Wind down with this moon milk made of warm almond milk with honey and tart cherry juice.
HOW TO MAKE MOON MILK
Sleep is one of my things. It helps me think more clearly and feel better overall. If you’re like me, not getting enough sleep leads to brain fog and makes you cranky.
But sometimes it can be a challenge. To help, I like to wind down with a warm beverage at night. In the past, I’ve used golden milk lattes. Before that Sleepytime Tea Extra was my go-to nightcap. Lately, I’m into moon milk. That yes… I’m not ashamed to admit, I discovered this dreamy drink :)
This moon milk recipe is made with steamed almond milk, honey, and tart cherry juice – which is a natural source of melatonin and may help with sleep. Try it with whole milk or cashew milk to suit your own preference.
Whether it’s the tart cherry juice or the whole process of slowing down, moon milk definitely helps me fall asleep faster.
WHAT IS MOON MILK?
Moon milk has origins in centuries-old ayurvedic medicine where it’s used as a remedy for sleeplessness. It’s a warm mug of milk blended with herbs and/or spices. Traditionally made with whole milk for the sleep-inducing components found in dairy, the moon milk popping up all over Instagram has been adapted in mainstream wellness circles to use non-dairy milk.
HOW TO MAKE MOON MILK
To make moon milk, you’ll simply heat milk in a small saucepan with whole herbs or spices to extract as much of the benefits as possible. Whisk in ground or powdered spices like nutmeg before serving for a frothy, comforting cup of warm milk.
I used a handheld frother to get the beautiful frothy finish you see in the picture. I highly recommend it.
You can add adaptogenic ingredients like ashwagandha, powdered valerian root, or other sleep-inducing or stress relieving ingredients that work for you.
I am using tart cherry juice, which is a natural source of melatonin and may help with sleep. I got mine at Trader Joe’s. It’s 100% juice and doesn’t have any added sugars. It will be tart. So, I’ve added honey. The honey sweetens the drink and also helps emulsify the moon milk to keep it from breaking down before you’re done sipping.
I added some edible rose petals on top just for the fragrant aroma and aesthetics.
So. That’s my very non-traditional take on moon milk.
When your goal is to fall into blissful sleep, you don’t need a tedious task keeping you up. As such, I made this moon milk recipe as easy as possible using real, simple ingredients.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- ½ cup tart cherry juice
- 1-2 tsp honey
- splash vanilla extract
Instructions
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Heat the milk and cherry juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk continuously, adding in the honey just as the mixture starts to heat up, about 3-5 minutes. If using, whisk in the vanilla extract after removing the milk from the heat. Pour into a cup and enjoy!
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For a creamier texture, before adding to the cup, use a handheld frother for a whipped and frothy finish.
Notes
- I used a handheld frother to get the super frothy finish. I highly recommend it!
- Add in ashwaganda or other adaptogens to supercharge this recipe.