For Day 2 of my 12 Days of Christmas, I’m giving you a pattern of a different kind. Because what is a recipe, really, but a pattern for how to create something delicious?

It’s probably obvious that I love chai. (And since I have an international audience, let me clarify — I love masala chai! Here in the States, we just call it chai.)

Whether it’s hot, over ice, or frozen, this blend of spices always seems to hit the spot for me.

One of my absolute favorite treats, though, has long been the vanilla chai latte. Perfect for a cold winter evening of crocheting in front of the fireplace, a chai latte combines classic chai spices with the comforting texture of steamed milk.

It can cost a pretty penny to run to the coffee shop all the time for my favorite treat, so I’ve started making my own chai powder mix at home, and I’m sharing my recipe with you!

It’s so simple, and totally customizable to your preferred tastes. (For instance, a lot of other recipes call for ginger, but unless it’s in gingerbread form, I’m really not a fan… so I leave that flavor out.)

After some trial and error, here’s the blend I’ve settled on:

After adding everything to a mixing bowl, it’s just a matter of stirring it up really well. That’s it!

Isn’t it pretty!?

You can also add the blend to a food processor, in order to get all those spices really fine and well blended. The finer they are, the better they’ll dissolve and the fewer you’ll find at the bottom of your mug.

Add a couple of tablespoons to a mug of hot water (or use your Keurig!) and enjoy. For an even milkier taste, use hot milk in place of the water. (The dry blend includes powdered milk, so you’ll get some milkiness even if you use water.)

Scroll down for the recipe!

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