Name: Warm Vanilla Milk Recipe
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 2 cups whole milk milk (OR see substitutions in notes); 3/4 tsp organic vanilla extract; 2 Tb raw honey (or manuka or regular); dash celtic sea salt (or regular salt); pinch ground cinnamon (optional) (See substitutes)

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A Warm and Relaxing Beverage for Cold Nights

A favorite Christmas Eve drink, warm vanilla milk is a delightful beverage, perfect for any cool weather evening. In fact, this makes the perfect bedtime beverage to help excited children get to sleep on Christmas Eve.

If you have trouble sleeping, this recipe will likely help you too. Warm milk is a long standing cross cultural favorite for inducing sleep naturally. Add nutmeg and honey and it’s all the more relaxing.

While the science is not yet clear, we can speak from personal experience. Warm milk has served as a natural sleep remedy for many sleepless nights over the years.

Warm Vanilla Milk Recipe

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

A most soothing beverage for cold a winter's eve... or, if you just need to relax for better sleep!

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk milk (OR see substitutions in notes)
3/4 tsp organic vanilla extract
2 Tb raw honey (or manuka or regular)
dash celtic sea salt (or regular salt)
pinch ground cinnamon (optional) (See substitutes)

Instructions

HEAT MILK - in a medium saucepan over medium low heat until desired temperature. (Or see alternative options below).
CAREFUL not to bring milk to a boil or it will overflow the pan.
ADD honey into milk in cup or mug
WHISK in cinnamon (and/or other spice), OR stir with a cinnamon stick.
SERVE immediately.

Notes

If using raw milk, be sure not to heat it past 110 degrees F.

A cooking thermometer with an alarm is crucial for keeping raw milk from getting too hot and overcooking the raw benefits. as I can set the thermometer to alert me when 110 degrees is reached. This also ensures that the milk is the perfect temperature for kids to drink without having to blow on it or burn their tongues. If you are using coconut milk or aren't concerned about keeping the milk raw, then go ahead and heat until nice and toasty hot.

Never heat honey as it has been proven to become toxic over 140°F

LACTOSE INTOLERANT OR VEGAN?

Try Oat Milk substitute

*Raw cream may be easier to digest for people with lactose problems as it has hardly any lactose at all.

**You may want to add a touch more vanilla if you use coconut milk instead of dairy. Add the amount recommended then taste and adjust accordingly.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

8 ounces
Amount Per Serving Calories 821Total Fat 72gSaturated Fat 52gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 16gCholesterol 154mgSodium 262mgCarbohydrates 36gFiber 0gSugar 21gProtein 14g

Nutrition information is approximate.

This warm vanilla milk “toddy” (sans alcohol, although a dash of brandy is an options!), can serve as an after dinner dessert beverage.

But if you want something more, this quick and easy cheese danish recipe, is a favorite..

Quick Tips

STOVETOP: Heating the milk on stovetop: Heat milk and spices to just before boiling. BE CAREFUL NOT TO BOIL IT, the milk as it will froth to overflow and make a mess. Yes, speaking from experience, so you really have to watch it because it can overflow the pot in an instant if your turn your back on it!
MILK FROTHER: We use a milk frother for our coffee, so that’s also an option for a quick single serve at a time:
- Pour milk to the maximum level of your milk frother, (not above or it will likely overflow)
- Turn on heat and froth function to froth until done
- Pour into mug
- Add spices and honey
- Repeat for next cup if making more than one.
MICROWAVE – FASTEST METHOD: Heat milk in microwave for approximately 1:40 minutes, (depending on your microwave),
- add spice and honey and serve

Warm Vanilla Milk for Sleep and Relaxation

Natural Sleep Remedy: Replace cinnamon with a pinch of nutmeg up to 1/4 tsp or more, if you enjoy a strong nutmeg flavor, but less for children, as nutmeg has narcotic properties, though is rarely served in high enough doses to be perceptible. In other words, you’d probably have to consume an amount that would make you sick first, however children are smaller and more sensitive, so bet to use just a dash or pinch.

Use your imagination by adding variations to this theme, such as rum, brandy, or almond/amaretto flavoring, (or the actual liquor if you enjoy it). You can also fancy it up with a dash of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and/or chocolate powder at top.