Chai Donuts

Start your day right with our glazed Chai Donuts! These baked goods are perfectly sweet and spicy and topped with a silky spiced frosting, making them the ultimate breakfast treat.

Jump to:

• Why Make These Chai Donuts
• Key Ingredients
• How to Make Spiced Donuts
• Storage Recommendations
• Tips and Tricks
• Variations
• FAQs
• More Homemade Donuts
• Recipe

I love adding the warm spices of chai tea to my favorite baked goods because it makes me feel cozy. These chai donuts are one of my favorite breakfast treats. 

Thanks to the infused milk in the batter and the glaze, these baked donuts have a rich flavor and tender, cake-like texture. They are perfect for any special breakfast or brunch, no matter the time of year!

If you're a fellow tea fan, then you should definitely try this creamy chai whipped cream. It adds a fantastic spice flavor to any dessert. We use it on apple waffles, French toast, or chocolate cheesecakes.

Why Make These Chai Donuts

If you love chai tea and homemade donuts, you've got to try this great recipe! It's easier than you'd think, and the spice flavor in the batter and the glaze gives you such a cozy feeling. Make a double batch - they won't last!

• So cozy and flavorful. Those warm chai spices make these chai doughnuts fantastic. They taste just like your favorite chai tea lattes, and the spices will remind you of the holiday season!
• Chai flavor. To get that spiced flavor, I infused milk with tea and then used it in the batter and glaze for the best flavor.
• Completely from scratch. Ditch the processed donuts from the store. These homemade donuts use simple ingredients you probably already have at home, and one batch makes an entire dozen!

Key Ingredients

The first thing you need to do when baking with tea is actually to steep your tea. You start by heating milk and adding extra tea bags for a more robust flavor.

The aroma coming from the tea cup filled my entire kitchen. I couldn't wait to infuse that unique scent into my baked donuts, and I know you'll feel the same way!

• Milk - Regular 2% or whole milk absorbs the tea flavor.
• Chai - You will need four tea bags. You can also use loose black tea, but strain it before using the mixture.
• Unsalted Butter - Set it out ahead of time so it is easy to cream it with the sugar.
• Brown Sugar - Brown sugar adds sweetness and an extra layer of caramel-like flavor. You can also substitute white sugar.
• Honey - The floral notes in honey pair perfectly with the spices and tea.
• Large Egg - This will bind the batter together and give it a slight rise.
• Greek Yogurt - This adds a softer texture to the donuts. Sour cream is also a great alternative.
• Vanilla Bean Paste - This adds a strong vanilla flavor. If you don't have any, use vanilla extract.
• Orange Extract - I love the balance orange gives to tea. If you don't have the extract, add the zest of one orange.
• Spice Mix - Cinnamon, cardamom, ground ginger, and allspice add flavor.
• Leavening - Combining baking soda and baking powder helps the batter rise.
• All-Purpose Flour - This is the base for your doughnut recipe. You don't need anything fancy!
• Powdered Sugar - This thickens the milk tea and gives it a spreadable texture.
• Cinnamon Sugar - Granulated sugar and cinnamon add the perfect touch to the glaze! 

How to Make Spiced Donuts

This vanilla chai donut recipe is quick and easy to make with just one bowl and one pan. A sweet glaze and cinnamon sugar make the donuts so pretty and delicious.

1. Infuse the milk. Heat the milk on the stovetop or microwave until hot and slightly bubbly. Add the tea bags and let them steep for a few minutes, then remove the bags. Let the milk cool to room temperature.
2. Mix the wet ingredients. Beat the butter, sugar, and honey in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg, extracts, and yogurt and mix again.
3. Stir in dry ingredients and milk. Add the flour mixture and the cooled tea to the butter mixture until everything is mixed in. Then let the batter rest for 5 minutes.
4. Fill the pan. Spoon the batter into a prepared doughnut pan, then fill the cavities about ¾ full. 
5. Bake and cool. Bake until the tops spring back when pressed. Let the treats cool in the pan for 3 minutes before placing them on a wire rack to cool completely. Wipe the pan, respray it, then bake the remaining batter.
6. Glaze and decorate. In a small bowl, stir together the icing sugar and milk tea. Spread the glaze on the cooled donuts one at a time, sprinkling with cinnamon sugar as you go.

BruCrew Tip: To fix an overflowing donut batter, you can use either a big icing tip or a small knife. With either tool, you can remove the center of the ring and create a perfect donut shape.

Storage Recommendations

On the Counter - Place any leftover donuts in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for 3-4 days. 

In the Refrigerator - Store donuts in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Let them come to room temperature or microwave them for a few seconds to warm them back up. 

In the Freezer - Before glazing, place any donuts you want to freeze in an airtight container and freeze for 1-2 months. Place them on the counter and bring them to room temperature before glazing.

Tips and Tricks

• Use a piping bag. Fill a pastry bag with your batter, then pipe rings into the doughnut pan. If you don't have one, add the batter to a large ziplock bag and cut off one of the corners.
• Cool the milk tea. Avoid using hot tea because it can melt the butter, which will ruin the batter. 
• Spray the pans well. To avoid sticking your baked goods to the pan, spray the pans thoroughly, but remove any excess oil. Wipe and respray the pan after each batch to prevent them from sticking.
• Do not overfill the pan. The donuts will overflow in the pan if you fill them too much. Make sure you only fill them ¾ full for the best donut shape.
• Cut out the centers. To fix an overflowing donut, you can use either a big icing tip or a small knife. With either tool, you can remove the center of the batter and create a perfect donut shape.
• Cool completely before glazing. Make sure the baked goods are completely cool before dipping them in glaze, or it will melt off instead of setting.

Variations

• Chai Latte - Add a tablespoon of instant coffee to the batter. Use cold coffee in the glaze instead of some of the milk tea. This will give the donuts a coffee shop taste.
• Maple Chai - Replace part of the milk tea in the glaze with maple syrup or add ½ teaspoon of maple extract.
• Chai Doughnut Holes - If you don't have a donut pan, pour the batter into a mini muffin pan for delicious donut holes. They're excellent for brunch!
• Chai-Spiced Sugar - Instead of using a regular cinnamon sugar mixture, toss sugar with chai spices for added flavor.

FAQs

More Homemade Donuts

• Apple Cider Donuts
• Chocolate Donuts
• Orange Donuts
• Donut Sticks
• Chocolate Chip Donuts

Do you love a recipe you tried from Inside BruCrew Life? 

Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating and a review in the comments section below. 

*This post was first published in February 2013. It was updated and then republished in January 2024.