Recipe: Sunrise Chai Coffee Muffins

Recipe: Sunrise Chai Coffee Muffins

Do you feel that? It's the cool autumn breeze finally rolling in! One of my favorite things about fall is the wave of spiced goodness that comes with it. Pumpkin spice may get all the attention, but if you ask me, nothing beats a classic chai tea.

Around here at HQ, Sweetie Pie Chai is not only a fall favorite, but a year round favorite, too! This caffeine-free blend is perfect any time of day. It's sweet, warm, and spiced just right with a touch of sweet potato, like a slice of sweet potato pie in a cup.

Though, for those crisp fall mornings, when you need a little extra something to wake you up, our Sunrise Chai is tried and true. At Piper and Leaf, we love tea and coffee but mixed together, you can't beat it, so you can bet a dirty chai latte is a something that you just can't go wrong with, no matter what season it is.

So, in our love for both coffee and chai, needing a pastry for our summer warehouse sale, and in dreaming of this pastry for quite awhile, we came up with a Sunrise Chai Coffee Muffins using our very own Sunrise Chai tea and locally roasted Walling Mountain Coffee. Let me tell you... these muffins were everything you could imagine, the best of both worlds!

We first made these muffins for the morning of our Summer Warehouse Sale, and they were a hit! Not only were they the perfect breakfast treat, but they gave our hardworking team just the pick-me-up we needed. The warm spices, the rich coffee notes, the caramelized brown sugar center, and that coffee glaze on top—it was exactly what we needed to fuel up for one of our busiest days of the year!

So, in celebration of fall, our new chai boxes, and all things cozy, we’re sharing the recipe with you, because we know you’ll love it just as much as we did! These muffins are the perfect way to celebrate fall and all its flavors.

Sunrise Chai Coffee Muffins

Servings: 6

Ingredients
Chai Streusel
- 1 ½ tbsp. unsalted butter (21 g)
- 2 tbsp. light brown sugar (22 g)
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (40 g)
- ¾ tsp. Sunrise Chai Loose Leaf

Coffee Muffins
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter (56 g)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g)
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tbsp. brewed coffee (20 g, room temperature), we like to use Walling Mountain Heritage Roast!
- 3 tbsp. sour cream (45 g, room temperature)
- 2 tbsp. whole milk (32 g, room temperature)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (120 g)
- 1 ¼ tsp. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. salt

Chai Swirl
- ¼ cup light brown sugar (55 g)
- ¾ tsp. Sunrise Chai

Coffee Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar (60 g)
- ½ to 1 tbsp. brewed coffee, Walling Mountain Coffee!

Instructions

1. Preheat & Prep:
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a muffin tin with 6 parchment liners, or grab your favorite muffin cups!

2. Make the Chai Streusel:
Melt the butter in a small bowl. Grab a fork and mix in the brown sugar, flour, and Sunrise Chai until crumbly chunks form. Set it aside for the big finish!

3. Coffee Muffin base:
In a medium bowl, melt the butter, then whisk in the sugar until it’s nice and smooth. Add the egg, vanilla, brewed coffee, sour cream, and milk, mixing until well combined.
Gently stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Careful not to overmix—we’re going for fluffy muffins here!

4. Layer & Swirl:
Scoop about 1 ½ tbsp. of batter into each muffin liner, just enough to cover the bottom.
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and Sunrise Chai. Sprinkle 2 tsp. of this spiced goodness over each muffin.
Top with the remaining muffin batter and then sprinkle that lovely streusel over the top of each one.

5. Bake:
Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at 425°F. Without opening the oven, reduce the heat to 350°F (175°C) and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

6. Coffee Glaze:
While the muffins cool, whisk together the powdered sugar and coffee in a small bowl to make the glaze. Add more coffee if needed to get it just right.
Once the muffins have cooled, drizzle the glaze on top and get ready for a treat!

7. Serve & Enjoy:
Grab the family, pour some milk or coffee, and enjoy these tasty, Sunrise chai-infused treats. Perfect for a weekend breakfast or a cozy afternoon snack!

These Sunrise Chai Coffee Muffins are a fun twist on all our favorite morning things—perfect for sharing with loved ones over coffee, tea, and a whole lot of smiles!
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