This Iced Banana Bread Chai combines warmly spiced chai, creamy oat milk, banana syrup, and brown sugar syrup under a thick layer of homemade banana cold foam. It's a quick Starbucks-inspired drink with all the cozy flavor of banana bread served over ice.
Iced Banana Bread Chai At A Glance
- 🍽️ Course: Drinks
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 3 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 1
- 🍌 Flavor Profile: Creamy banana, brown sugar, cinnamon, and warm chai spices
- 🧊 Best Served: Cold over ice
- ⏰ Make Ahead?: Make the banana and brown sugar syrups ahead; make the cold foam up to 2 days ahead; assemble the chai fresh
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My grandson might be the biggest fan of this banana chai latte-or at least the banana cold foam! While the rest of us were comparing the banana, brown sugar, and chai flavors, he happily sat there eating the cold foam straight off the top with a spoon. I think it's safe to say the creamy banana topping was his favorite part.
For more Starbucks-inspired favorites, try our pumpkin spice latte and pumpkin chai latte next.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Fast and Easy: The entire iced drink takes about 3 minutes to assemble.
- Banana Bread Flavor: Banana, brown sugar, cinnamon, and spiced chai create the warm bakery-inspired flavor.
- Easy to Customize: Adjust the banana and brown sugar syrups to make the drink stronger, milder, or sweeter.
Our Homemade Starbucks Copycat Version
Starbucks' Iced Banana Bread Chai pairs spiced chai with banana syrup and tops it with brown sugar cream cold foam and a cinnamon dolce topping. This recipe is our homemade copycat version inspired by those banana, brown sugar, and chai flavors, but it isn't meant to be an exact ingredient-for-ingredient duplicate. We put banana and brown sugar syrups in the chai and finish it with our homemade banana cold foam for an extra creamy layer of banana flavor.
How We Tested Iced Banana Bread Chai
- Banana Syrup: We tested several amounts and found 1½-2 tablespoons was the sweet spot. I preferred 1½ tablespoons for a balanced banana flavor, while my husband and son preferred 2 tablespoons for a stronger banana bread flavor. Any less and the banana got lost; any more was overpowering.
- Brown Sugar Syrup: I preferred 1 teaspoon, while my husband and son liked 2 teaspoons. Less wasn't sweet enough to create the banana bread flavor we wanted, while more made the drink too sweet.
- Chai + Milk: We found ½ cup Starbucks chai concentrate gave the drink the right balance and tasted closest to the Starbucks version, although my son preferred an extra ¼ cup. We tested Kirkland oat milk and 3.25% whole milk. Both tasted great in the chai base, with oat milk providing a smooth, creamy texture. We also found that whole milk frothed slightly better during testing.
- Starbucks vs. TAZO Chai Concentrate: We tested both Starbucks Teavana Chai Tea Concentrate and TAZO Classic Chai Latte Concentrate. Starbucks has a bolder, spicier flavor that tastes closest to the original drink, while TAZO is slightly milder and sweeter. Although the difference is noticeable when tasted side by side, everyone enjoyed both versions once we added the banana syrup, brown sugar syrup, and cold foam. Both work equally well using the same measurements, so use whichever is available. For the closest Starbucks copycat flavor, choose Starbucks concentrate.
- Cold Foam: Using our Zulay Kitchen rechargeable handheld milk frother, the foam took less than 15 seconds to become thick, creamy, and pourable. It sat beautifully on top of the chai and gradually mixed in as we drank.
- Taste Test: We all found our version very similar to Starbucks but less sweet, which we preferred. I stirred the foam into mine for a smooth, creamy banana bread flavor, while my husband and son enjoyed sipping the foam and chai together.
- Fresh Is Best: Melting ice eventually diluted the drink, so we recommend serving it immediately. Leftovers still tasted great the next day after stirring and re-frothing, but the freshly made drink had the best texture.
Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients to make this iced chai and its creamy banana cold foam. Prepare our banana syrup and brown sugar syrup ahead of time so you can assemble the drink in minutes.
Banana Bread Chai
- Chai Tea Concentrate: Use a prepared, sweetened chai latte concentrate, such as TAZO Classic Chai Latte Concentrate, Starbucks Teavana Chai Tea Concentrate or your favorite brand. We tested using the Starbucks chai concentrate for its bold black tea and warm spice flavor.
- Oat Milk: Adds creaminess and mellows the spices.
- Banana Syrup: Gives the drink its signature banana bread flavor.
- Brown Sugar Syrup: Adds caramel-like sweetness that complements the banana and chai.
- Ice: Chills the latte and keeps it refreshing.
- Banana Cold Foam: Adds a sweet, creamy banana finish.
Banana Cold Foam
For the full tested details on this topping, see our banana cold foam recipe.
- Heavy Cream + Milk: Create a rich foam that's thick but still pourable.
- Banana Syrup: Sweetens the foam and adds banana flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds warmth that reinforces the banana bread flavor.
You'll find the exact measurements and complete instructions in the recipe card below.
How To Make Iced Banana Bread Chai
This coffee-shop-inspired banana bread chai tea latte comes together in just two steps.
Step 1: Make the Chai: Fill a glass with ice. Add the cold chai concentrate, cold oat milk, banana syrup, and brown sugar syrup, and stir well to combine. Taste and adjust the syrups before adding the foam.
Step 2: Make the Cold Foam and Serve: Combine the cold heavy cream, cold milk, banana syrup, and cinnamon in a tall glass or container. Use a handheld milk frother until thick, creamy, and pourable. Spoon or pour the foam over the chai, sprinkle with cinnamon if desired, and serve immediately.
If you love creamy cold foam drinks, try my banana cold foam, pumpkin cold foam, and apple crisp cold foam next. Each one is an easy way to give homemade iced coffee, chai, or lattes a coffee-shop-style finish.
Storage Directions
Banana Cold Foam: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days. If it separates, gently stir or briefly re-froth before using.
Make Ahead: Prepare the syrups and cold foam ahead if needed, but assemble the iced chai just before serving.
Serving Suggestions
- Breakfast or Brunch: Pair it with a bakery-style treat like our copycat Starbucks chocolate pistachio loaf, or with banana bread, muffins, scones, or another breakfast pastry.
- Afternoon Treat: Enjoy it on its own as a sweet, refreshing alternative to a coffee-shop drink.
- Fall Drinks: Serve alongside your other homemade chai, pumpkin, apple, or Starbucks-inspired drinks from our fall drink recipes.
Iced Banana Bread Chai FAQs
It combines sweet banana and brown sugar with creamy oat milk and the warm spices of chai. Cinnamon in the banana cold foam reinforces the cozy banana bread flavor without turning the drink into a heavy dessert.
Yes. Dairy milk can replace the oat milk, although oat milk has a naturally creamy flavor that pairs particularly well with banana, brown sugar, and chai spices.
Yes. Add one shot of espresso to make a dirty banana chai with a bolder, coffee-forward flavor.
If the foam is closer to whipped cream than a pourable topping, stir in cold milk a teaspoon at a time, then froth briefly again until it loosens enough to spoon or pour over the iced chai.
Give it another 10-15 seconds in the frother. If it's still too loose to hold its shape on the chai, add a small splash of cold heavy cream and froth again until it thickens.
More Starbucks Copycat Drinks
If you love recreating coffee-shop favorites at home, try more of our easy Starbucks-inspired chai, cold brew, latte, and cold foam recipes.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Iced Banana Bread Chai
Equipment
Ingredients
Banana Bread Chai
- ½ cup chai tea concentrate
- ½ cup oat milk
- 1½-2 tablespoons Banana Syrup
- 1-2 teaspoons brown sugar syrup
- Ice
- Banana Cold Foam for topping
Banana Cold Foam
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon banana syrup
- Pinch ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Make the Chai: Fill a glass with ice. Add the chai concentrate, oat milk, banana syrup, and brown sugar syrup. Stir well to combine.
- Make the Cold Foam and Serve: Add the heavy cream, milk, banana syrup, and cinnamon to a milk frother and froth until thick, creamy, and pourable. Pour or spoon over the chai, sprinkle with cinnamon if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Syrups: You'll need banana syrup and brown sugar syrup on hand. Buy or make a batch of each ahead of time, then store them in the refrigerator to use whenever you want this drink.
- Chai Concentrate: We used ½ cup Starbucks Teavana Chai Tea Concentrate, which tastes closest to the Starbucks drink. TAZO Classic Chai Latte Concentrate works with the same measurements and is slightly milder and sweeter. For a stronger chai flavor, add an extra ¼ cup.
- Banana Syrup: Use 1½ tablespoons for a balanced banana flavor or 2 tablespoons for a stronger banana bread flavor. Less loses the banana, and more is overpowering.
- Brown Sugar Syrup: Use 1 teaspoon for a lighter sweetness or 2 teaspoons for a sweeter drink. Less isn't sweet enough, and more is too sweet.
- Milk: Oat milk makes a smooth, creamy chai. Whole milk works too and frothed slightly better in our testing.
- Cold Ingredients: Use cold chai concentrate, oat milk, cream, and milk so the drink stays chilled and the foam turns out creamy.
- Cold Foam: A handheld milk frother makes the foam thick, creamy, and pourable in less than 15 seconds. If it's too thick, stir in cold milk a teaspoon at a time and froth again. If it's too thin, froth another 10-15 seconds or add a small splash of cold heavy cream.
- Espresso: Add one shot of espresso for a dirty banana chai.
- Storage: Refrigerate the cold foam in an airtight container for up to 2 days, and re-froth it if it separates. This drink is best served immediately, because melting ice dilutes it. Leftovers still tasted great the next day after stirring and re-frothing, but the fresh drink had the best texture.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the syrups and cold foam ahead, and assemble the iced chai just before serving.
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