How to Make the Best Copycat Golden Eagle Chai at Home

amandakaybradley

5 months ago

If you love flavored chai but have never been to a Dutch Bros coffee shop, prepare to have your mind blown.

One of their signature drinks typically features vanilla and caramel flavors swirled with bold espresso.

But if you cut the double shot of espresso and instead add spiced tea, you get the delectable flavor combination known as the Dutch Bros Golden Eagle Chai.

It’s a delicious drink that will satisfy your craving for sweetness with a side of savory.

And thanks to this copycat recipe, you can recreate your own version at home, even if your nearest Dutch Bros location is thousands of miles away.

It’s the perfect drink to start your morning or to get you through after-school pick-up.

Click here to skip to the recipe, or stick with me as we explore this drink more in-depth.

Let’s get to it!

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What is a Golden Eagle Chai Tea Latte?

This classic drink from the Dutch Bros combines black tea, chai spices, vanilla and caramel syrups, and half-and-half, resulting in a delightful beverage that will satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth!

It’s rich and creamy and can be enjoyed in several different ways, including steamy hot, over ice cubes, or even as a blended drink.

The Golden Eagle drink is one that’s easily customized, especially when making it at home!

What’s in a Golden Eagle Chai Tea Latte?

This Dutch Bros chai drink can easily be recreated at home with a few simple ingredients.

Chai

The foundation of this popular drink from the Dutch Bros menu is the chai.

There are several ways to replicate the delicious flavors of chai at home.

You can buy premade chai, either in powder or liquid form.

Both options have added sugar, so if you go for the premade, you may want to reduce your added sugar elsewhere.

Although I’ve never tried it, you can also find a sugar-free chai syrup on Amazon.

My favorite way to add chai is by making it myself by combining black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves.

Homemade chai has the most authentic flavor. I also love that I can reduce my consumption of food additives and sugar by making it myself.

Milk

Use half-and-half for the Golden Eagle Chai Latte for the most authentic flavor.

But since you’re recreating this recipe at home, feel free to use whatever type of milk you have in the fridge.

Although tasty, half-and-half packs a punch when it comes to fat content compared to other types of milk, including almond milk or oat milk.

Adding non-dairy milks does affect the creaminess of the drink, but once you add the chai, vanilla, and caramel, your taste buds might not even miss it!

Vanilla and Caramel

Similar to other Dutch Bros coffee drinks, the Golden Eagle Chai Latte pushes the envelope when it comes to flavor.

Unsurprisingly, the popular coffee chain has combined the flavors of vanilla and caramel, resulting in a drink with an off-the-charts sweetness level.

Their menu contains other sugar-fueled drinks, including the Strawberry Horchata Chai, the Caramelizer, and the Annihilator.

And don’t even get me started on their Electric Berry. A large size of this packs a whopping 93 grams of sugar!

But by recreating these drinks at home, you can save yourself a ton of calories and extra added sugar without sacrificing flavor.

You can sweeten the drink with sugar-free vanilla syrup and sugar-free caramel sauce.

Or you can make your own at home with this recipe, which uses Kraft caramel bits and vanilla extract to perfectly balance the flavor without causing a sugar overload.

Copycat Golden Eagle Chai Tea Latte Recipe

Chai meets vanilla, caramel, and half-and-half in this epic drink!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings 1

Ingredients

1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 cups boiling water
2 black tea bags
1 tbsp Kraft caramel bits
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup half-and-half or your choice of milk
ice iced version
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream for homemade soft top
1 tsp vanilla pudding mix for homemade soft top
caramel drizzle caramel sauce or melted candy bits

Instructions

Combine the spices (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves) in a small bowl and stir to combine. For a finer consistency, put the spices in a spice grinder.
Combine the boiling water, tea bags, and spice mixture and steep for 10 minutes.
Once the mixture is done steeping, remove the tea bags and stir. If you didn't use a spice grinder, strain the mixture to remove the excess spices. Line a strainer with a couple of layers of cheesecloth. Position the strainer over a pitcher and pour the mixture through to remove the spice particles. You now have homemade chai concentrate to use in this and other chai recipes. Note that this is unsweetened, and when using the concentrate in other recipes, you may want to add a sweetener such as simple syrup or other flavored coffee syrups.
Combine the caramel bits and half-and-half in a small saucepan and heat over low to medium heat.
Once the caramel bits have almost melted and the milk is warm, pour it into a small bowl.
Use a hand mixer to add froth and to break up any remaining pieces of caramel. Once the caramel is thoroughly mixed in, add the vanilla extract.
For the iced version, fill your favorite Mason jar with ice. Pour the vanilla/caramel milk into your mug and add 1/4 cup chai concentrate. Stir.
Finish with homemade soft top by combining the heavy whipping cream and dry pudding mix. Use the mixer and mix for approximately 5 minutes until it forms stiff peaks. You will need to mix it for longer than you think, so keep mixing if it has yet to form stiff peaks! Scoop the soft top onto your drink and finish with a generous drizzle of caramel syrup or melted caramel bits. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you still order a Golden Eagle Chai Tea Latte at Dutch Bros?

Yes. This is a drink you can currently order off the Dutch Bros menu.

Is the Golden Eagle Chai Tea Latte good for you?

Thanks to the sugar content in this drink, general nutrition advice would say it’s not good for you.

The drink contains way more than the recommended sugar allotment for men and women.

Although it shouldn’t be a staple of your daily diet, a treat every once in a while is okay.

And by making the drink at home, you can add less sugar without sacrificing the flavor.

The recipe on this post contains around 10 grams of added sugar, significantly less than the coffee shop version.

You can also opt for a sugar-free version in-store and at home.

Additionally, making the drink with full-fat dairy products supports bone health and adds protein to your daily intake.

It’s all about moderation, right?!

Does the Golden Eagle Chai Tea Latte from Dutch Bros have espresso?

No. But you can make a Golden Eagle with espresso instead of chai.

Technically, you could add chai and espresso to the drink, making it a “dirty chai.”

I guess you could call it a Dirty Golden Eagle!

Does a Golden Eagle Chai Tea Latte contain caffeine?

The chai portion has black tea, which historically has caffeine.

But you can swap out decaf tea if you’re concerned about the caffeine content, yet another reason why making the drink at home is a fantastic idea.

Is chai good for you?

Chai does contain spices that have several health-promoting qualities.

Cinnamon, for example, is thought to help in regulating blood sugar.

Ginger contains hormone-balancing properties.

And black tea has antioxidants.

But many chai drinks contain excessive amounts of sugar, defeating some other health properties.

As with most things in life, consider adding sugar in moderation to reap the full health benefits of chai.

Is there a difference between caramel syrup and caramel sauce?

Caramel sauce is thicker than caramel syrup. It often contains some form of milk in it, so make sure to read the label if you are lactose intolerant.

The syrup version of caramel works better in cold beverages than the sauce, which needs to melt to thoroughly combine with other liquids.

Can you order a hot Golden Eagle Chai?

Absolutely! You can make a hot version of this drink at home by leaving out the ice and pouring it into a mug instead of a Mason jar.

Hot or cold, this drink tastes phenomenal topped with whipped cream or homemade soft top and a generous caramel sauce drizzle!

Final Thoughts

The Golden Eagle Chai Tea Latte is a tasty drink that’s the perfect pick-me-up, regardless of the time of day.

If you’re a fan of chai, then I hope you will give this drink a try!

And by making it at home, you can have more control over the ingredients.

Try it with coconut milk or even whole milk for an exciting twist on the classic version.

Substitute premade chai concentrate for the homemade chai if you’re not up to making a batch yourself.

Or top it with homemade whipped cream instead of the store-bought stuff.

What I love about this specific recipe is that it minimizes the added sugar content without sacrificing the flavor or creaminess of the original drink.

You might even find that you love creating your own version of coffee shop classics at home!

And with all the money you save by becoming a home barista, you can afford to upgrade your coffee equipment.

Regardless of why you want to make coffee shop drinks at home, I hope you have fun doing it!

If you loved this post, check out my other tasty, coffee-inspired content!