7 Chai Cakes to Spice Up Your Fall Baking

When the air gets crisp and cozy, nothing warms the kitchen like chai spices baked into a tender cake. Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger add an irresistible autumn kick to these recipes. From cream cheese frostings to maple browned butter toppings, these cakes make fall baking both fragrant and flavorful.

Quick Summary

These 7 chai cakes bring cozy fall flavors straight into your kitchen. Each recipe blends warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves with tender cake bases and luscious frostings. You’ll find chai spice classics, pumpkin-infused cakes, cream cheese frostings, and maple browned butter finishes. Perfect for autumn gatherings, holiday tables, or simply a spiced slice with your afternoon tea.

1. Chai Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

A chai spice cake with cream cheese frosting is the definition of cozy comfort. The cake is tender and full of cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, while the tangy frosting balances the sweetness.

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch cake pans.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs and vanilla.
  3. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, then alternate adding with milk into the batter.
  4. Pour batter into pans and bake 30–35 minutes.
  5. Whip frosting ingredients until smooth, then frost cooled cakes.

2. Spiced Vanilla Chai Cake Recipe

This spiced vanilla chai cake pairs rich vanilla with earthy spices. It’s a warm, lightly sweet cake that’s perfect with coffee or tea.

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ cups flour
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13 pan.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla.
  3. Combine dry ingredients, then mix with wet, alternating with buttermilk.
  4. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden and set. Cool before slicing.

3. Brown Sugar Chai Cake Recipe

Brown sugar adds richness and caramel depth to this chai cake. The result is a moist, flavorful slice with a rustic fall charm.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a bundt pan.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time.
  3. Stir in vanilla, sour cream, and dry ingredients until smooth.
  4. Bake 40–45 minutes, then let cool before serving.

4. Chai Layer Cake Recipe

A chai layer cake makes a show-stopping centerpiece. Each fluffy layer carries warming spices, stacked with frosting for a bakery-style finish.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch pans.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla.
  3. Mix dry ingredients and add with milk into batter.
  4. Bake 25–30 minutes. Let cool before frosting layers.

5. Chai Pumpkin Cake with Maple Browned Butter Frosting Recipe

Pumpkin puree and chai spices bring autumn in every bite. The maple browned butter frosting takes this cake to another level of indulgence.

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp cloves

Frosting

  • ½ cup butter (browned)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2–3 tbsp milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two round pans.
  2. Beat butter, oil, and sugar. Add eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla.
  3. Stir in dry ingredients until smooth. Bake 30–35 minutes.
  4. For frosting, brown butter, whisk with sugar, syrup, and milk. Frost cooled cakes.

6. Spiced Vanilla Chai Cake Recipe (Loaf Variation)

For a simpler bake, a spiced vanilla chai loaf makes a cozy tea-time treat. It’s easy, moist, and perfect for quick slices.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp cardamom
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla.
  3. Mix dry ingredients and fold in with milk.
  4. Bake 45–50 minutes, cool, and slice.

7. Chai Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Cinnamon cream cheese frosting makes this chai cake unforgettable. The frosting enhances the spice blend with extra warmth and tang.

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • 2 tsp vanilla

Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • ½ cup butter
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two pans.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla.
  3. Mix dry ingredients with milk, stir into batter.
  4. Bake 30–35 minutes. Frost cooled cakes with cinnamon cream cheese.

Final Thoughts

These chai cake recipes bring warm spices, soft textures, and comforting frostings that embody fall baking at its best. They’re ideal for holiday gatherings, cozy weekends, or just enjoying a slice with tea. With vanilla, pumpkin, maple, and cream cheese variations, there’s a chai cake here for every autumn craving.