Soothing Golden Turmeric Milk with cinnamon and vanilla. The ultimate cozy nighttime drink that’s said to help promote more restful sleep!
Have you tried golden turmeric milk lattes? We love this warm, soothing drink. I was surprised to notice I actually do sleep more restfully when I include it in my nighttime routine. (Usually drinking it a couple hours before sleep.) The nutritional benefits are wonderful, and it tastes so comforting. Earthy turmeric with a hint of sweetness and notes of cinnamon & vanilla – yum!
Historically, turmeric has been a staple in Indian cuisine and for centuries. It’s widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for a huge variety of conditions. Studies show it supports digestion, enhances immune function and liver function, contains antioxidants, and reduces inflammation. (I absolutely love it in my 20-Minute Healing Turmeric Noodle Soup as well!)
Sidenote: if you’re interested in learning about Ayurvedic medicine/lifestyle, I enjoy the teachings in these two beautiful books:
Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom
The Ayurveda Way
Traditional Ayurvedic medicine incorporates meat & dairy in the diet, but I adapt the methods and recipes to stay aligned with my plant-based lifestyle.
Now back to the turmeric milk… this color makes me smile! 💛
Bedtime Golden Turmeric Milk
Soothing Bedtime Golden Turmeric Milk with cinnamon and vanilla! The ultimate cozy nighttime drink. Customizable, easy to make, and is said to help promote more restful sleep.
Cook Time:10 minutes
Total Time:10 minutes
Servings:2 medium mugs
Ingredients
- 2 cups soy milk (or other plant-based milk)
- 1 tsp. ground turmeric (more as desired)
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon (I use Ceylon cinnamon)
- 2-3 Tbsp. maple syrup (depending on desired sweetness)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract (more to taste)
- Pinch of black pepper
Optional
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger (or freshly grated), cardamom
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add all ingredients and whisk to combine.
- Heat for about 5-6 minutes until milk is hot, whisking occasionally.
- Take care not to boil (only warm & lightly simmer until the spices are dissolved).
- Carefully pour into a mug and enjoy! Breathe deep, sip slow, be well.
Notes
I use plain, unsweetened soy milk, so adjust vanilla and maple syrup to taste if you’re using a sweetened or flavored milk.
The pinch of black pepper is said to aid in the effectiveness of turmeric. As for absorption, I’ve read when eaten with fats & oils, it helps absorb turmeric in the gut. (Anyone with more info on this, I’d love to hear!)
Turmeric can stain, so pour & use cautiously.
Recipe adapted from Nutrition Stripped
Nutrition Per Serving (estimate)
Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 4g | Potassium: 428mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 930IU | Vitamin C: 17.7mg | Calcium: 359mg | Iron: 2.3mg
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I make this quite often, sometimes before bed, sometimes after a tough morning run. I know it helps with inflammation. I use plain unsweetened almond milk, coconut oil (fat for absorption) one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and fresh coarse ground black pepper. I love its soothing qualities and know it's so good for me. I love the citrusy fresh taste with the spicy turmeric undertone. Sometimes I add a dash of cayenne. I love your idea of the slightly sweet w/cinnamon! Sorry, no pics but will the next time I make it! 🙂
Great to hear it's been helping with your inflammation after runs! I never thought to add fresh lemon juice, GOOD IDEA! Will try your version soon!! Have a great week Terri! <3
This is my favorite way to use turmeric. As a breast cancer survivor, I’m trying to add more to my diet. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Tonya! Yay, lovely to hear you’re enjoying it 🙂 I’ve also been trying to add more turmeric in my diet. (I try to do daily turmeric shots with water, lemon juice, and a little black pepper.) Always fun finding new ways to incorporate this wonderful, magical spice! Thanks for the kind feedback & recipe rating! Have a beautiful week! -Kaitlin
Kaitlin, do you have any idea why this would get thick? I followed the recipe except I used Almond milk instead of Soy. While mixing it if I lift my whisk it almost has the consistency of raw eggs…not that it's all of it, it's like it's getting thick on the bottom. When we drank it, it was good but I could not drink the last few sips because it got too thick in my cup. Any ideas why this is happening or maybe it's supposed to. ??? This is the first time I've made so I don't have anything to judge it to. I was just thinking it would keep the consistency of the milk and not get thick. Other than that we love it!!! Thanks so much!
Hi Tracy! Great to hear you love the flavor, but yes! The thickness at the bottom happens to me sometimes too. I suspect the cinnamon (or perhaps some of the turmeric as well) isn't dissolving completely. I find it helps if I heat it for a bit longer, and whisk more often while it's on the stove. So sorry I didn't make that clearer in the recipe! Also using good quality spices is important – I like the Simply Organic brand. If you're still not having much luck, you can try reducing the spices or increasing the milk 🙂 Hope that helps a little! Wishing you a beautiful week! -Kaitlin
You inspire me to give it another try. I didn't enjoy my first go with Golden Milk, but may it was the recipe. Or maybe because it is new. Or… In any case. Consider me inspired to try again this week.
Yay! Hope it goes well! It's really a very earthy and "turmeric-y" drink, perhaps an acquired taste for some and that's totally good & normal! 🙂 I think the vanilla here might help (you could even add a little extra) and the cinnamon & sweetness from the maple syrup certainly helps too. Hope you have a lovely rest of the week! -Kaitlin
This is surprisingly really tasty! I typically use turmeric in my smoothies and wanted an alternative recipe. Your recipes are the bomb.com!
Haha, thanks so much! Glad you’re enjoying the recipes 🙂 Have a beautiful week!
Can’t wait to try this recipe! Sap season is over and we made 200 gallons of fresh maple syrup, so I’m always looking for new and exciting ways to use it. Thank you so much. I’ll keep you posted when I make it!
Hi Alicia! Yum – I LOVE fresh maple syrup, what a treat! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Hi Kaitlin I tried your recipe tonight and at first it was SUPER good then it got thick 😬 but I see Tracy had the same experience so I will give it another try tomorrow. Thanks!
Hey Christina! Oh no! Sometimes I find I have a little leftover spice at the bottom of my mug if it didn’t dissolve all the way. (Trying to experiment if this is due to different types of milk, not sure yet!) Be sure to whisk well while it’s heating, or you could definitely try decreasing the amount of turmeric & cinnamon so it’s able to better dissolve. (Sometimes I’ll give it a little swirl in the mug before drinking to help it along too) 🙂
Hi guys! enjoyed my first time Golden milk. Easy-breezy.I allowed the spices to dissolve slowly in unsweetened almond milk. It’s best to use good brands. I used freshly grated ginger and ground BP. swirled & sipped. Looking forward to my next adventure with Turmeric.
Thanks for the adventure Kaitlin., Every blessing!
Hi Yvonne! Aww, so lovely to hear this. Thrilled you enjoyed you first golden milk! Thanks so much for the very kind words and feedback 🙂 Wishing you a most beautiful week!
I tried this recipe tonight! I used cows milk and honey instead of maple syrup (gotta use what you have on hand!) and added about a tbs of butter for the fat absorption aspect. It’s delicious! I bet if I had cardamom on hand it would basically taste like chai!
Hi Kate! Wonderful to hear you gave this a try and enjoyed with your own twist! 🙂 Thanks so much for the kind feedback. Wishing you a beautiful week!