✔ Updated · new copycat recipe with step photos
This copycat Starbucks Iced Gingerbread Chai is spiced chai and milk over ice with a homemade gingerbread syrup, topped with a lightly spiced cold foam. It tastes like a gingerbread cookie dunked in chai.
How Do You Make a Starbucks Iced Gingerbread Chai? (Quick Answer)
Stir 1 1/2 tablespoons homemade gingerbread syrup into 1/2 cup chai concentrate, pour it over ice and add 1/2 cup oat milk or 2% milk. Top with cold foam made from cream, milk, a little syrup and cinnamon.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Sweeten the chai before the ice goes in. The syrup mixes into chai concentrate easily but sinks in cold milk.
Why You'll Love This Iced Gingerbread Chai
- Double spice chai spice plus gingerbread.
- Creamy foam a soft spiced cold foam on top.
- No espresso tea based and lower in caffeine than a latte.
- Dairy-free friendly oat milk works perfectly.
- Batch syrup one jar covers a week of drinks.
What Is the Starbucks Iced Gingerbread Chai?
The Iced Gingerbread Chai is a Starbucks holiday drink that puts gingerbread flavor into an iced chai latte. It has come back in a few versions, including an oatmilk one.
At home, the gingerbread syrup does the work. It's the same syrup as my gingerbread latte, so one jar covers both drinks.
Ingredient Notes
Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Chai concentrate: store-bought, or brew strong chai tea bags and sweeten lightly.
- Gingerbread syrup: brown sugar, molasses, ginger and cinnamon.
- Oat milk: creamy and naturally a little sweet.
- Cold foam: heavy cream, milk, a splash of syrup and cinnamon.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Pick a spicy chai concentrate. A bold chai stands up to the gingerbread.
- Froth it cold. Cold cream and milk make a thicker foam.
- Adjust the sweetness. Many chai concentrates are already sweet; start with 1 tablespoon syrup.
- Hot version. Heat the chai and milk to 150°F, stir in the syrup and top with foam.
- Keep the syrup cold. It lasts about 2 weeks in the fridge.
- My afternoon drink. When the kids get home from school in December, this is what I make for myself while they have hot cocoa.
Starbucks Iced Gingerbread Chai
1
drink5
minutes15
minutes280
kcal20
minutesA copycat version of the Starbucks Iced Gingerbread Chai: chai concentrate and milk over ice, sweetened with a homemade molasses and ginger syrup and finished with a lightly spiced cold foam. Makes 1 large drink; the syrup makes enough for about 8.
Ingredients
- For the Gingerbread Syrup (about 1 1/4 cups)
1 1/4 cups water
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
2 inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Spiced Cold Foam
3 tablespoons heavy cream, cold
2 tablespoons 2% milk, cold
1 teaspoon gingerbread syrup (from above)
1 pinch ground cinnamon
- For One Iced Chai
1/2 cup chai tea concentrate
1/2 cup oat milk or 2% milk, cold
1 1/2 tablespoons gingerbread syrup (from above)
1 cup ice
Directions
- Make the Gingerbread Syrup
- Simmer the water, brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, fresh ginger, ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves in a small saucepan for 10 minutes, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Off the heat, stir in the vanilla, steep 10 minutes, strain into a jar and cool.
- Make the Cold Foam
- Put the cream, milk, 1 teaspoon gingerbread syrup and cinnamon in a tall glass and froth with a handheld frother for 15 to 20 seconds, until thick and pourable.
- Build the Drink
- Stir 1 1/2 tablespoons gingerbread syrup into the chai concentrate. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in the chai, then add the milk.
- Spoon the cold foam over the top, dust with a little cinnamon and serve.
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Storage
Keep the syrup in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Make the cold foam and drink fresh.
More Holiday Drinks
Use the same syrup in my Starbucks gingerbread latte. For more chai, see my Starbucks chai tea latte, and for more holiday drinks, try my Starbucks sugar cookie latte and Starbucks caramel brulee latte.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Starbucks Iced Gingerbread Chai?
It's chai and milk over ice with gingerbread flavor. Earlier versions were made with oat milk and called the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai. This copycat uses chai concentrate, a homemade gingerbread syrup, milk and a spiced cold foam.
Does it have coffee?
No. It's tea based, so the caffeine comes from the black tea in the chai.
Can I use dairy milk?
Yes. 2% or whole milk both work. Oat milk makes it closest to the oatmilk version.
Can I make it hot?
Yes. Heat the chai and milk, stir in the syrup and top with the foam.
How long does gingerbread syrup last?
About 2 weeks in a sealed jar in the fridge.
Can I skip the cold foam?
Yes. It's still a great iced gingerbread chai latte without it.
