Vanilla Chai Frappe
A creamy, iced non-alcoholic chai latte with vanilla flavor.
What is this drink?
The Vanilla Chai Frappé is a coffee-shop-style iced blended mocktail that combines chilled brewed chai tea with milk and vanilla syrup, blended smooth for a creamy, spiced, and wonderfully aromatic frozen drink you can easily make at home.
Why you'll love it
The warming spice blend of chai — cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves — combined with the smooth creaminess of a frappé and a hint of vanilla creates a genuinely indulgent, café-quality drink without the coffee shop price tag.
When to serve
Perfect for autumn and winter afternoons, work-from-home treat breaks, casual dessert drinks after dinner, or any time you want something warming, sweet, and satisfying that provides comfort in every sip.
Pro tip
Brew the chai tea double-strength by using twice the normal amount of tea — when blended with ice and milk, the dilution is significant, so a stronger base ensures full, rich chai flavor in the finished frappé.
Brewed Chai Tea
A spiced black tea blend typically containing cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper that provides the frappé's distinctive warm-spiced character and earthy tea foundation.
Vanilla Syrup
Sweet, aromatic vanilla syrup adds a smooth floral sweetness that harmonizes beautifully with the chai's complex spice blend, softening the stronger spices and adding dessert-like indulgence.
Milk
Creamy milk blended with the chai and ice creates the smooth, frappé-like texture that makes this more than just iced chai — it transforms it into a genuinely indulgent, coffee-shop-style frozen drink.
Swap Options
Use oat milk for a dairy-free version with a pleasant nuttiness. Add a shot of espresso to turn it into a Dirty Chai Frappé. Replace vanilla syrup with caramel syrup for a richer, more dessert-forward flavor profile.
Blend ingredients
Blend chai tea, milk, vanilla syrup, and ice until smooth.
Tips:
- •Adjust vanilla for sweetness.
Serve
Pour into glass and top with whipped cream if desired.
Tips:
- •Serve immediately.
- Use chilled tea to prevent ice from diluting flavor.
- Adjust spices or vanilla to taste.
Different ways to make this drink your own
Dirty Chai Frappé
Add a double shot of espresso to the blender for a caffeinated, mocha-chai hybrid that is deeply complex and warming. The espresso's bitterness contrasts beautifully with the chai spices and vanilla sweetness for an intensely satisfying frozen drink.
Caramel Chai Frappé
Replace vanilla syrup with caramel syrup and top with a drizzle of salted caramel sauce for a richer, more dessert-forward version. The caramel's buttery sweetness amplifies the chai's warming spices in an irresistible combination.
Cardamom Rose Chai Frappé
Add a quarter teaspoon of ground cardamom and a drop of rose water to the base for a Middle Eastern-inspired variation. The floral rose and aromatic cardamom create a perfumed, exotic chai frappé that is genuinely distinctive.
Tools that make this drink come together
Blender
A powerful blender is essential for a smooth, lump-free chai frappé. Blend on high for at least 30 seconds to fully incorporate the brewed chai, milk, and ice into a uniform, creamy frozen consistency with no icy chunks.
Chai Tea Brewer or Teapot
Brewing a strong, concentrated chai is the foundation of this frappé. A proper steep in a teapot or saucepan for at least 5 minutes produces a chai intense enough to survive dilution from the blending ice.
Measuring Spoons
Vanilla syrup and chai concentrate need careful measuring — too much sweetener makes the frappé cloying, while too little chai makes it taste like a plain milk shake. Consistent measurements produce consistent, well-balanced results.
Can't Find These?
No blender? Shake brewed chai and milk vigorously with crushed ice for a cold shake version. Brew chai in any heatproof cup with boiling water and a chai bag. Use a regular spoon to stir in syrup. The frozen texture is the main loss without a blender.
The right glass makes a real difference
Tall Glass or Clear Cup with Wide Straw
A tall, clear glass or a wide-mouthed café-style cup is ideal for the Vanilla Chai Frappé — the height accommodates the generous frozen volume and whipped cream topping, while clear glass shows off the beautiful caramel-brown color of the chai base. A wide straw is essential for drinking the thick, frozen consistency comfortably.
Alternatives
A large mason jar creates a cozy, café-at-home aesthetic that suits a spiced frappé perfectly. A hurricane glass or milkshake glass provides generous room for an abundant whipped cream topping and a cinnamon stick garnish.
Perfect food pairings to complete the experience
Cardamom Shortbread Cookies
Cardamom shortbread shares the frappé's warming chai spice profile in biscuit form. The buttery richness and subtle cardamom fragrance of the cookie complement every element of the vanilla chai frappé beautifully.
Banana Bread
Warm, sweet banana bread alongside a cold chai frappé creates an irresistible hot-cold contrast. The banana's natural sweetness and the bread's warm spice notes harmonize with the chai's cinnamon and clove character.
Cinnamon Rolls
Warm, sticky cinnamon rolls and a cold chai frappé create one of the most indulgent café-style pairings possible. The shared cinnamon spice and sweetness make them feel made for each other.
Almond Biscotti
Crispy, twice-baked almond biscotti are the classic Italian café companion for any spiced coffee-adjacent drink. They hold up well to dipping in the frappé and their subtle almond sweetness complements vanilla and chai spices.
Prep in advance for effortless serving
Brew Strong Chai Concentrate
Brew a double-strength chai concentrate by steeping two chai tea bags per cup of water, or simmering milk with whole spices for 15 minutes. Cool and refrigerate for up to 3 days — having concentrate ready makes frappés instantaneous.
Freeze Chai Ice Cubes
Freeze brewed chai in ice cube trays to use instead of plain ice. Chai ice cubes melt without diluting the frappé with water, instead intensifying the chai flavor as they blend into the drink.
Make Vanilla Simple Syrup
Combine sugar, water, and a split vanilla bean in a saucepan, bring to a simmer, cool, and refrigerate for up to two weeks. Homemade vanilla syrup has a depth and fragrance that bottled vanilla syrups rarely match.
Pre-Blend and Re-Blend
Blend a large batch of chai frappé and freeze in a container. Remove 5 minutes before serving and blend briefly to restore the smooth texture. This allows you to serve multiple guests quickly without individual blending.
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