Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice...From Teacup to Cupcake: Vanilla Chai Tea Cupcakes

I love chai tea. Like, really. Like, you know how some people can't go on without their coffee or something in them dies? Yeah. Me. Only with chai. The first time I ever had one was at Starbucks. Oh, Starbucks. My lost love, don't fret, we'll be united again someday.

Anyway, since I don't drink coffee, I needed to find a replacement that I could have when I went to Starbucks with my friends and we all wanted a hot beverage. Of course, I'm always happy with a hot chocolate in hand, but I wanted to try something new. Once I had a chai latte, there was no turning back. I got quite good at ordering exactly the right chai/water/milk combo to feed my addiction. Then we moved to Vermont.

Vermont. Of all the places I've lived over the course of my life, Vermont is the only one that has felt like home, since I left home. It is a truly beautiful state and I would return there in less than a heartbeat. What could be wrong with a place that was the birthplace of Ben & Jerry's?! Only one thing. No Starbucks.

That was when the hunt began for a pre-packaged chai that I could make at home. I couldn't even get the Tazo chai syrup in Vermont, so I was reduced to trying various dry chai. It took several months but I eventually found the one chai that has the same flavor as the Tazo, and can make a close second to a chai from Starbucks. The brand Stash makes a decaf chai that is spicy and delicious, without cloying vanilla flavors. It's a perfect replacement (for Starbucks' chai), if you're forced to live without the real thing. If you're looking for a great chai tea that comes in a tea bag, I highly recommend this one.

Once we left Vermont, though, Starbucks was in my life again. I could go anywhere and have the opportunity to stop in. Until we got to the islands. Of course, I was prepared for this. I knew there wasn't even the slightest possibility that there would be a Starbucks here, but, in all honesty, it's usually too hot for a chai latte anyway. So, once again, a quest began. This time, I wanted to create a dessert that would give me back my chai, without overheating me. Naturally, my first choice was a cupcake.

Aren't they pretty?! Really, really?!

The Best. Ice Cream. Ever. (Even if You Don't Like Coffee!) Espresso Mint Chip!

Ice cream here on the islands is expensive. Well, all dairy is, but ice cream especially. It's also hard to come by. Not in the stores so much, but in shops. Stopping for a milkshake or a cone isn't an easy task. To my knowledge, there's only two ice cream shops on the island. For someone who spent two and a half years in Vermont, the Ben & Jerry's mecca of the world, this is proving very difficult.

One day while the hubster and I were running some errands out and about, I had a hankering for a milkshake. Off we went to the only ice cream shop in town to buy a two scoop, six dollar shake. I'm telling you, it's an investment for a treat here...it makes it very easy to resist. On this particular day, resistance was futile. As I stood gazing at the various selections, I did something I never do. I asked to try the coffee ice cream.

I've said before that I'm not a coffee drinker. I never have been and I probably never will be, but sometimes I like it in small doses in my treats - like in hot cocoa, or cookies, or, in this case, ice cream. This particular ice cream was a little too coffee-y for me, though, so I decided to use my other scoop to cut it with my favorite stand by ice cream, mint chocolate chip. Holy ice cream heaven! I can't even express how good that milkshake was!

Since that day, I've been seriously jonesin' for another, but I can't reconcile myself to the high cost. As I often do when I want something I can't really have, I thought, "I can make that." And I did! And I'm still shocked out how easy it was, but even more so at how unbelievably delicious it is! Help me, but I'm never gonna be able to stop myself from eating up every last morsel of it!

This ice cream is smooth and creamy, rich with coffee flavor and just the right hint of mint, and speckled throughout with dark chocolate chips. Someone, please! Tell me how to resist that?! You can't can you? Because you want me to stop yapping already and get to the recipe so you can have some for yourself! Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you!

Todays stellar cast of characters are fresh coffee beans (preferably a darker roast), semi-sweet chocolate chips, heavy cream, milk, egg yolks, instant espresso powder, peppermint extract, vanilla, and sugar, as well as a pinch of salt. I have standard sized chocolate chips pictured here, but I actually prefer to use mini chips in my ice cream.