This Ninja Creami Spiced Chai Ice Cream is creamy, lightly spiced, and tastes like a chai latte you can eat with a spoon.
I initially tried making this with regular tea bags, but the flavor just wasn't bold enough. Trader Joe's carries a perfectly-sized Spiced Chai Tea Concentrate that leaves just enough for my morning chai latte too, so that's what I use now. It's one of my favorite fall flavors to work with, right up there with pumpkin.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick to make: The recipe is easy and uses simple ingredients, ready in no time!
- Rich chai flavor: Thanks to Trader Joe’s Chai Concentrate, you get a perfect blend of spices.
- Perfect fall treat: Spiced chai ice cream is the ultimate cozy dessert for fall lovers.
- Versatile: Customize with mix-ins and toppings to suit your taste.
- Low-sugar option: Sweetened with monk fruit, making it a healthier dessert choice.
If you're already deep into fall flavors, this pairs well with a rotation that includes apple pie ice cream too.
What is Spiced Chai?
Spiced chai (often “masala chai”) is black tea brewed with milk (or cream), sweetener, and a blend of warming spices: cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, ginger.
In this ice-cream version, we infuse those spices into the base so you get the flavor of the tea house in a scoop.
Ingredients
Here’s what you will need for this recipe:
- Half and Half: This gives the ice cream its rich and creamy texture. You can substitute with heavy cream for creamier texture or full-fat milk for a lighter option.
- Cream Cheese: A small amount of cream cheese adds extra creaminess. Substitute with mascarpone for a richer taste.
- Vanilla Extract: A little vanilla enhances the chai flavor. Use vanilla bean paste if you prefer a more intense vanilla taste.
- Trader Joe’s Spiced Chai Tea Concentrate: Provides the perfect chai spice flavor. If you don’t have Trader Joe’s nearby, other chai concentrates will work too like Tazo Tea.
- Monk Fruit: A sugar alternative that keeps this ice cream lighter on the sweetness. You can use regular sugar, honey, or maple syrup if you prefer.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Additions
- Base: Use whole milk to lighten it up. For dairy-free, swap in full-fat coconut milk.
- Sweetener: Monk fruit keeps it low-sugar, but regular sugar, maple syrup, or honey work too.
- Chai flavor: Trader Joe’s Spiced Chai is ideal, but Tazo or homemade brewed chai tea concentrate work just as well.
- Flavor boosts: Add a pinch of cinnamon, sea salt, or swirl in caramel before freezing.
- Mix-ins: Try crushed ginger snaps, chocolate chips, or candied walnuts or pecans for a fall-inspired crunch.
How to Make Spiced Chai Ice Cream Using Ninja Creami
- Start by mixing the half and half, cream cheese, vanilla extract, Trader Joe’s Spiced Chai Tea Concentrate, and monk fruit in a blender. I love using my Vitamix for this. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Pour the mixture into your Ninja Creami pint and freeze for 24 hours.
- Once frozen, use the Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker to churn into smooth, creamy ice cream. Select the "Ice Cream" function, and you’ll have a perfect dessert in minutes!
- Scoop and enjoy your homemade spiced chai ice cream!
Topping and Mix-In Suggestions
- Crushed ginger snaps: Add crunch and extra spice.
- Chocolate chips: Because chai and chocolate are a match made in heaven.
- Candied pecans: For a sweet, nutty crunch.
- Coconut flakes: Adds a tropical twist to the spiced flavors.
- Whipped cream: A dollop of this classic topping makes everything better.
Equipment
- Vitamix Blender: Ensures all the ingredients are blended smoothly for a creamy base.
- Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker: The star of the show that churns your mixture into perfectly creamy ice cream!
Rose's Tips
- Blend the base fully. Any unblended bits of cream cheese turn into ice crystals once frozen. Run the blender until it's completely smooth, not just mostly smooth.
- Don't overfill the pint. Leave headspace below the fill line. The mixture expands as it freezes, and overfilling means it won't churn evenly.
- Give it the full 24 hours. This isn't a step to rush. A pint that hasn't fully frozen through will churn into soup instead of ice cream.
- Go easy on the monk fruit. Less sugar means a firmer freeze, so don't add extra thinking it'll make it softer.
- Let the spices lead. Don't oversweeten the base. The whole point of chai is the spice blend, and too much sweetener buries it.
Storage
Store the churned ice cream in the pint with the lid on, in the freezer, for up to 2-3 weeks. Texture is best in the first week. After that it gets a little icier each time you re-open the container.
If it turns out too soft after spinning, freeze it for another hour before scooping. If it comes out too hard, let it sit on the counter for 5 minutes first.
You can re-spin once if it's gotten too hard from sitting, but avoid doing it more than that. Each re-spin trades a little texture for scoopability.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can substitute regular sugar, honey, or maple syrup for monk fruit, depending on your preference.
Absolutely! Just be mindful of the sweetness level of the concentrate you use, as some may be sweeter than others.
Yes! Substitute the half and half with a non-dairy milk like coconut milk or almond milk, and use a dairy-free cream cheese.
It’s great on its own, but you can serve it with roasted fruit or over a slice of pie for a more decadent dessert.
More Fall Ninja Creami Recipes To Try
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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Recipe
Ninja Creami Spiced Chai Ice Cream
Equipment
- blender or immersion blender
- Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker
- Ninja Creami Container Pint
Ingredients
- 1 cup Trader Joes Spiced Chai Tea Concentrate
- 1 ¼ cup Half and Half
- 1 tablespoon Monk Fruit
- ½ cup Cream Cheese
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Start by mixing the half and half, cream cheese, vanilla extract, Trader Joe’s Spiced Chai Tea Concentrate, and monk fruit in a blender. I love using my Vitamix for this.1 cup Trader Joes Spiced Chai Tea Concentrate, 1 ¼ cup Half and Half, 1 tablespoon Monk Fruit, ½ cup Cream Cheese, 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Pour the mixture into your Ninja Creami pint and freeze for 24 hours.
- Once frozen, use the Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker to churn into smooth, creamy ice cream. Select the "Ice Cream" function, and you’ll have a perfect dessert in minutes!
- Scoop and enjoy your homemade spiced chai ice cream!
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Notes
- Make sure the base is fully blended before freezing — prevents grainy texture.
- Don’t over-fill the pint — leave head-space for expansion.
- Freeze time is non-negotiable: freeze the pint at least 24 hours before churning.
- Serve within 2–3 weeks for best texture; refreeze only once.
- Label clearly if you’ve added mix-ins, especially with nuts.
- After spinning, if too soft, freeze another hour. If too hard, let sit 5 minutes before scooping.
- If using sugar substitutes like monk fruit, freeze slightly shorter (because less sugar can make it firmer).
- The calorie count provided is an estimate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients and brands used.
