive. I love the slightly malted flavor the black tea brings as well. It cuts through the sweetness nicely and also gives more flavor depth beyond sweet and creamy.
To me, it tastes the most similar to maybe a pumpkin spiced cream or ice cream, but with a black milk tea flavor.
How to Make Chai and Eggnog
I love making fresh, homemade drinks because they taste the strongest and freshest.
For chai, you want to crush and toast spices, then add tea and water and brew over medium heat. Then, add your milk and boil it to aerate, then sweeten to serve. It’s a classic method that gets you frothy, creamy tea.
For eggnog, you whip egg yolks and sugar together until light in color, then add hot milk and cream. Temper the eggs, then heat them all on the stove until slightly thickened. Add spices and chill overnight, then serve.
In the recipe below, I combine the two techniques to get you a creamy chai eggnog!
Note: If you’re pressed for time, you can also use store-bought chai concentrate and eggnog and mix them together!
Chai Eggnog Recipe: What You’ll Need
Equipment:
- A small or medium-sized pan
- A small strainer
- Mortar and pestle
- Electric mixer
Ingredients:
- 5-6 pods cardamom
- 2 cloves
- 2 slices of ginger or ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 1 star anise
- 1 stick of cinnamon
- 1 tbsp black tea (Assam or Ceylon)
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup cream
- 4 egg yolks
- ¼-½ cup sugar
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
How to Make Chai Eggnog
- Make Chai. Crush cardamom, cloves, and star anise, and cloves in a mortar with a pestle until a sand-like texture. Make sure to remove and crush the seeds from the cardamom pods once they open.
- Add ground spices to your pot and toast on low to medium heat until aromatic. Then, add your tea and water. Bring to a boil and brew tea for 5 minutes until the water is dark.
- Add milk and cream to the tea, then boil until it bubbles to the top of the pot and reduce the heat to bring it back down. Repeat and then turn off the heat. Cover with lid to retain heat.
- Beat Egg Yolks. Crack eggs and separate egg yolks into a big bowl, then using an electric mixer, whip the yolks until light yellow. Once light yellow, add sugar slowly while beating to fully incorporate.
- Temper Eggs. Pour or scoop the hot chai onto the whipped yolks little by little, stirring constantly to bring the eggs to temperature gradually. Start small, then add more as you go.
- Thicken Eggnog. Once you’ve tempered the egg yolks, transfer the mixture back into the pot. Add remaining ground spices and heat on low heat for 2 – 3 minutes until slightly thickened. The chai eggnog should coat the back of a spoon.
- Chill. Turn off the heat and let the eggnog cool completely before transferring it into a pitcher or bottle. Store in the fridge for at least 3 hours or ideally overnight.
- Serve and Enjoy! Pour the chai eggnog in a glass and garnish with a stick of cinnamon, star anise, and a dash of ground nutmeg.
Tips for the Best Chai Eggnog
- Use Freshly Ground Spices: Freshly ground spices are more aromatic and provide more flavor than ground spices. Use a mortar and pestle to grind spices into smaller pieces, or use a spice grinder or blender in a pinch.
- Don’t Overcook: Eggnog can turn thick really fast if you overcook it. The egg yolks can also curdle if you overheat them, which gives a lumpy texture and eggy flavor. Luckily, you can always thin it out with more milk or run it through a sieve for a smooth texture.
- Sweeten Accordingly: Eggnog is notoriously sweet, but adjust the sugar to your preference! I would sweeten the chai eggnog further when it’s all incorporated on the stove. Taste and adjust as needed!
- Brew Strong Tea: Eggnog is super rich and creamy, which can overpower the tea flavor. To get a good balance, brew a strong black tea base so it still comes through in the final drink.
Easy Chai Eggnog
Equipment
- A small or medium-sized pan
- A small strainer
- mortar and pestle
- Electric mixer
Ingredients
- 5-6 pods cardamom
- 2 cloves
- 2 slices ginger or ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 1 star anise
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 1 tbsp black tea Assam or Ceylon
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup cream
- 4 egg yolks
- ¼-½ cup sugar
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Make Chai. Crush cardamom, cloves, and star anise, and cloves in a mortar with a pestle until a sand-like texture. Make sure to remove and crush the seeds from the cardamom pods once they open.
- Add ground spices to your pot and toast on low to medium heat until aromatic. Then, add your tea and water. Bring to a boil and brew tea for 5 minutes until the water is dark.
- Add milk and cream to the tea, then boil until it bubbles to the top of the pot and reduce the heat to bring it back down. Repeat and then turn off the heat. Cover with lid to retain heat.
- Beat Egg Yolks. Crack eggs and separate egg yolks into a big bowl, then using an electric mixer, whip the yolks until light yellow. Once light yellow, add sugar slowly while beating to fully incorporate.
- Temper Eggs. Pour or scoop the hot chai onto the whipped yolks little by little, stirring constantly to bring the eggs to temperature gradually. Start small, then add more as you go.
- Thicken Eggnog. Once you've tempered the egg yolks, transfer the mixture back into the pot. Add remaining ground spices and heat on low heat for 2 – 3 minutes until slightly thickened. The chai eggnog should coat the back of a spoon.
- Chill. Turn off the heat and let the eggnog cool completely before transferring it into a pitcher or bottle. Store in the fridge for at least 3 hours or ideally overnight.
- Serve and Enjoy! Pour the chai eggnog in a glass and garnish with a stick of cinnamon, star anise, and a dash of ground nutmeg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eggnog chai good?
Eggnog chai is delicious! It’s sweet, creamy, rich, and tea-forward, with a thick, luscious texture. It’s basically a liquid chai-flavored custard that is perfect for winter gatherings or a cozy night at home.
Can you add eggnog to tea?
You sure can! Although I would only recommend adding it to stronger flavored teas like a black tea, since eggnog is super rich. It might wash out lighter-flavored teas.
Can I use store-bought eggnog?
Yes, you can use store-bought eggnog and add it to a homemade chai, or mix it with chai concentrate for an easy hack. With store-bought ingredients, you won’t be able to control sugar levels as much, so be careful with how much you add! You can always dilute it with milk.
Other Chai Recipes to Try
This chai eggnog is a winter staple and a must-try! If you love this creamy and rich chai eggnog, then you need to try these other delicious chai recipes next:
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