Stir, Froth, and Sprinkle – Make This Disney-Inspired Chai Latte Recipe at Home in 3 Easy Steps
Autumn is in the Air!
Every year around this time I start to get the fall itch. No, not an actual itch, but that desire for sweet, crispy apples & spice, pumpkins, crunchy leaves, and warm chai! Even though it was around 90 degrees today, it somehow seemed like the perfect day to crack open the bag of chai mix and make this Disney-inspired chai latte recipe! The apple cider finishing sugar that I used on top only adds to the fabulous autumn flavor!
Like Regular Chai But More Magical
Because Most Days Can Be Magical (see what I did there?), I naturally found a way to bring a little bit of Disney-inspired magic to my chai. We all know that everything tastes better when it is shaped like Mickey, so why not sprinkle some Mickey-shaped fall flavor on top?
Stir, Froth, & Sprinkle
Making a cafe-worthy chai is SO easy – just 3 steps to warm, autumn perfection! (See recipe for detailed instructions.)
1) Stir together the milk/water and chai mix.
2) Froth some half and half for a light, foamy topping using an immersion blender.
3) Sprinkle the topping of your choice onto the frothed half and half.
Chai Mix and Other Magical Things
My absolute favorite chai mix is made by Big Train. It comes in vanilla chai or spiced chai. Today I’m using the vanilla, but both flavors are chef’s kiss. It’s available on Amazon – (as an Amazon Associate I get a commission for qualifying purchases) and I also saw it in Costco the last time that I went.
A few years back I purchased an immersion blender. I can happily say that it is not sitting in the back of a cupboard with the gadgets that don’t get used. For the amount of times that I have used this little blender just for making frothy drinks – it has paid for itself. I also use it to blend smoothies, pumpkin pie filling, and almost anything that I would use a regular blender for. If you are looking to get a nice immersion blender that isn’t too pricey, check out this one by OUTRONSM.
This cozy, magical chai is yet another reason for me to get out my Mickey-shaped cookie cutters – they make fabulous stencils. (Check out how I used them to stencil brownies!) Anyway, I got this set of 5 assorted sized cookie cutters from Amazon for less than $6 and I have no regrets! What costs less than six bucks these days? If you do not yet have Mickey-shaped cookie cutters in your kitchen arsenal, I highly recommend it. I’ve found so many ways to use them to make food way more fun! Take a peep around my blog – there are quite a few recipes that utilize them. And…there will be many more to come!
The tasty stuff that I sprinkled on top to make the Mickey shape is McCormick Finishing Sugar in the Apple Cider Flavor. I stumbled across it in my local grocery store but it is also available on Amazon. If apple cider isn’t your thing, they also have other seasonal flavors: Maple Brown Sugar, Pumpkin Spice, and Salted Caramel. I might just have to make this chai again real soon and try out all of these different flavors! They all sound so cozy and autumn-forward and they are each under $4 as of the posting of this recipe.
If you like the mug that I used in the photo, it’s one of my favorites! It has Winnie the Pooh characters all the way around it. It was a last minute find up by the register at TJ Maxx last year. Register finds are the best finds! I’ve never seen this cup anywhere else. But guess what? I found it on Amazon so you can still get it if you love it! Here is the 20 oz ceramic camper mug!
If Pooh isn’t your jam, Amazon has a ton of adorable Disney mugs to choose from. Here are a few of my other favorites: Disney Villains mug, The Haunted Mansion 20 oz mug featuring the Hitchhiking Ghosts, and this adorable mug with the Toy Story Aliens at Pizza Planet! I love these so much!
Disney-Inspired Chai Latte
Ingredients
Method
- STIR the chai mix into the water and almond milk combined in a large mug. (The chai package says to use water OR milk. Normally I'd use just milk but since we will be topping it off with half & half it will be plenty rich and delicious!)
- FROTH the half & half in a measuring cup (or something that your immersion blender will fit in) by blending with the immersion blender until frothy. Gently pour the frothed half & half into the mug of chai. (Most of it will stay near the top creating a nice foamy surface.).
- SPRINKLE the design on to the foamy top by using a Mickey-shaped cookie cutter pushed slightly into the foam – HOLD ON TO IT. Carefully sprinkle the Apple Cider Finishing Sugar (or cinnamon and sugar) inside the cookie cutter (I used a spoon for precision and ease.). Gently lift up the cookie cutter and admire your perfect art!
Autumn Bliss
Sit back with a good book or movie, bring that mug of warm chai to your lips, and even though you might not be in WDW at the moment, know that it will wait for you. Enjoy what’s around you in the present moment.
