Vanilla Chai Cupcakes

If you love chai, these cupcakes will be a dream come true for you!

I love making cake for birthdays and pride myself on trying to find something for each person. For May 2016, we were celebrating both my husband, Nick, and my brother-in-law, Nick's birthdays the same weekend, so I had the task of trying to figure out what to make that they would both like. Luckily, they are a lot alike. They both were deployed to Iraq around the same time and had been raving about their favorite Green Beans drink, the chai tea latte. So I knew I would have a winner in these Vanilla Chai Cupcakes. They have Chai in the cupcakes and the buttercream frosting, so there is spice in every bite.

(Print)
What you need:
For the Chai spice mix:

• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. cloves
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

For the cupcakes:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 Chai spice mix
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar

For the frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 Chai spice mix
• 1 to 2 Tbsp. milk

Directions:

1. For the Chai spice mix: stir all spices together in a small bowl.
2. For the cupcakes: cream together butter and sugar in a stand mixer.
3. Add vanilla and add eggs, one at a time.
4. Stir in half of the Chai spice mix.
5. Then alternate adding flour and buttermilk. Stir until just combined.
6. In a small bowl, mix together baking soda and vinegar. Then mix into batter.
7. Scoop batter into a paper-lined muffin tin with each cup being about 3/4 full.
8. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
9. For the frosting: beat butter until it's creamy. Then on low, add vanilla and remaining half of Chai spice mix.
10. Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time and beat until combined. Add 1 to 2 Tbsp. cold milk, if needed, to reach desired consistency.
11. Pipe frosting on cooled cupcakes.

Recipe from Pass the Sushi

Completely different but these Chocolate Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream and Candied Bacon are incredible. If you're not a big fan of Chai, but still want vanilla cupcakes, I highly suggest these Vanilla Bean Cupcakes from My Baking Addiction. 

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