Try these Coffee Cake Chai Muffins for a spiced-up breakfast or snack break. These muffins are topped with a cinnamon streusel crumble and a vanilla glaze for the perfect pastry combination.
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Why I Love This Recipe
I love this Coffee Cake Chai Muffin recipe because it combines the rich, aromatic flavors of chai tea with the comforting, crumbly texture of coffee cake. The combination of the spiced muffin base and the streusel topping creates a perfect blend of flavors and textures, making it a go-to recipe for cozy mornings and afternoon tea breaks just like my Pumpkin Banana Muffins and my Blueberry Buckle Muffins.
What is Chai?
According to Wikipedia, chai originated from India and came from the Hindi word "chai", which was derived from the Chinese word for tea. Traditional masala chai is a spiced beverage brewed with different proportions of warming spices.
The spice base is ground ginger and green cardamom pods. Other spices usually added are cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds, peppercorn, nutmeg, and cloves.
How to Make Coffee Cake Chai Muffins
Preheat the oven to 400F and prepare a muffin tin with liners or grease each well with butter and set it aside. This recipe is a small batch and will fill 8-9 muffin sections.
In a small mixing bowl place the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon and stir to combine. Cut the cold butter into small cubes and then cut into the mixture with a pastry cutter or fork until you get a nice crumble.
In a large mixing bowl add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves and stir to combine. Chop the cold butter into cubes and cut into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or a fork.
In a small bowl add the sour cream, milk, and egg and beat to combine. Add to the dry mixture and stir with a spatula to combine. The batter will be lumpy and thick.
Spoon some batter into each well of the muffin tin about halfway full.
Sprinkle the top with some of the streusel topping. then place another spoonful of the batter on top of the streusel.
then place another spoonful of the batter on top of the streusel. Gently spread out the batter to cover the top and then sprinkle another layer of streusel on top.
Bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing them and cooling them on a wire rack.
How to Make a Quick Vanilla Glaze for Muffins
If you are adding the vanilla glaze on top, add the glaze ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Drizzle on top of the muffins before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can easily double this recipe. Because of the layering of these muffins, this recipe only yields 8-9 muffins. So if you would like more muffins, just double the ingredients.
You can freeze these Chai Coffee Cake Muffins. Allow the muffins to completely cool before storing them in an air-tight freezer-safe container. When ready to serve, allow the muffins to defrost in the fridge or on the counter. Do not drizzle with the glaze until you are ready to serve the muffins.
Store any leftover muffins in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
My Favorite Tool for Freshly Ground Nutmeg
I never knew how much I loved freshly ground nutmeg until I bought one of these Nutmeg Grinders. Not only is it just a cute gadget, but there is a top section for storing a nutmeg seed so you always have one at the ready. Trust me, this gadget is worth it and once you own it, you will find all kinds of recipes to put fresh nutmeg on.
More Muffin and Sweet Bread Recipes
If you get a chance to make these Coffee Cake Chai Muffins, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes right in your inbox.
Coffee Cake Chai Muffins
Equipment
- 1 smallmixing bowl
Ingredients
Streusel Topping
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
- ¼ heaping teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
Chai Muffins
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 1¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅓ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅕ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg (or ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, cold
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 large egg
Optional Vanilla Glaze
- ½ cup confectioners powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Streusel Topping
- In a small mixing bowl place the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon and stir to combine.
- Cut the cold butter into small cubes and then cut into the mixture with a pastry cutter or fork until you get a nice crumble. Set aside.
Chai Muffins
- Preheat the oven to 400F and prepare a muffin tin with liners or grease each well with butter and set it aside. This recipe is a small batch and will fill 8-9 muffin sections.
- In a large mixing bowl add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves and stir to combine.
- Chop the cold butter into cubes and cut into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or a fork. Similar to the crumble, you will have small pieces of butter throughout and a crumbly texture.
- In a small bowl add the sour cream, milk, and egg and beat to combine. Add to the dry mixture and stir with a spatula to combine. The batter will be lumpy and thick.
- Spoon some batter into each well of the muffin tin about halfway full. Sprinkle the top with some of the streusel topping then place another spoonful of the batter on top of the streusel. Gently spread out the batter to cover the top and then sprinkle on another layer of streusel on top.
- Bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5minutes before removing them and cooling them on a wire rack.
Optional Vanilla Glaze
- If you are adding the vanilla glaze on top, add the glaze ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Drizzle on top of the muffins before serving. These muffins are delicious when served warm. Store any leftover muffins in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Notes
- You can easily double this recipe. Because of the layering of these muffins, this recipe only yields 8-9 muffins. So if you would like more muffins, just double the ingredients.
- Store any leftover muffins in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- You can freeze these Chai Coffee Cake Muffins. Allow the muffins to completely cool before storing them in an air-tight freezer-safe container. When ready to serve, allow the muffins to defrost in the fridge or on the counter. Do not drizzle with the glaze until you are ready to serve the muffins.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Lucas says
This Chai muffins are full of flavours and such a delicious threat 🙂
Emily says
Thanks for trying them, Lucas!
Jacqui says
I love coffee cake and I love chai tea - this recipe couldn’t be more perfect for me!
Emily says
A perfect combination for you!
Gina Abernathy says
Cinnamon and brown sugar are wonderful together and the powdered sugar glaze is amazing on top of these muffins.
Emily says
Thanks, Gina!
nancy says
wow -i'm obsessed with this recipe. my two favourite things in one portable cake!
Emily says
Lol, totally! I'm using that from now on...portable cake!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
The warm chai spices in these muffins is intoxicating. I absolutely loved the crunchy topping and sweet glaze.
Emily says
Crunchy topping on a muffin is a weakness of mine, lol! Thanks for giving them a try.
Shilpa says
Love the addition of chai masala in these muffins. Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe.
Emily says
You are so welcome, thanks for checking out the recipe.
Deb says
Perfect blend of spice and sweetness for an afternoon pick-me-up 🙂
Lisa says
I made these with my daughter and the whole family loved them. Thanks for the great recipe!!
Emily says
Oh excellent, that always makes me happy to hear.😊
Dana Sandonato says
Love love love the flavor in these muffins! The chai comes out so nicely. My kiddo loved them, too!
Emily says
Thanks, Dana. It was a kid favorite in my house which is always a good thing 😀
Cara says
The perfect addition to my morning cup of coffee! I'm making more so I have them to wake up to on the weekend!
Emily says
So smart, these are amazing with coffee!
Beth says
I'm getting so hungry just looking at these! I love the flavor here. I would have NEVER have thought to use chai in muffins. I can't wait to make these.
Emily says
Thanks, Beth. I hope you get a chance to make them soon.
Sharon says
The addition of the chai spices in these muffins is so good! The perfect afternoon treats with a cup of tea.
Emily says
Thank you, Sharon. I'm so glad you liked them!