So I’m completely obsessed with the Christmas Morning Chai Dutch Bros drink. Like, embarrassingly obsessed. Last week I drove twenty minutes out of my way just to get one, and when I got there, they told me they were out of white chocolate syrup. I literally almost cried in the drive-through. (The barista looked at me like I was insane. Fair.)
That’s when I decided I needed to learn how to make this at home. Because spending $5 every time I want a festive chai drink isn’t exactly sustainable, and also because the nearest Dutch Bros is not that close and my gas money is suffering.
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Why This Dutch Bros Christmas Drinks Recipe Changed Everything
Here’s the thing about trying to recreate a drink you love—it’s way harder than you think. My first attempt at this Christmas morning chai recipe was… well, let’s just say my husband took one sip and asked if I was trying to poison him. Dramatic, but not entirely unfair.
I used regular chai tea bags. Mistake number one. They’re just not strong enough, and the flavor was weak and watery. Then I added way too much white chocolate syrup because I thought “more is better,” right? Wrong. It tasted like I was drinking liquid candy with a vague hint of spice somewhere in the background.
But after like five tries (and way too much money spent on ingredients), I finally figured it out. And honestly? This homemade version is just as good as the real thing. Maybe even better because I can make it in my pajamas at 6 AM on Christmas morning without leaving my house.
The Secret to Making Dutch Bros Chai Recipe at Home
Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. The secret isn’t really a secret—it’s just using the exact same ingredients Dutch Bros uses. Revolutionary, I know.
They use Oregon Chai concentrate. Not tea bags. Not some fancy loose-leaf situation. Oregon Chai in the carton from the grocery store. I found mine at Target, but I’ve also seen it at Safeway and Whole Foods. It’s usually in the refrigerated section near the coffee creamers.
And the white chocolate? Torani brand. Same stuff they use at Dutch Bros. You can find it online or sometimes at grocery stores in the coffee aisle. Don’t try to substitute with white chocolate chips melted down. Trust me. I tried. It was chunky and weird and didn’t mix right.
What You Need for This Holiday Chai Latte
Shopping for this was actually pretty easy once I knew what to look for. Here’s your list:
- 1 cup Oregon Chai Tea Latte Concentrate (the liquid kind in a carton, not the powder)
- 1 cup half and half (don’t even think about using skim milk—this needs to be rich and creamy)
- 2-3 tablespoons Torani White Chocolate Sauce (start with 2, add more if you want it sweeter)
- Whipped cream (I use the canned stuff from Reddi-Wip because I’m lazy)
- Ground nutmeg or cinnamon for topping
- Optional: a little extra white chocolate sauce for drizzling on top
The half and half is non-negotiable. I tried making this with regular milk once and it just wasn’t the same. It needs that creaminess to really taste like the Dutch Bros version. This is technically called a “breve” which is just fancy coffee shop talk for “made with half and half.”
How to Make This Cozy Christmas Chai Recipe
Okay, so here’s where I tell you this is actually stupidly easy. Like, almost embarrassingly easy for how long it took me to figure out.
Step 1: Pour your chai concentrate into a small saucepan. Heat it over medium heat until it’s hot but not boiling. (I learned the hard way that boiling it makes it taste bitter. Don’t ask me how I know.)
Step 2: While that’s heating up, pour your half and half into a separate microwave-safe container or small pot. Heat it until it’s warm and steamy. If you have a milk frother (I got mine on Amazon for like $15), use it now to froth up the half and half. Makes it extra fancy and gives you that nice foam on top.
Step 3: Add the white chocolate sauce to the hot chai concentrate and stir until it’s completely dissolved. This is important—if you don’t stir it enough, you’ll get little globs of white chocolate at the bottom. Not cute.
Step 4: Pour the hot chai mixture into your favorite mug. I use my oversized Christmas mug because if you’re gonna do it, do it right.
Step 5: Pour in the frothed (or just heated) half and half. Give it a gentle stir—oh wait, I forgot to mention—don’t stir too aggressively or you’ll deflate all that nice foam you just made.
Step 6: Top with a generous amount of whipped cream. And I mean GENEROUS. This is Christmas Morning Chai, not Tuesday Morning Sadness Chai.
Step 7: Sprinkle some nutmeg or cinnamon on top. I usually do nutmeg because that’s what Dutch Bros does, but honestly both are good. Sometimes I do both because I’m a rebel.
Step 8: If you’re feeling extra, drizzle a little white chocolate sauce over the whipped cream. Makes it look Instagram-worthy.
Making It Iced (Because Some People Are Weird)
My best friend Sarah insists on drinking iced chai even in December. In Minnesota. Where it’s literally freezing outside. But whatever, here’s how to make an iced version of this easy chai latte recipe:
Skip the heating part. Just pour cold chai concentrate over ice, add cold half and half, stir in the white chocolate sauce (you might need to stir more since it’s cold), and top with whipped cream. Done.
Actually, you know what? The iced version is pretty good too. I made one on a random warm day we had last week and it was refreshing in a way I didn’t expect.
My Random Tips That Actually Matter
So here’s some stuff I figured out through trial and error:
The ratio of chai to half and half really matters. I like it 1:1, but if you want it less strong, do 1 cup chai to 1.5 cups half and half. Experiment and find what works for you.
If you can’t find Torani white chocolate sauce, Ghirardelli makes one that’s also pretty good. I’ve tried both. Starbucks also sells bottles of their syrups at some grocery stores, but they’re more expensive.
For the love of everything, don’t use that powdered Oregon Chai mix. It’s not the same. You need the liquid concentrate in the refrigerated section.
Oh, and another thing—this reheats pretty well if you make extra. Just don’t reheat it with the whipped cream on top. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Want to make it feel even more Christmas-y? Add a candy cane as a stirrer. My kids love this, and honestly, it does add a little peppermint flavor that’s pretty nice.
Why This Beats Going to Dutch Bros
Don’t get me wrong, I still love Dutch Bros. But making this Christmas morning drink at home means I can:
- Make it whenever I want (like right now at 10 PM while writing this—oops)
- Control how sweet it is
- Add extra white chocolate if I’m having a rough day (no judgment)
- Wear my ratty old sweatpants and not have to interact with humans
- Save like $4 every time
Plus, the Oregon Chai concentrate makes enough for several drinks, so you’re getting way more bang for your buck.
The Bottom Line on This Festive Chai Drinks Recipe
This Christmas morning chai Dutch Bros copycat recipe is the real deal. It’s warm, cozy, sweet without being overwhelming, and has that perfect spiced chai flavor with creamy white chocolate notes. Sounds fancy when I say it like that.
It’s become my go-to Christmas morning drinks recipe. I make a big batch on Christmas morning and everyone in my family fights over who gets the last cup. My teenager even asked if we could have it on regular mornings too. High praise from someone who usually only drinks energy drinks.
If you’ve been dropping money at Dutch Bros for this drink, just try making it at home once. I promise it’s easier than you think, and once you taste how close it is to the real thing, you’ll be making it all winter long.
Let me know if you try it! Seriously, I want to know if you love it as much as I do. And if you have any tips for making it even better, drop them in the comments because I’m always looking for ways to improve my chai game.
Happy sipping! ☕🎄
