Hot vanilla milk is a delicious warm beverage recipe that our family adores! It’s a perfectly sweet, comforting drink that’s a nice alternative to hot chocolate. Great for bedtime & so easy to make!
This DIY warm vanilla milk is made using 3 simple ingredients that you no doubt already have at home. You already know 2 of them! You’re going to love this flavored milk recipe.
Making this Vanilla Milk Recipe
You can make this recipe using a pot of the stove or your microwave. By using the stove, you can easily double or triple the recipe and get a little layer of froth. Using a microwave is great for getting one or two cups done quickly though- perfect for when you want warm milk to sleep.
Is vanilla milk vegan?
This vanilla milk is not vegan, but it can be! By choosing a non dairy milk alternative such as soy milk or almond milk you can easily make it dairy free and vegan! Perfect for vegan lifestyle or dietary restrictions.
Is vanilla milk a thing?
Absolutely! This recipe wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t! Made with artificial or real vanilla, vanilla milk can be a very popular drink. Even Starbucks has warm vanilla milk on their menu!
Hot Vanilla Milk Ingredients
-1 cup milk: you can use whatever milk you’d like! I’ve used almond milk, cashew milk, and even coconut milk
-1 1/2 tsp. vanilla: ok, I’m a stickler for GOOD vanilla. I give my recommendations below.
-1 tbsp. sugar: just use regular granulated sugar, although you can use honey instead! If I’m making this drink before bed, I halve the sugar, or even leave it out completely.
-cinnamon, for topping!
What Type of Vanilla Extract Should I Use?
A few years ago I tested 10 different vanilla extracts and found new favorites! I love using TOTONAC’s Mexican Vanilla for everyday use. It’s pure vanilla and contains no alcohol, which I like because I don’t like the taste of extracts made with alcohol. Each time I try another, I go back to Totonac’s quickly afterward; it’s so good! I also love using Nielsen Massey Vanilla Bean Paste. Again, this one has the best flavor by far!
How to Make Hot Vanilla Milk
In a microwave safe mug or on a pot on the stove, warm your milk. I generally heat 1 cup of milk for 45 seconds to 1 minute in the microwave. Remove from heat.
Add in the vanilla extract and the sugar.
Whisk together until blended and the sugar is completely dissolved. You can use a beverage frother if you have one!
Pour into mugs, if needed, and serve.
Top with cinnamon, or even whipped cream & chocolate sauce if desired.
HOT VANILLA MILK
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ tsp. vanilla
- 1 TBSP sugar
- cinnamon for topping
Instructions
- In a microwave safe mug or on a pot on the stove, warm your milk. I generally heat 1 cup of milk for 45 seconds to 1 minute in the microwave. Remove from heat.
- Add in the vanilla extract and the sugar.
- Whisk together until blended and the sugar is completely dissolved. You can use a beverage frother if you have one!
- Pour into mugs, if needed, and serve.
- Top with cinnamon, or even whipped cream & chocolate sauce if desired.
Nutrition
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What can I do with vanilla milk?
Drink it of course! You can use this as a great night time ritual before falling asleep or simply curl up under a blanket on the couch and enjoy the cold weather outside with your warm drink inside. You can also use your vanilla milk as a delicious homemade coffee creamer (make a double batch and keep it in the fridge for creamer all week!)
Can I add cinnamon?
Absolutely! You can definitely add in some ground cinnamon or even a cinnamon stick to this warm milk recipe. It’d be the perfect way to end the day this fall or winter. Warm cinnamon milk can also help you to fall asleep faster for those restless nights (great parenting tip right there ;))
Other Easy Drink Recipes That You’re Going to Love!
- Grape Wassail
- Eggless Eggnog
- Homemade Orange Julius
- 3 Ingredient Strawberry Lemonade Punch
- Cherry Party Punch
- Homemade Italian Cream Sodas
- Christmas Cream Sodas
- Caramel Apple Smoothies
- Spiced Caramel Apple Cider
- Creamy Apple Smoothie
- Triple Berry Green Smoothie
- Simple Tropical Smoothie
- Strawberry Lemonade Pina Coladas
With this hot vanilla milk recipe you’ll always have a warm beverage that can be made at home. No more paying for overpriced drinks, and no more waiting for the right time to make cocoa. It’s always the right time for a nice mug of warm vanilla milk!
Hot vanilla milk is a delicious warm beverage recipe that our family adores! It’s a perfectly sweet, comforting drink that’s a nice alternative to hot chocolate. Great for bedtime & so easy to make!
Gigi says
Awesome stuff! In France you can order this in bistros (lait chaud a la vanille!) and it's just scrumptious on a cold day! Thanks for reminding me of this ^_^<br />XOXO
songbird7777777 says
I'm 62 years old and my mom fixed this for us when we were small. The exception was a small hunk of real butter melted over the top. Stir while drinking! Yum!<br /><br />
Kendall says
Have you tried this with honey substituted for sugar? Does it turn out just as good?
Jessica says
I haven’t, but I imagine it’d be wonderful!
Cheryl Haener says
Yes…I make mine with honey instead of sugar!
So good!!
Chris says
Instead of a microwave, I use the milk frother on my coffee machine to make this. But it is delicious!
Nellie says
I wish I had a milk frother! What a great idea!
Aimee Vandiveer says
My mom used to make this for me when I was little, but with a little bit of water. We called it “white eye tea”.
Alison says
Aimee, love it!
Cindy says
My mother made this for my sister and me when we were little, but cold not hot. We called it “Ice Cream Milk”. 🙂
Kayla says
What milk should I use?
Jessica says
Really, you can use any type of milk you’d like! I like to use almond cashew milk. : )
Hollis Ramsey says
Milk + vanilla + sugar = the original Martin & Lewis
YUM!
Chris says
47 years ago my mom would fix this for me. After making this recipe, the memory came right back of my mom. Thank you for sharing this.
Olivia says
Wow, that’s so wonderful! I’m so glad you like the recipe so much.
freya says
I live in Belgium and its not easy to find vanilla extract but we do have vanilla sugar and its honestly the best I love it!!!!
Christian says
So good
Amy@RidingWithEsther says
Very good. Almost too simple to be considered a recipe XD <3 I like to froth mine in a french press after heating it up further. Torani vanilla syrups work will in place of the sugar and vanilla too 🙂
Jessica says
Right?! It’s more of an idea than a recipe, LOL! Glad you enjoyed it.
Sakae says
It was really simple and really delicious! This is my go – to late night drink.
Alison says
I’m glad you enjoy this Sakae!
AM says
This recipe is NOT exactly non-alcoholic, at least if using vanilla extract. Vanilla extract is at least 35% alcohol. 1.5 tsp is about 6.5 grams, 2.3 grams of which is alcohol. So a serving of vanilla milk is about 1/6 of a standard drink.
That said, there are small amounts of alcohol in a lot of things, so it’s probably nothing to worry about unless making this for very young children. Or you can use a non-alcoholic “vanilla flavoring”, as it’s usually called (not “artificial vanilla extract”, which contains as much alcohol as real vanilla extract; you want real vanilla with no alcohol).
Shayna says
Ooh I made this because I had found a Vanilla powder that is very expensive but really delicious. I ran out of the powder but I was craving Vanilla. My doctor suggested that I incorporate more milk into my diet to raise my calcium level. I was never a big milk drinker. I decided that since I love Vanilla Ice Cream and shakes that I could make something similar to it in taste but not with as much sugar or fat. I took about 12 oz of organic whole white milk. I added 2 to 3 teaspoons of organic Vanilla extract 2 dashes of organic cinnamon and cloves. I mixed in sugar cane lightly sweetened to taste. Maybe around 3 to 4 teaspoons. This was really delicious. It tastes very good. I wanted to make something delicious and high in nutrition so you could also add chia seeds.
Jessica says
So glad you liked it Shayna!
Courtney says
I normally never take the the time to review things, but after making this for my 7 year old who is home sick she said “if you can rate this give it 10 thousand million stars” so how could I not after that? 5 will have to do though lol Thank you for sharing this easy, warm cup of comfort!
Jessica says
You’re so welcome Courtney! This is one of my kid’s favorite comfort drinks too. I have a little handheld frother for the cinnamon and they just think it’s THE BEST THING EVER. 😉