This chocolate chai ice cream recipe is a home run. It’s sweet, but not too sweet, perfectly rich and the blend of chai spices is deliciously complex. It almost reminded me of a brownie batter with chai spices. Yum.
Arguably, you could make this with premixed chai tea but whole spices elevate this ice cream to the next level. I used saigon cinnamon that was sent to me by Cinnamon Hill. It’s hot and sweet and really packs a punch. It’s my first time cooking with gourmet cinnamon and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the spice! The cinnamon came individually wrapped and the box was stamped with the date it was harvested – only a month before! I also used their cinnamon grater to dust the ice cream with a bit more cinnamon before serving. I don’t think I can go back to the supermarket stuff.
Chocolate Chai Ice Cream Recipe
PrintChocolate Chai Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 c. heavy cream
- 1 c. whole milk
- 2/3 c. sugar
- 1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 3 slices peeled ginger, sliced about 1/4-inch thick
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp. orange zest
- 7 tsp. loose black tea leaves
- 1 vanilla bean, scraped
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Combine cream and milk in a saucepan and heat over medium heat.
- Add sugar, cocoa powder and salt and stir until everything is completely dissolved. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer and simmer for four minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the heated mixture. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 25 minutes.
- Using a fine mesh sieve, strain out the spices and tea leaves.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours, then transfer to ice cream maker and churn according to your machine directions. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least four hours.
- Optional: Grate a bit of cinnamon on top before serving.
Notes
Thanks so much for reading A Side of Sweet! For more Sweet in your life, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Twitter, or subscribe to receive a weekly email with new posts (see sidebar).
mmmm I love cinnamon! This recipe sounds delicious, and I will definitely start ordering my cinnamon from that website! Getting the good stuff totally makes a difference 🙂
I love chai flavors in icecreams and this one looks creamy and yummy. The grater sounds interesting and I might have to order too…sounds fresh.
Okay this made me hungry just looking at it I would love to try this I love chocolate and chai and would love to try the combo.
I would like some ice cream please 🙂 yum yum
I’m not quite sure what the prize is, but after reading about the cinnamon here and on the Cinnamon Hill website, I’m smitten and would be delighted to try any of their products! Am thinking what nice, unique Christmas gifts it and the grater would make too.
I’ve liked the Cinnamon Hill Facebook page.
I subscribe to Running Blonde via email.
I also follow your blog via my Blogger dashboard. (I never miss one of your posts. :))
I would love to win this beautiful grater!
I follow you on Bloglovin’!
I already subscribe to your email newsletter!
I liked Cinnamon Hill on Facebook!