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Warm Vanilla Milk Bedtime Drink

March 6, 2020 by Michelle | 12 Comments

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mug of warm milk dusted with nutmeg with a text overlay that says now cook this warm vanilla milk bedtime drink
mug of warm milk with a text overlay that says warm vanilla milk, cozy bedtime drink, nowcookthis.com
orange mug of warm milk with a text overlay that says now cook this warm vanilla milk bedtime drink

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!

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5 from 5 votes

Warm Vanilla Milk Bedtime Drink

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!
Prep Time1 min
Cook Time4 mins
Total Time5 mins
Servings: 1
Calories: 213kcal
Author: Michelle / Now Cook This!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup, add more or less to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch nutmeg

Instructions

  • Place the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat and heat just until hot (don't bring it to a simmer or boil).
  • Turn off the heat and add the honey or maple syrup and vanilla; whisk until combined.
  • Pour into a mug and sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg.
  • Sip on the drink for 30 minutes right before bedtime while doing something relaxing.

Recipe Notes

  • You could use low fat or skim milk instead of whole milk or, if you’d rather a dairy-free option, you can use almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk, etc., but I find 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.
  • You could heat the milk in a mug in the microwave if you prefer.
  • If you’re not into nutmeg, try cinnamon instead. 
  • Add a small dollop of whipped cream on top for an extra special treat! (Estimated calories don’t include whipped cream.)
Tried this recipe? I’d love to see it!Mention @nowcookthis or tag #nowcookthisrecipes!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carrie

    October 30, 2020 at 6:53 pm

    This is delicious. Thank you! My son and I wanted to drink warm milk the other night (never had before) and we made this recipe. I’m currently making the same, but putting espresso in it 🤭

    Reply
    • Michelle

      October 30, 2020 at 7:51 pm

      Hey, Carrie! I’m so glad you and your son enjoyed the warm vanilla milk! Adding espresso actually sounds really yummy. I think I might try that…but in the morning! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe!

      Reply
  2. Tara

    November 11, 2020 at 10:05 pm

    I am sitting here right now in my living room and something just came over me about warm milk and the old days. I made your recipe to the T and it’s absolutely delicious! This is going to be something I do a lot more before bed just to get some extra calcium and let’s be honest the honey is good for me too. Thank you for the recipe! Love it

    Reply
    • Michelle

      November 12, 2020 at 7:00 am

      Hey, Tara! Thank you so much! I’m so happy that you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Tara

    November 11, 2020 at 10:06 pm

    Forgot to Rate 5 star

    Reply
    • Michelle

      November 12, 2020 at 7:00 am

      Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Kay

        January 24, 2021 at 11:07 pm

        I made this with almond milk and a touch of cinnamon. It was delicious.

        Reply
        • Michelle | Now Cook This!

          January 25, 2021 at 8:32 am

          Thank you, Kay! So glad you enjoyed it!

          Reply
  4. Tehia

    December 13, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    Thank you so much! We are trying to cut our daughter off of sugar after 3 pm. I can’t find a good hot drink recipe without sugar and she loved it!!!! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Michelle

      December 13, 2020 at 7:30 pm

      You are very welcome, Tehia! I’m so happy that your daughter enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe!

      Reply
  5. Debbie

    February 9, 2021 at 3:18 pm

    Delicious! I used more vanilla — I like it — and cinnamon.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      February 9, 2021 at 3:20 pm

      Hey, Debbie! So happy you enjoyed it…and you can never go wrong with more vanilla (or a some cinnamon)! Thank you for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe!

      Reply

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