Chai Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) - Oh, How Civilized (2024)

Home Starbucks Starbucks Copycat Recipes

By Jee Choe

on Aug 04, 2021, Updated Mar 16, 2023

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An easy and delicious Chai Frappuccino using store-bought chai concentrate, milk, ice, and homemade Frappuccino base syrup to make it super smooth and creamy. Top the whole thing off with freshly made (and quick) whipped cream!

Chai Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) - Oh, How Civilized (1)

Table of Contents

  • Recipe Highlights
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Expert Tips
  • Questions You May Have
  • Related
  • Starbucks Chai Frappuccino Copycat Recipe

Recipe Highlights

  • Chai Crème Frappuccino is a Starbucks frozen drink made by blending ice, whole milk, creme Frappuccino syrup, and chai tea concentrate. It’s topped off with whipped cream and ground cinnamon. This homemade recipe recreates the drink using similar ingredients.
  • Chai is a tea blend that combines black tea with warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. There’s caffeine in this drink from the black tea.
  • Every single Frappuccino at Starbucks is made with a Frappuccino base syrup that makes the drink smooth and creamy. This recipe uses a homemade Frappuccino base that can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
  • This copycat recipe makes a grande (16 ounce) Chai Frappuccino. It’s a very easy drink to make and only takes a few seconds in a blender. Even the whipped cream is quick and easy to make using a handheld milk frother.

RELATED: Java Chip Frappucino

Ingredient Notes

Chai Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) - Oh, How Civilized (2)
  • Homemade Frappuccino base syrup: This is key to making Frappuccinos just like Starbucks. Make a batch of this first.
  • Tazo Classic Chai Latte Concentrate: Starbucks’s chai tastes exactly like the one from Tazo. It’s an easy shortcut since you don’t have to brew any tea.
  • Whole milk: Whole milk is what’s used in Starbucks Frappuccinos but you can use any milk you like.
  • Heavy cream: This is used to make the vanilla whipped cream.
  • Vanilla syrup: To flavor and sweeten the whipped cream, you can use store-bought or homemade vanilla syrup.
  • Ice: Use filtered water to make the ice if possible, for a better tasting drink.
  • Ground cinnamon: A sprinkling of cinnamon is added on top of the whipped cream. It’s a garnish, just like the Starbucks version.
  • Optional: Star anise: I added a star anise as garnish so it’s completely optional.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step-by-Step Instructions

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Step 1: Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.

Ahandheld milk frothermakes whipped cream in seconds!

Chai Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) - Oh, How Civilized (4)

Step 2: Blend chai concentrate, milk, ice, and homemade Frappuccino base syrup until smooth. Start the blender on low, then turn it up high. Use a tamper tool to make sure the ice gets blended evenly.

Chai Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) - Oh, How Civilized (5)

Step 3: Pour Frappuccino into a cup.

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Step 4: Top drink with whipped cream and add a sprinkle of cinnamon. Optional garnish: star anise.

Expert Tips

  • Don’t put ice into the blender first. For an efficient blend, add ingredients into the blender in the order it’s shown on the ingredient list.
  • The magic of Starbucks Frappuccinos is the Frappuccino base syrup. It’s just simple syrup with xanthan gum. The simple syrup sweetens and the xanthan gum thickens the drink. If you don’t want to use the Frappuccino base syrup, just use simple syrup to sweeten. Your drink will be a bit icy with the chai separating from the ice though.
  • Making whipped cream at home is so quick and easy when you use a handheld milk frother. In less than a minute, you’ll get fluffy, decadent whipped cream.

RELATED: Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino

Questions You May Have

What’s in the Tazo Chai Concentrate?

The chai is made with water, black tea, black pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and natural flavor. Cane sugar, honey, ginger juice, vanilla extract, and citric acid is added to the chai.

What else can I make with the Tazo Chai Concentrate?

You can make more Starbucks chai copycat drinks like Chai Latte and Iced Chai Latte.

Can I make this drink sugar-free?

The Tazo chai concentrate is sweetened, so you won’t be able to make this drink sugar-free. The Frappuccino base syrup is also made with sugar.

Can I buy the Frappuccino base syrup?

Starbucks doesn’t sell the Frappuccino syrup but you may be able to purchase it on Amazon or Ebay.

Chai Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) - Oh, How Civilized (8)
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4.67 from 6 votes

Starbucks Chai Frappuccino Copycat

By: Jee Choe

A recreation of the Starbucks chai frozen drink, made with a Frappuccino base syrup.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Yield: 1 serving (16 ounces)

Equipment

Ingredients

Chai Frappuccino

Vanilla Whipped Cream

Instructions

  • Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.

    Ahandheld milk frothermakes whipped cream in seconds.

  • Blend chai concentrate, milk, ice, and homemade Frappuccino base syrup until smooth.

    Start the blender on low, then turn it up high. Use a tamper tool to make sure the ice gets blended evenly.

  • Pour Frappuccino into a cup.

  • Top drink with whipped cream and add a sprinkle of cinnamon.

    Optional garnish: star anise.

Notes

  • The magic of Starbucks Frappuccinos is the Frappuccino base syrup. Make a batch of this first and store it in the refrigerator to make more Frappuccinos.
  • Frappuccino base syrup is just simple syrup with xanthan gum. The simple syrup sweetens and the xanthan gum thickens the drink. If you don’t want to use the Frappuccino base syrup, just use simple syrup to sweeten. Your drink will be a bit icy with the chai separating from the ice though.
  • Starbucks uses a chai concentrate that tastes exactly like the one from Tazo. (The concentrate they use is stronger). It’s an easy shortcut since you don’t have to brew any tea.
  • Don’t put ice into the blender first. For an efficient blend, add ingredients into the blender in the order it’s shown on the ingredient list.
  • Making whipped cream at home is so quick and easy when you use a handheld milk frother. In less than a minute, you’ll get fluffy, decadent whipped cream.
  • Whole milk is what’s used in Starbucks Frappuccinos but you can use any milk you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 471Carbohydrates: 64gProtein: 4gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 119mgPotassium: 246mgSugar: 63gVitamin A: 1006IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @ohhowcivilized or tag #ohhowcivilized!

About Jee Choe

Welcome! I'm a certified Tea Sommelier and a self-proclaimed bubble tea and iced tea master. I'm all about making tea EASY and DELICIOUS.

Read More About Me

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Chai Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) - Oh, How Civilized (2024)

FAQs

What is in a Starbucks chai Frappuccino? ›

ICE, MILK, CREME FRAPPUCCINO SYRUP [SUGAR, WATER, NATURAL FLAVOR, SALT, XANTHAN GUM, POTASSIUM SORBATE, CITRIC ACID], CHAI TEA CONCENTRATE [AN INFUSION OF (WATER, BLACK TEA, CARDAMOM, BLACK PEPPER, GINGER, CINNAMON, CLOVES, NATURAL FLAVORS, STAR ANISE), SUGAR, HONEY, GINGER JUICE, NATURAL FLAVORS, VANILLA, CITRIC ACID] ...

What brand of chai does Starbucks use? ›

"Tazo Chai latte is the brand served at Starbucks.

How is Starbucks Frappuccino made? ›

The Starbucks vanilla bean frappuccino is made with milk, ice, vanilla syrup, and whipped cream. The milk and ice are blended together to create a creamy base, and the vanilla syrup is added for flavor. The whipped cream is then added on top to finish the drink.

What is in the Starbucks tie dye Frappuccino? ›

The beverage is made with a tropical Crème Frappuccino with dashes of powder in yellow, red and blue (which gets its color from red beet, turmeric and spirulina) that mix to make a rainbow of vibrant hues. The beverage is topped with whipped cream and a final dusting of colored powder.

What is a dirty chai frappuccino? ›

Ordering a Dirty Chai has become very popular over the last couple of years. It's also now commonly found in most coffee shop menu's. Usually made with steamed milk, a single shot of espresso and a chai concentrate or tea, the result is a unique mix of a regular latte and a chai tea latte.

What's a dirty chai from Starbucks? ›

Traditionally, a Chai Latte is a blend of spicy chai tea concentrate and steamed milk. When you add a shot (or two) of espresso, it becomes "dirty," representing the bold addition of coffee to the equation. While undeniably delicious, ordering a Dirty Chai Tea Latte can be pricier due to the combined costs.

Does Starbucks use Teavana chai tea? ›

Teavana® Oprah Chai Tea

Satisfy your inner chocolate lover with this decadent chocolate chai tea. Velvety and smooth, this soothing black tea blended with rich Indian spices, Madagascar vanilla, and rich dark chocolate creates a sensory treat any time day or night.

Is Tazo owned by Starbucks? ›

The company was purchased by Starbucks in 1999 for $8.1 million. Starbucks opened the first Tazo-branded tea shop in November 2012. It closed a year later and was converted into a Teavana store. In November 2017, Starbucks sold Tazo to Unilever for $384 million.

What is in Starbucks chai tea concentrate? ›

Milk, Water, Chai Tea Concentrate [An Infusion Of (Water, Black Tea, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, Natural Flavours, Star Anise), Sugar, Honey, Ginger Juice, Natural Flavours, Vanilla, Citric Acid].

What is the healthiest Starbucks Frappuccino? ›

The healthiest icy option is the light caramel Frappuccino, made with blended ice, nonfat milk, coffee and buttery caramel syrup. But did you know you can order many other Frappuccinos “light,” with nonfat milk, no whip and sugar-free syrup? Find out more things you didn't know about Frappuccinos.

Who manufactures Starbucks Frappuccino? ›

Additionally, PepsiCo Inc., the manufacturer of the Frappuccino bottles, issued a voluntary recall of the products because of the presence of a “foreign object” found in the drinks.

What is rainbow Frappuccino? ›

This deliciously fruity drink is vibrant with red, blue and yellow tie-dye swirls, topped with vanilla whipped cream, and dusted with red, blue and yellow powder. Just like the peak of summer, the Tie-Dye Frappuccino® blended beverage is available for only a few days. 400 calories, 58g sugar, 15g fat.

What was in the Unicorn Frappuccino? ›

The Unicorn Frappuccino was a viral drink created by Starbucks, introduced in April 2017. It is made with ice, milk, pink powder, sour blue powder, crème Frappuccino syrup, mango syrup, and blue drizzle. In the 24-oz. size, it contains 500 calories, 18 grams of fat, 76 grams of sugar, and 55 milligrams of cholesterol.

What is the binder for Frappuccino? ›

XANTHAN GUM

This Frappuccino Base is added to bind the coffee, milk, and ice together, creating a smooth consistency and keeping it from separating. The good news is that xanthan gum does just that. It is a harmless food additive that is used in many foods, cosmetics, medicines, etc.

How much caffeine is in a Starbucks chai frappuccino? ›

Chai Crème Frappuccino - 40 milligrams

These drinks have a higher caffeine content than Iced Black Tea and also have the added bonus of being frosty, creamy, and delicious. The Chai Frappuccino, in particular, uses pumps of chai tea concentrate rather than tea bags, giving it a strong, distinct flavor.

Does a chai tea frappe have caffeine? ›

Our sweet and creamy spiced chai blended together with ice and your choice of milk. Topped with whipped cream. This frappe does not contain espresso, but is caffeinated from the chai tea to give you an extra boost!

Does Starbucks put coffee in their chai? ›

Milk, Ice, Chai Tea Concentrate [An Infusion Of (Water, Black Tea, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, Natural Flavours, Star Anise), Sugar, Honey, Ginger Juice, Natural Flavours, Vanilla, Citric Acid].

What does Starbucks use as their chai concentrate? ›

Starbucks uses a special (and more concentrated) version of the Tazo Chai Concentrate that is not sold commercially. The Tazo Classic Chai Concentrate is already sweetened and I find it to be a little too sweet.

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