Today I have a fun cucpake recipe for Vanilla Chai Latte Cupcakes for you.
This whole recipe started as what I thought was going to be a guest post for another blog. The post was supposed to be to make something just for me. In honor of the fact that Mother’s Day is in May, The Shaffer Sisters is having a series of blog posts of Mom’s making things for themselves. When they asked me to guest post, it took me a while to decide what I would make. It was kind of hard to think of something that was just for me.
I then remembered that I had pinned a recipe for Chai cupcakes quite some time ago. I love Chai Tea lattes….yum! I did a little more research and recipe rabbit trail finding. I got back to the original source and decided this was going to be my project of something to make just for me. The original recipe was from The Novice Chef Blog for Vanilla Chai Cupcakes. I thought that no one else in my house liked Chai and Chai tea lattes.
The plan was, I would make the cupcakes, make myself a Chai tea latte and enjoy an afternoon reading a good book while enjoying a cupcake and latte. Sounds lovely, right The problem started as soon as I mixed up the chai spices. I knew I wasn’t going to like these cupcakes. They have a lot of cardamom. Cardamom is in chai lattes, but maybe not as much as in the recipe. I’m not sure what the difference is, but my cardamom smelled a bit flowery and soapy. It seemed to overwhelm the other flavors, at least in how it smelled. I decided to proceed anyway, thinking maybe by making a different frosting it would work out.
I made a super delicious vanilla buttercream frosting to go on top of the Vanilla Chai latte Mini cupcakes. It is sooo yummy! For me, it does help tame the flavors that are not as appealing to me in the cupcakes, but not enough to make it worth it to me. Boo! That is when I discovered that EVERYONE else in my family loves chai tea and thinks these cupcakes are the bomb! Umm…so I guess I created a delicous treat for my whole family but my mission to make something just for me ….failed miserably. 
Apparently these cupcakes are super yummy, just not to me. I do think they are OK, but in terms of spending calories, I’m going to go for something I really love not something that I’m going to feel disappointed about later. I enjoyed my chai tea latte and the book was really good, so it wasn’t a total loss.
If you are like 3/4 of my family, you will love these mini cupcakes with their chai flavor and super yummy vanilla buttercream. If you are like me, when you smell the cardamom if you don’t like the scent…walk away and make something else(with my vanilla buttercream frosting…lol!).
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They are lovely to look at. If I made them — they would not be photography-worthy. And I too am a huge buttercream icing fan. That would be enough to make me happy.
Thank you! Yes, the buttercream is super yummy! I should just eat some of it, but for some reason I don’t. Bad idea…next time I will just eat the buttercream. lol!
KC
You could put vanilla buttercream frosting on nearly anything and I would eat it. Come to think of it, I should bring that whenever I have to eat my mother-in law’s cooking! 🙂
And these cupcakes look delicious, although with mini cupcakes, I end up eating way more than I would with a regular cupcake because I’m all “they’re mini. I can have 13.”
lol! I love your idea of bringing buttercream to the in-laws! Genius! See, that is funny, because I love mini cupcakes. It gives me the sweet taste but not all the calories. Works well for me…but I guess not everyone.
Take care,
KC
Your cupcakes look so delicious. Such a great recipe.
Thank you!
KC
These cupcakes look so good! I have to try this recipe. Would love for you to share at Simple & Sweet Fridays. New Follower!
Jody
Thank you! My whole family really enjoyed them.
KC
How funny! I made Chai Cupcakes for myself just before mother’s day because Iced Chai Tea is my favorite drink! I did a cinnamon buttercream frosting though.
I’m excited to try your recipe too! YUM! Thanks!
If you’re interested here is a link to my cupcake recipe! XO
https://www.rootandblossom.com/2013/05/chai-cupcakes-topped-with-cinnamon.html
Ohh…cinnamon buttercream sounds really yummy! Thanks for the link to your recipe. I will check it out.
KC
I love vanilla chai lattes, so I can imagine these cupcakes would get me in some trouble Lol. Thanks for the recipe!
New follower & Blogger
Loren
I love the chai lattes, too! I’ve been a bit addicted to them since the weather has gotten warmer. I hope you enjoy the recipe.
KC
Ohhh, I love chai too. Sorry these were a disappointment. I have pinned this one, but haven’t tried it yet: https://www.theculinaryenthusiast.net/2011/09/vanilla-chai-cupcakes-with-cinnamon.html I’m visiting from Craft-O-Maniac
I will check your recipe out…thanks for the tip.
Take care,
KC
These sound delicious. I do hate when I am not 100% happy with a recipe. Did you try them the next day? Sometimes it takes awhile for the flavor to develop?
You know, after your suggestion, I did try them(and it had been more than a day). I still don’t love them. They are fine, I just don’t love them. So, I go for a different sweet that I love instead of wasting the calories on these. Thanks for the suggestion though.
Take care,
KC
they look delicious and so cute too eat at least a dozen of these! 🙂
They did look yummy and eating a dozen would be good, but for me it would defeat the point of having made them mini. 😉
Take care,
KC
These look as CUTE as they sound delicious! 🙂
They sure are cute. Mini is the perfect size to me…just enough to get the sweetness but not the full calories.
KC
They sure look great and so dainty! Cardamom is a strong spice and I absolutely have to be in the mood for it, otherwise, no thank you 😉 Glad your family enjoyed them though!
They do look nice! Yes, I realize that now. I want to try to come up with my own spice blend, but I haven’t had time yet. I will post it if I find the time and the right combo.
Take care,
KC
They look beautiful – pinning these defintely ( I’m hosting a shower for my daughter – and am going to try these!!! )
Visiting from Happy Go Lucky!
Hugs,
Suzan
I hope they work out really well for you and that the baby shower goes really well!
Take care,
KC
These are beautiful cupcakes!! And I really the combination of flavor
Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
Thank you! Enjoy!
KC
These are beautiful and they look so delicious. I’ll be featuring them this week. 🙂
Thank you! Thanks for the feature, I appreciate it!
KC