Description
A fragrant and moist vegan chai bread infused with warm spices and rich chai tea flavor, topped with a delicate vegan glaze and garnished with star anise and fresh orange slices. Perfect for a comforting snack or breakfast treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Chai Tea Mixture
- 25 g loose chai tea
- 120 ml freshly boiled water
- 160 ml soy milk
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Dry Ingredients
- 270 g all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves (or allspice)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 120 g light brown sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 120 ml maple syrup
- 120 g vegan Greek-style yogurt (or unsweetened applesauce)
- 80 ml olive oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste)
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
Glaze
- 180 g powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar/icing sugar)
- 1 tablespoon vegan Greek-style yogurt (or orange juice)
- 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk (or 2-3 tablespoons orange juice for thinner consistency)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste)
Garnish (optional)
- Star anise
- Fresh orange slices
Instructions
- Prepare: Preheat your oven to fan-forced 160°C (320°F) or conventional 180°C (356°F). Lightly grease a 1-pound loaf pan with oil and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to help remove the bread later.
- Make the tea: Steep the loose chai tea in freshly boiled water for 10-15 minutes using a teapot or a bowl covered with a plate to concentrate the flavors.
- Make buttermilk: In a jug, mix soy milk with apple cider vinegar. Add this mixture to the steeped chai tea and let it infuse for another 5 minutes.
- Strain the tea: Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the chai tea to extract the concentrated milky tea mixture, aiming for approximately 220 ml. The mixture may appear curdled, which is normal.
- Combine dry ingredients: Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and sea salt in a bowl. Whisk to evenly distribute the spices.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the light brown sugar, maple syrup, vegan Greek-style yogurt (or applesauce), olive oil, vanilla extract, and freshly grated orange zest. Then whisk in the strained milky chai buttermilk mixture.
- Make the batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two parts, gently whisking after each addition. Stir only until no pockets of flour remain; avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes. After 45 minutes, test doneness by inserting a toothpick or knife into the center; if it comes out with moist batter, continue baking 5-10 more minutes. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vegan Greek-style yogurt (or orange juice), non-dairy milk (or additional orange juice), and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust consistency with more liquid if desired.
- Glaze and garnish: Pour or spread the glaze evenly over the cooled bread. Decorate with optional star anise and fresh orange slices for an extra aromatic and colorful finish.
Notes
- Use high-quality chai loose tea with a good blend of spices for the best flavor. Alternatively, chai tea bags can be used but may yield less intense flavor.
- Make sure to steep the tea long enough (10-15 minutes) to extract full spice profiles.
- Light brown sugar adds moisture and depth of flavor; can be substituted with coconut sugar for a different taste.
- Maple syrup contributes sweetness and enhances the spice tones.
- Vegan Greek-style yogurt can be replaced with unsweetened applesauce in the batter and orange juice in the glaze for a dairy-free option.
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense, tough bread.
- Check the cake early at 45 minutes to prevent overbaking and dryness.
- Glaze consistency can be adjusted for thicker or thinner coverage depending on preference.
