chai spice + almonds
December 6, 2011 I’m very hit or miss when it comes to chai spices. I guess my only real experiences with the chai-flavor, is in tea form. It’s rare that I try a chai tea that I fully enjoy. They typically end up too sweet or spicy, and sometimes too potent. Once in awhile though, the spices are just right.
Spice mixing can seem scary. Especially when dealing with 6 very strong spices. Alone, each of the below spices have very deep + complex flavors. Mix them together and who knows what will happen?
I typically add the tiniest pinch of cloves in my recipes, so deciding to put a whole whopping teaspoon into this fairly small mixture, had me a bit scared. But somehow, once all mixed together, it turned into everything I was looking for.
warm.
spicy.
deep.
rich.
Tastes like winter. Feels like it around here too! Hello temperatures in the single digits!
Chai Spice Mix
- 2t cinnamon
- 2t ginger
- 1t cardamom
- 1t cloves
- 1/4t nutmeg
- 1/4t all spice
- Mix together and store in a sealed jar or spice container.
If you’re lucky enough to have a bulk spice section in your store, this should cost well under $1 to make. If you don’t have a bulk spice aisle, try to find the mini McCormick jars, for a great deal!
This spice mix is totally customizable. If you want a little more spicy zing, add 1/2-1t more ginger. White pepper is another common spice added to chai. You can also get away with just using the ginger, cardamom, clove + cinnamon.
So what made me randomly decide to mix up these spices?
Oh you know, to make nut butter! I’ve had this recipe in mind for at least 2 months, but have become quite lazy with my nut butter making. There hasn’t been a new recipe in far too long.
I’ve become strangely addicted to the oh so convenient + cheap, peanut butter. Somehow I’ve banished buying cans of beans, to soak + cook my own, but started by jars of peanut butter?? In my defense, they’re on sale all the time, and I always have coupons! They end up costing less than buying plain organic peanuts, to then process into nut butter, so I tell myself it’s acceptable.
I seem to have completely forgotten how easy it is to make and how freaking delicious it tastes.
Customizing your own nut butter will make you feel extra fancy, especially when you have guests over. You can wow them with your creations. They will have no idea how you did it!
Better yet? Fill an 8oz mason jar with this fancy stuff, tie an even fancier ribbon around the outside, and gift this to your friends + family.
Chai Spice Almond Butter
- 2c almonds
- 1T honey
- 2.5-3t chai spice
- 1t vanilla extract
- 1/4-1/2t salt
- On a baking sheet, lightly toast your almonds at 175* for 40min, turning a few times.
- Let cool 10min, then add to your food processor and turn on.
- Let run for about 8-12min, scraping the sides of the bowl when necessary, until the almonds become creamy. It will change from crumbs, to a big ball of dough and then eventually smooth out to a creamy texture.
- In a bowl, combine the honey, chai spices, vanilla + salt and mix well.
- Empty the nut butter into the bowl and stir together until completely combined.
- Store in a sealed jar in the fridge.
tips/substitutions: You can toast the almonds at 350* for about 15-20min, turning once half-way through. I like to keep the oven temp lower, to maintain the integrity of the oil in the nuts. Sub any liquid sweetener you like instead of honey. Never add milk or water to nut butter to thin it out as it doesn’t work at all. If your nut butter has been processing for over 15min, try adding 1/2T oil and see if that helps to loosen it up. Add 1/2T more if needed. I use a heavy duty, 11c food processor, which works really well with 2c of nuts. If you’re using a 7c, I would reduce the amount to 1.5c and adjust the spices accordingly. In my experience, I’ve found that adding liquid sweetener to the nut butter can thicken it to the point where it won’t smooth out. Adding it after, and mixing in a bowl, helps to solve this problem.
related recipes: maple cinnamon almond butter, vanilla bean maple almond butter, pumpkin spiced almond butter, cinnamon crunch almond butter
If you don’t have a food processor, stir this into about 1.5c of store bought, unsweetened almond butter.
Please prepare for an onslaught of chai recipes. I already have at least 5 in mind, some of which I’m sure you can guess. Be thankful, as it seems to have drawn my attention away from pumpkin.
But I don’t know….pumpkin chai sounds pretty tasty to me.
Ashley
My about + pricing pages are finally complete over on my photography site!
Recipes, almond butter 
Reader Comments (65)
UGH. Yum. I'm a fan.
Making almond butter has been on my agenda for weeks and weeks now. Somehow, I've been putting it off again and again every single weekend....
This recipe sounds oh so delicious!!!
I really liked the maple cinnamon almond butter as it tastes like sugar roasted almonds (that are very popular on German Christmas markets and I LOVE them).
So chai spice is coming up next - hopefully this weekend ;)
Yum! I just made chai spiced eggnog smoothies last week...must add this to my (growing) to-make list!
This sounds delicious! I'm addicted to your nut butters - they're all so good! I just finished a jar of the pumpkin spice almond butter, and I made a double batch of the maple cinnamon version. The chai spice will be next!
I can think of so many ways I want to use this spice mixture - in oats, buckwheat bakes, popped amaranth, donuts . . . .
I love making my own spice mixes! About a month ago or so I made a balti seasoning, it was so tasty to make all the proportions to my liking. And mixed with almonds? Perfect for the holiday season! I'm getting a food processor for Christmas and am so excited to go to town with nut butters!
I love chai! I feel as though I could smell the spices through the computer - smells like Christmas!
Will definitely be trying the chai mix with PB or AB. Would be delicious in oatmeal, I think.
I never knew what Chai Spices were, thanks for sharing. I am so going to try this almond butter!!!
this is so funny! i made some chai spiced almond butter the other day! the spices weren't quite right, so i cannot wait to try your version. smart minds think alike ;-).
I feel the same way about Chai tea, or when I'm mixing spices to make chana masala - eek! Going to put this on my list of nut butters to try :)
this is getting bookmarked...i've been looking for a reasonable chai spice for AGES!
yumm, this would make an awesome gift in a little mason jar. I love chai spiced things but I don't live chai tea for some reason. Although chai tea lattes are another story!
I am definitely going to try this! I have been looking for something to use cardamom in. Just bought it because I thought it was interesting but had no idea what to do w/ it. Thanks!
I totally agree with you about Chai. I find it sometimes way too overwhelming in spiciness. I feel like a Chai latte seems like the way to go, because the milk dilutes the intensity a bit maybe.
I am obsessed with cardamom, so this is right up my alley!
Same way about Chai...it's either great or horrible. Wishing I had a nicer food processor to make this!
So want this now...looks amazing :D
Oh how I love chai spice! I can think of at least 10 things to put this in too :)
Cardamom was the one I never would have figured out - I like making spice mixtures at home.
I LOVE chai spice, but like you said, it's very difficult to find one that's the right mix of flavors.
Chai spiced almond butter sounds heavenly!
I've had lots of success with your past recipes for nut butters, and this would be the perfect gift for a couple of people on my list (not to mention for my own tastebuds). Thanks for all the hard work you put into your recipes--and for sharing the results with us!
This sounds perfect! I guess I need to fork over the $ for cardamom. I always want to buy it and then see the price tag for the ridiculously small amount and almost faint. It's such a flavorful spice though.
What an interesting ab flavor..sounds delish..you are so creative!
that looks delicious!!
Love that chai spice mix! The possibilities of what you could do with it seem never-ending.
Sounds amazing, I might have to make this to give to a few people for Christmas presents!
Chai is the best! I have a chai latte every morning. :) I heard they used to make chai luna bars but unfortunately discontinued them. This is perfect! I actually haven't tasted chai in any setting other than a tea latte but chai almonds would be great! Also, chai muffins.
Yum! I love homemade spice mixes and this sounds like a perfect combo to almonds!
Oh my, chai spice almond butter? That sounds unbelievably amazing. How did you come up with such an inspired combination? I can't wait to try it!
Yay! I have been patiently waiting for you to post another of your awesome nut butter recipes! Chai spiced - how exciting! Love it!. As soon as I finish my jar of clementine cashew butter, this is being made.
nom nom nom nom nom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love. I can't wait to see what other chai recipes you're going to share!
Oooh YES. Chai spice is amazing -- I can only imagine what that almond butter tastes like!! I had a delicious box of Coconut Chai Tea once, makes me wonder what Chai COCONUT butter would taste like???!!!
If it has "chai spice" in the name, chances are I'm going to be buying it!
oh my yum.
What a good idea! And I totally agree about the great chai spice balance. Rare to perfect but once you do, you remember how good it can be even if all those other times it was not good at all!
You're a genius! I can't wait to try this
Look at you, accomplishing milestones on your other site. We're so proud of you! ;)
(And I'll take a nice big bowl of that AB, thank you very much.)
This looks so good. I love anything chai, but just like you said, it's often hard to find just the right mix. I came across your blog yesterday. LOVE your breakfast recipes (my favorite meal as well).
I gave your Oatterific Banana Scramble a try. It was delicious.
I'm posting my daily meals for a week (at the request of my friend) on my vegan blog, so I mentioned your scramble there.
Looking forward to more chai recipes. Thank you!
Thanks for saying hi Maria!! So glad you liked the scramble. :)
Kelly, thank you!! You are so sweet. Much appreciated.
THAT is a great idea!!!! Might have to give it a shot! I am out of coconut butter....hehe
Thank you for being patient...I don't know what took me so long! ;)
I have no idea!! But I've been thinking about it for months! So glad it panned out.
Chai granola bars...yum! It would be good in SO many things!
Yes, a great gift!! And thank you...that really means so much!
Hope you like my mix!
mmmm chana masala
Hope this one works for you!!! :)
Oh yes!! I just topped a bowl of blueberry oats with it...SO GOOD
Awesome!! Yes...so many combinations!
I haven't made nut butter in far too long. I may have to break out the peanuts for a peanut butter recipe I found, and now the new almonds I bought for this! And yes please on pumpkin+chai.