Leftover Chai Latte Scones
Let’s say you went for a meeting one day at Starbucks, and that on this particular day you were already all coffeed out, and so you ordered a chai latte. Which seemed like a good idea, but it was really too strong, and you only drank half of it and let the rest go cold in the car on your drive home. Hypothetically.
And let’s say that was a $5 chai latte, and so you couldn’t bring yourself to pour the rest down the drain, but saving it to cut with milk and reheat the next day seemed a little extreme, to say nothing of the fact that by the next day you’ll need coffee again.
What would you do? I baked scones. And if you have a jar of vanilla sugar in the cupboard, you sprinkle them generously with it before they go into the oven.
A good, strong chai latte can take the place of milk in a scone recipe, poured directly into the bowl of flour-baking powder-butter, turning it into dough and making the whole batch taste like chai. And if you have enough, a small splash in a bowl of icing sugar makes a chai drizzle to dribble over top.
Almost as if you planned it that way. You could plan it that way – I’d buy a chai latte and drink half for scones later on.
I get a disproportionate amount of pleasure out of splattering drizzle back and forth over warm scones with a fork. Totally worth the two minute clean up. Also: it doesn’t mean you can’t also have butter.
Chai Latte Scones
AuthorJuliePreheat the oven to 425F. In a large bowl - or the bowl of a food processor - combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and pulse or blend with a pastry blender or fork until combined, with some pieces of butter the size of a pea. (If you used a food processor, transfer the mixture to a bowl.)
Add the chai latte and stir until the dough comes together. Gather it into a ball and place on a parchment-lined sheet; pat into a circle an inch thick. Cut into 8 wedges with a knife and pull them apart from each other; if you like, sprinkle with coarse or vanilla sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until deep golden.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the icing sugar and chai latte. Drizzle over the scones while they're still warm, or once they've cooled.
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425F. In a large bowl - or the bowl of a food processor - combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and pulse or blend with a pastry blender or fork until combined, with some pieces of butter the size of a pea. (If you used a food processor, transfer the mixture to a bowl.)
Add the chai latte and stir until the dough comes together. Gather it into a ball and place on a parchment-lined sheet; pat into a circle an inch thick. Cut into 8 wedges with a knife and pull them apart from each other; if you like, sprinkle with coarse or vanilla sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until deep golden.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the icing sugar and chai latte. Drizzle over the scones while they're still warm, or once they've cooled.
nice recipe, good recycling
Let’s say hypothetically eh?
Well this makes for an amazing recipe I say, so I’m all for the hypothesis! They look amazing and I love the addition of the drizzle, mmmm ^ ^
I cannot quite fathom having leftover chai. 😉 I am the one usually licking the bottom of the cup.
What a great hypothetical discovery 🙂 These scones look perfect.
What a great idea! I just might have to buy a chai latte at Starbucks just to make these scones!!! (I always like your scone recipes, they are 100% foolproof!).
Stacey
You are a resourceful woman. I love it!
My kids love pretty much chai anything. I would totally make these!! In fact now I need to make these. You are brilliant!! (And there I thought it was going to be the chai spice baking blend from Silk Road)
This sounds so good – tomorrow morning’s breakfast with a strong pot of coffee. Perfect!!
oh. my. gosh. you are a brilliant woman! I’m going to make an extra, extra large chai latte right now so I have some leftover for scones.
Genius!
I’ve picked up their Tazo Chai concentrate at Costco. It’s also good in oatmeal. 🙂
Brilliant!
Beautiful food photos as usual – I love the way your kitchen windows are reflected in the glaze on the scones!
I’ve used leftover chai tea in recipes & it always works wonderfully! Also, I wanted scones for breakfast & I found my way here. I’m making just a plain nutmeg version based off your recipe (boring old yogurt for the chai). Happy Sunday!!
Bonjour,
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What a great idea! I would buy an even larger Chai latte just so I can drink my normal amount and make scones with the rest. MMmmm.
The scones sound really good. I’ll have to try it when I am back to eating gluten.
For me, the secret to getting a great chai latte at Starbucks is to get it half sweet. Less pumps so it’s not as sweet and you get the real spicy chai flavour.
when i made this the dough was way too sticky and wet to even handle!
Hi Julie!
First time on your site.
I made the scones and they came out perfectly. I had leftover chai tea concentrate (in the carton), one of my favorite things to drink and just had to use it – on scones, my other favorite thing.
I will definitely be looking at your site more often. Thank you!