Chai Smoothie is thick, frosty, and loaded with warm chai spices for a drink that feels like dessert but works for breakfast.

The best chai smoothie in a cup ready to be enjoyed.
chelsea

Author’s Notes

My Starbucks Fix…but Better

I’m not even gonna lie, my love for Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Lattes might actually be a full-on obsession. The second it starts warming up outside, that’s all I want!

But since the closest Starbucks isn’t exactly around the corner (and those lattes add up fast), I decided to turn my chai obsession into something a little more practical and a lot more filling.

Enter this dreamy Chai Smoothie. It totally hits that same crave-worthy flavor, but it’s packed with good stuff, has a nice boost of protein, and saves me a trip (and some cash 😅).

If you love chai anything, you’re gonna be obsessed. It’s creamy, refreshing, lightly sweet, and spiced just right.

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All the ingredients in this recipe prepped out for easy assembly including the banana, ice, spices, protein powder, oats, milk, almond butter, and vanilla.

Chai Smoothie Ingredients

IngredientHelpful Tip
Milk & BananaUse plant-based milk for a lighter base. Freeze a ripe banana the night before. It adds natural sweetness and thickness to the smoothie.
Almond Butter & OatsAlmond butter adds richness and protein. Oats make the smoothie thicker and keep you full longer and are completely safe to eat raw.
Vanilla & SaltA splash of vanilla adds warmth. A small pinch of salt balances all the flavors in this Chai Smoothie.
Chai SpicesUse cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves for that classic chai flavor. Adjust to taste.
Protein Powder & IceProtein powder adds sweetness and staying power. Use leftover vanilla protein in frozen protein s’mores or protein cookie dough!
All the ingredients in this chai smoothie added to the blended and blended together for this delicious breakfast.

Chai Smoothie Tips

  • Sweeten if needed: Add a little maple syrup, honey, stevia, or a date for extra sweetness depending on your protein powder and banana ripeness.
  • Measure: This helps you get the right texture/flavor before eyeballing future batches.
  • Blend oats first: For a smoother texture, blend oats before the other ingredients.
  • Use a strong blender: Blend until thick, smooth, and creamy.
  • Freeze bananas early: Peel, slice, and freeze ripe bananas overnight so they’re ready when you need them.

Storage

Chai Smoothie is best enjoyed right after blending. It doesn’t sit, store, or re-freeze well. If you won’t consume the whole smoothie in one sitting, I recommend halving the recipe!

More Smoothie Recipes To Love:

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5 from 4 votes

Chai Smoothie

By Chelsea Lords
This Chai Smoothie is incredibly filling, packed with nutritious ingredients, and boasts a rich, creamy texture with delightful hints of cinnamon and cardamom.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 smoothie

Video

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk see note 1
  • 1 cup frozen banana coins see note 2
  • 2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • 3 tablespoons vanilla protein powder see note 3
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/16 teaspoon salt
  • 8 large ice cubes

Instructions 

  • Add all the ingredients into a high-powered blender.
  • Blend until smooth. If needed, stop the blender and stir around with a spoon and begin blending again. Taste and add additional spices or add sweetener if desired. Enjoy immediately! This shake doesn’t sit/store well.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Any milk works, but I prefer plant-based milk in this smoothie. Macadamia nut milk and unsweetened vanilla almond milk both work very well in this drink.
Note 2: Remove the peel, slice the banana into coins, place in freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze overnight. A lot of stores also sell frozen banana chunks; these work great for quicker prep.
Note 3: The protein powder adds sweetness and vanilla flavor to the smoothie. I recommend a stevia-sweetened protein powder, like Orgain or Truvani’s vanilla, to eliminate the need for extra sugar. If you skip the protein, consider adding a sweetener. Remember, we only use 3 tablespoons, not a full scoop.
Storage: This smoothie doesn’t sit or store well.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 35.1g | Protein: 10.1g | Fat: 10.8g | Cholesterol: 0.9mg | Sodium: 122mg | Fiber: 5.1g | Sugar: 14.7g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Meet Chelsea

Hello, and welcome to Chelsea’s Messy Apron! I’m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. I’m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping by—I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 4 votes

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12 Comments

  1. Susan B says:

    5 stars
    I made this for my 15 yo daughter. She says it’s ‘the bomb’.

    Reply
    1. Chelsea says:

      Haha, so happy to hear this! Thanks Susan!

      Reply
  2. Taryn D. says:

    5 stars
    This is the perfect breakfast smoothie! The flavor is amazing and it has enough protein to get me through my morning. I’ve made it several times this week and I don’t plan on stopping 😉

    Reply
    1. Chelsea says:

      I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks Taryn!

      Reply
  3. Ron says:

    Can you taste the protein powder in it? Could I leave out the cardamom?

    Reply
    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Yes you should be able to! The protein powder adds a lot of flavor and sweetness. You can leave out cardamom if desired

      Reply
  4. Stephanie says:

    I detest bananas!!😵‍💫 What could I try in place of them? Thank you

    Reply
    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      So sorry Stephanie, I don’t have a good sub for the banana here. It delivers the creaminess and sweetness needed.

      Reply
  5. Jay says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe.

    Reply
    1. Chelsea says:

      Thanks Jay! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Julie says:

    5 stars
    Wonderful smoothie! I make it almost every day!

    Reply
    1. Chelsea says:

      I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks Julie! 🙂

      Reply