Warm Vanilla Milk Bedtime Drink

March 6, 2020 by Michelle | 33 Comments

This Warm Vanilla Milk Bedtime Drink – my version of moon milk – is perfect when you want something comforting and relaxing before you turn in for the night. Sweet dreams!

orange mug of warm vanilla milk bedtime drink

Has all the crazy news and life, in general, had you a bit tense and you’re having trouble sleeping? Me too. Well, grandma was on to something when she said to drink some warm milk!

Add some vanilla, honey, and a pinch of nutmeg for a delicious, soothing drink to sip on before bed. It has helped me relax and sleep on many a night!

Disclaimer: I am not saying that this drink is going to make you fall asleep. I’m just saying that it often helps me relax and fall asleep.

If you can’t sleep and want to try something natural, it’s worth a try. If it doesn’t help, no harm done. You still had a yummy cozy drink!

I go for weeks at a time sleeping like a log…and then I go for weeks at a time where I’m up half the night. In the past, I tried some over-the-counter sleep aids, and they either didn’t work or I had some really weird experiences with them.

Nope, not for me.

Then I tried this warm vanilla milk drink, and it was amazing to me how much it actually helped me fall asleep. It’s now my go-to for those nights when sleep eludes me.

It’s also just a delicious, calming drink any time!

The key, in my opinion, is to make this drink about 30 minutes before you go to bed and sip on it throughout that time while doing something that you find relaxing, like listening to music or reading a book (or nothing at all)…maybe even right after a nice warm shower or bath.

orange mug of warm vanilla milk bedtime drink with a spoon in it

WHY MIGHT WARM MILK HELP YOU SLEEP?

Now, I’m not a nutritionist, but I did some research and found out that, surprisingly, it’s probably not the tryptophan that’s in milk (an amino acid that helps your body produce serotinin, which helps create melatonin, which is ultimately responsible for your sleep cycles).

Tryptophan is that ingredient that we all blame at Thanksgiving for making us fall asleep on the couch after a big turkey dinner.

As it turns out, you’d have eat waaay more turkey than that for it to put you to sleep. Same with milk; it has tryptophan but not enough in a glass to put you to sleep.

So what is it then?

Apparently, the potential sleep-inducing effects of warm milk are actually more likely psychological. For instance, your mom always gave you a glass of warm milk before bed, so your brain associates it with sleep.

Plus, taking the time to relax with a warm drink at the end of the day may just simply help your brain relax too.

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED:

Whole milk
Honey or maple syrup
Vanilla extract
Nutmeg

HERE’S A QUICK LOOK AT HOW TO MAKE WARM VANILLA MILK BEDTIME DRINK:

three images showing steps to make warm vanilla milk bedtime drink

TIPS & TIDBITS:

You could use low fat or skim milk if you prefer, or if you’d rather a dairy-free option, you can use almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk, etc., but I will say that this drink has the best creamy flavor when made with whole milk.
If you’re lactose intolerant, you can use a lactose-free milk.
I always heat my milk on the stove top, but you could also heat it in a mug in the microwave if you prefer.
You just want to heat the milk until it is hot or very warm. Don’t bring it to a simmer or boil, as it can develop a skin on top.
I like my drink sweet, so I use a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup. Feel free to use less or more depending on your own tastes.
Not into nutmeg? Try cinnamon instead!
Add a small dollop of whipped cream on top for an extra-special treat!

orange mug of warm vanilla milk bedtime drink with whipped cream and nutmeg

I hope you try this Warm Vanilla Milk Bedtime Drink and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!