This iced banana bread chai is a homemade Starbucks copycat made with chai concentrate, milk, banana syrup, and creamy brown sugar cold foam. Served over ice with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, it’s a sweet, spiced drink you can easily make at home.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need a few simple ingredients to make the banana chai, brown sugar cold foam, and cinnamon-sugar topping.
- Chai concentrate: ½ cup of sweetened chai latte concentrate designed to be mixed with milk at a 1:1 ratio.
- 2% milk: ½ cup for the chai and 2 tablespoons for the cold foam.
- Banana syrup: 1 tablespoon of banana-flavored syrup.
- Ice cubes: ¾ cup to keep the drink chilled.
- Heavy cream: 3 tablespoons, cold, for the foam.
- Brown sugar syrup: 1 teaspoon to sweeten the cold foam.
- Granulated sugar: ⅛ teaspoon for the topping.
- Ground cinnamon: ⅛ teaspoon for the topping.
How to Make Iced Banana Bread Chai
1. Mix the banana chai. In a small glass or measuring cup, stir together ½ cup chai concentrate and 1 tablespoon banana syrup. Add ½ cup cold 2% milk and stir until combined.
2. Add the ice. Fill a tall serving glass with ¾ cup ice cubes. Pour the banana chai mixture over the ice, leaving room for the cold foam.
3. Make the brown sugar cold foam. Combine 3 tablespoons cold heavy cream, 2 tablespoons cold 2% milk, and 1 teaspoon brown sugar syrup in a tall, narrow container. Froth with a handheld milk frother for about 20–40 seconds, until thickened, airy, and still pourable.
4. Top the chai. Slowly pour the brown sugar cold foam over the iced chai.
5. Add the cinnamon-sugar topping. Mix ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon with ⅛ teaspoon granulated sugar. Sprinkle over the foam and serve immediately.
Tips for the Best Iced Banana Bread Chai
- Check your chai concentrate: Use a concentrate designed for a 1:1 ratio with milk. If yours has different mixing instructions, follow the package directions.
- Keep the foam ingredients cold: Cold heavy cream and milk help the foam thicken. Stop frothing when it looks creamy and can still be poured.
- Adjust the banana flavor: Banana syrups vary in sweetness and intensity. Start with the amount in the recipe and adjust to your taste.
- Serve right away: Add the cold foam just before serving so it stays light and creamy over the iced chai.
If you enjoy chai-spiced desserts, try our chai apple possets for another way to enjoy those warm spices.
Substitutions and Variations
- Homemade banana syrup: You can replace the store-bought banana syrup with the same amount of homemade banana syrup. The sweetness and banana flavor may vary depending on how it’s prepared.
- Whole milk: You can use whole milk instead of 2% milk for a slightly richer, creamier chai. Keep the same amount.
Storage and Make-Ahead
- Prepare the chai ahead: Mix the chai concentrate, milk, and banana syrup. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, preferably the same day.
- Make the cold foam fresh: Keep the heavy cream and milk refrigerated, then froth the brown sugar cold foam just before serving for the best texture.
- Assemble before serving: Add the ice, cold foam, and cinnamon-sugar topping at the last minute to prevent dilution and maintain the creamy layers.
Keep the milk-based mixture refrigerated at 40°F or below. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Chai concentrate typically contains black tea, which naturally contains caffeine. Starbucks lists 60 mg of caffeine in its 16-ounce Grande Iced Banana Bread Chai. The amount in this homemade version depends on the chai concentrate you use.
The chai version is made with spiced black tea concentrate, while the latte version uses espresso. Both Starbucks drinks feature banana syrup, brown sugar cold foam, and cinnamon dolce topping.
Yes. You can whisk the cold cream, milk, and brown sugar syrup together or shake them in a tightly sealed jar until foamy. The texture may be less airy than foam made with a handheld frother.
Iced Banana Bread Chai (Starbucks Copycat)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
Make this Starbucks-inspired iced banana bread chai with banana syrup, spiced chai, milk, brown sugar cold foam, and a cinnamon-sugar topping.
Ingredients
FOR THE BANANA CHAI
- ½ cup sweetened chai latte concentrate
- ½ cup cold 2% milk
- 1 tablespoon banana-flavored syrup
- ¾ cup ice cubes
FOR THE BROWN SUGAR COLD FOAM
- 3 tablespoons cold heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons cold 2% milk
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar syrup
FOR THE CINNAMON-SUGAR TOPPING
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
1. Mix the banana chai. In a small glass or measuring cup, stir together ½ cup chai concentrate and 1 tablespoon banana syrup. Add ½ cup cold 2% milk and stir until combined.
2. Add the ice. Fill a tall serving glass with ¾ cup ice cubes. Pour the banana chai mixture over the ice, leaving room for the cold foam.
3. Make the brown sugar cold foam. Combine 3 tablespoons cold heavy cream, 2 tablespoons cold 2% milk, and 1 teaspoon brown sugar syrup in a tall, narrow container. Froth with a handheld milk frother for about 20–40 seconds, until thickened, airy, and still pourable.
4. Top the chai. Slowly pour the brown sugar cold foam over the iced chai.
5. Add the cinnamon-sugar topping. Mix ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon with ⅛ teaspoon granulated sugar. Sprinkle over the foam and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use a sweetened chai concentrate designed for a 1:1 ratio with milk. Different concentrates may require different amounts of milk. Banana syrup sweetness also varies by brand, so adjust to taste.
- Nutrition information is estimated per serving and may vary depending on the brands of chai concentrate, banana syrup, brown sugar syrup, and dairy products used. These values are for the homemade recipe, not the Starbucks version.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 41 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Protein: 6 g
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