Before Dunkin discontinued the Vanilla Chai Latte, it was my occasional drive-thru treat. However, finding a Dunkin that knew how to make it iced correctly was a challenge. The proper method for an iced chai latte involves blending the powder with cold milk before pouring it over ice. Unfortunately, many locations I visited poured the hot, machine-brewed chai over ice. The result was a watery, flavorless drink with melted ice – a far cry from what it should have been.

During my pregnancy with my second child, the craving for this specific tea hit hard. One evening, around 10 pm, I drove to Dunkin, only to be told the devastating news: they no longer offered it. Between the pregnancy hormones and the disappointment, I think I actually started to tear up after driving away (sad, but true). It was at that point that I decided to take matters into my own hands and tried to recreate the vanilla chai powder at home

I wish I could compare the two side by side. But, due to the discontinuation, I wasn’t able to. That didn’t change the fact that what I had created was undeniably delicious and reminded me of the powdered mix that Dunkin Donuts used to have.

I hope this satisfies your deepest cravings when you long for that delicious creamy chai before they discontinued their powder and switched to a syrup that doesn’t even come close to how it used to taste.

Supplies Needed

A large air tight container
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups

Print Pin

Copycat Vanilla Chai Latte

This copycat recipe will satisfy that craving for an old school DD Vanilla Chai Latte for a fraction of the cost and a large batch at your disposal. If you crave the powdered DD Chai that they discontinued, be sure to check out this recipe and tell me what you think!

Course Drinks

Prep Time 10

Equipment

1-2 Jars, or a container with a cover This will fill up more than one mason jar, so I generally use a 2 Qt. glass tupperware container. If you have a glass bread pan with a lid this has worked for me as well.

Ingredients

2 C. Granulated sugar You can put in less depending on preference.
1½ C. Instant unsweetened tea granulates If you can't find this in the iced tea isle. I have used black tea bags. (Please see additional notes on how to do this.)
1½ C. Powdered French Vanilla Creamer I have used store brand and name brand; they both taste great
1 C. Powdered Non-Dairy creamer store brand as well as name brand tastes just as good
2 tsp. Ground cinnamon
2 tsp. Ground ginger
1 tsp. Ground cloves
1/2 tsp. Ground cardamom you can add a full teaspoon if you like the flavor. I prefer a little less, so I stick with 1/2 tsp.
1/2 tsp. All spice
1/2 tsp. Nutmeg

Instructions

Add all the ingredients into your container and give it a good mix to incorporate everything together evenly. You may also put everything into a blender to create a finer powder and a smoother Vanilla Chai.
Make sure it is stored in a sealed container to maintain freshness.
To make hot: Put 8 oz. of milk into your steaming pitcher and steam using your steam wand on your espresso maker. If you do not have one, heat your milk on your stove to your desired temperature. Mix in 2 TBS. of the powder, stir and enjoy.
To make iced: Add your 8oz. of milk to a blender along with 2 TBS. of powder chai mix and blend until it has a good amount of foam. Pour over ice and enjoy! Sprinkle with a little cinnamon for a cafe experience. (You can also use a cold milk frothing wand for this step.)
To make when you don't have instant tea granulates: After you make your hot or iced chai as the instructions state, just add a unflavored black tea bag to your chai and let it sit for a few minutes generally 2-3 per your taste. Remove the tea bag, give it an extra stir and you have the exact same flavor. ENJOY!

Making Gifts with Your Copycat Dunkin Vanilla Chai Powder

I enjoy making jar gifts filled with cookie mixes, sugar scrubs, and many other things. Chai is one gift that many people would adore! Create a little tag and tie it with a ribbon, and you will have a beautiful homemade gift that is great for any occasion.

Enjoy Copycat Dunkin Vanilla Chai powder? Check out these other posts:

Amazing Chocolate Cookie Recipe: With Marshmallow

How to Make Homemade Fruit Leather From Your Kitchen

If you enjoyed this copycat Dunkin vanilla chai powder let me know in the comments below, and share the post with a friend.