Cozy up with a cup of warm spiced milk that’s perfect for chilly nights. Made with warming spices and dairy-free milk it’s the perfect way to stay warm this season.
There’s nothing quite like a warm drink to soothe and comfort you as it wards off the winter chill. You’ll often find me with my hands wrapped around a hot cup of tea or a cup of hot cocoa to keep me toasty and warm from the inside out. A mug of warm spiced milk at night is another favorite of mine this time of year.
Warm spiced milk has particularly soothing qualities that wraps you in warmth like a cozy blanket. I sip it slowly, my chilled fingers grasped tightly around a steaming mug of it on particularly cold nights.
My nightly cup lately consists of a dairy-free spiced milk with warming winter spices like cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, vanilla and a hint of orange zest for brightness. Just as comforting as hot chocolate but better suited for bedtime since it’s entirely caffeine-free. Sometimes the most delightful comforts come out of the simplest of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
Ingredient Notes:
(Here are a few notes about the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. As always find the full list of ingredients and directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- Coconut Milk – Use light coconut milk from a can since it has a consistency most similar to regular milk.
- Cashew Milk – Use unsweetened cashew milk or use raw cashews and water to make your own cashew milk (instructions in the recipe card below).
- Cinnamon – You’ll need one cinnamon stick (plus more for serving).
- Orange Peel – Use about 2 strips of orange peel.
- Star Anise – You’ll need one star anise.
- Nutmeg - Use fresh ground nutmeg for the best flavor.
- Vanilla – Use either half a vanilla bean or ½ a teaspoon vanilla extra.
- Liquid Sweetener – Use your liquid sweetener of choice to taste such as maple or date syrup.
How to Make a Dairy-Free Spiced Milk:
- The base of the drink is a combination of cashew and coconut milk. While I often have a can of coconut milk in the pantry I don’t always have a bottle of cashew milk in the fridge so I’ve provided directions for making the spiced milk with whole cashews instead if that’s all you have. Both are as creamy and comforting but using a store bought cashew milk saves a bit on overall time and effort. Just make sure to choose an unsweetened version without added gums.
- The milks are gently heated along with the spices until steaming then left to warm just below a simmer for about ten minutes on the stovetop to allow for the flavors to develop and infuse the milks.
- If you like your milk a bit frothy (which I do) you can use a milk frother or simply whiz everything in the blender which you’ll need to do anyways if you’re using whole cashews instead of cashew milk.
- Serve warm with a cinnamon stick to stir and sip slowly, preferably in a comfy robe and slippers with a good book to keep you company.
Stay warm!
More Healthy Hot Drinks:
Spiced Milk
Wrap your hands around a mug of warm spiced milk for a cozy bedtime drink that comforts as it chases away the wintertime chill.
Ingredients
- 1 cup/240ml light coconut milk
- 1 cup/ 240ml unsweetened cashew milk (or use ¼ cup/28g cashews + 1 cup/240ml filtered water)
- 1 Ceylon cinnamon stick (plus more for serving)
- 2 strips of orange peel
- 1 star anise
- ⅛th teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- ½ vanilla bean, split (or use ½ teaspoon vanilla extra)
- Liquid sweetener of choice to taste such as maple or date syrup
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a medium sized saucepan and bring just to a simmer. Reduce heat and warm over low heat without simmering for about 10 minutes to infuse.
- If using cashew milk strain and froth either with a hand frother or blend in a high speed blender until frothy and serve.
- If using cashews and water instead, fish out cinnamon stick, orange peel, star anise and vanilla bean before pouting mixture into a high speed blender for about 2 minutes, until frothy, smooth and steaming.
- Pour into mugs, sweeten to taste and garnish with additional nutmeg or cinnamon stick if desired.
Notes
Storage:
Store leftovers in the fridge and re-heat before serving.
Dietary Info:
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Paleo, Refined Sugar-Free
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 151Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 10mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 2gSugar: 11gProtein: 2g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
anh says
Remember the nut milk? lovely!! I like this idea a lot 🙂
Katie {Epicurean Mom} says
Sylvie- Your photography never ceases to amaze me!! It's raining in Southern California and this looks so warming and delicious!
Julie M. says
Mmmm. I can almost taste it through your pictures. It sounds absolutely delicious. I love the idea of spiking it for an extra punch of warmth.
Grubarazzi (@Grubarazzi) says
Well, I know what I'm having as a treat when I get home tonight. Lovely.
[email protected] says
You know I would love this right?! Totally comfort drink.
EA-The Spicy RD says
I still haven't tried making my own nut milk, but this recipe might just get me motivated. I even picked up some cashews the other day, so on my list to make! PS Today's grey and gloomy So. Cal weather is the perfect opportunity for making this-We've been so spoiled by the gorgeous weather the past few days 🙂
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
That sounds amazing. I love the idea of making cashew milk, but I haven't tried making any nut milks on my own yet. Can't wait to try, the possibilities are endless! 🙂
Maria @ Sage + Lavender says
this sounds wonderful. I am into hot milks, my favorite being with Mexican cinnamon or with saffron. Always comforting. Have to see if I can find cashew milk and try this.
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
Oh that cup with the newspaper... made me a very happy man. That's what I'd like to be doing right now.
Kiri W. says
This looks amazing - I've always enjoyed coconut milk, and have no yet had cashew milk (but love almond). Warm with spices sounds indulgent and perfect 🙂