This warm vanilla milk with chocolate whipped cream takes less than 10 minutes to whip up and is a delicious alternative to hot chocolate!
If you're looking for an alternative to homemade hot chocolate, this vanilla milk recipe is for you! It’s an easy, simple, and delicious beverage that takes 5 minutes to make with ingredients you probably already have in your refrigerator and pantry.
Topped with a small batch of chocolate whipped cream, it's warm, sweet, and full of vanilla flavor, making perfect for chilly evenings or as a cozy bed time drink.
Why You'll Love It:
- Comforting: This warm vanilla milk recipe is super cozy and comforting! Perfect for cold nights or the holiday season.
- Versatile: While this drink is super simple to make, it's also super versatile! You can add honey, a dash of cinnamon, or some liqueur to really spice it up.
- Delicious: The combination of warm milk and vanilla results in a rich and creamy drink that satisfies both your sweet tooth and the desire for something warm and tasty.
Ingredients
- Milk: You can use any type of milk including whole milk, skim, 2%, or your favorite non-dairy milk like soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.
- Vanilla Extract: Using high quality, pure vanilla extract makes a big difference. You can also you a vanilla bean, or vanilla bean paste.
- Chocolate Whipped Cream: You can buy it or make your own! You can also top with marshmallows or vanilla whipped cream.
How to Make
Step 1: make whipped cream (optional)
If desired, whisk together heavy whipping cream, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl until thickened. You can also use a standing mixer with a whisk attachment, a hand held mixer, or my favorite tool for making a small batch of whipped cream, a milk frother with the whisk attachment.
Step 2: Heat Milk, Vanilla, and Sugar
Add milk to a large saucepan. Heat over medium heat until just simmering, stirring constantly. Watch closely, as it can go from warm to boiling and overflow very quickly.
You can also warm the milk in the microwave in 20 second intervals, until just simmering (about 40-60 seconds total). Be careful as the milk can easily start to boil and make a mess.
Add the sugar and vanilla and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and serve in mug along with any desired toppings like whipped cream or marshmallows. Enjoy!!
Variations
- Honey: Use a tablespoon or two of honey instead of sugar.
- Cinnamon: add in ¼ tsp cinnamon into the vanilla milk before warming.
- Cold Vanilla Milk: Mix 2 tablespoons powdered sugar rather than granulated sugar along with the vanilla into cold milk. Enjoy!
- Spiked Vanilla Milk: Add a shot of Khalua, Bailey's Irish Cream, or your favorite sweet liqueur.
Tips and Tricks
- Any type of milk works in this recipe, including whole milk, skim, 2%, or your favorite non-dairy milk like soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.
- Chose a larger pot than you think is necessary and watch the milk closely. You want it to be warm with a slight simmer, not boiling. If it boils it will foam up and out the pot, making a mess.
- In addition to topping with chocolate whipped cream, you can use homemade marshmallows, or drizzle caramel sauce, ganache, strawberry coulis, or marshmallow creme.
- You can easily halve the recipe for a small batch or double or tripped for making a large batch or serving a crowd.
- Check out my full chocolate whipped cream recipe for tips and tricks for making perfect whipped cream.
FAQ
What type of milk can I use?
You can use any type of milk in this recipe. Whole milk, low-fat milk, skim milk or your favorite non-dairy milks will all work.
Sure you can drink this cold by either making it ahead of time and chilling in the refrigerator, or using cold milk and powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar. No need to heat, just add the ingredients to the cold milk and enjoy!
Yes, you can make large batch of this ahead of time and store in the refrigerator to enjoy cold or reheated in the microwave or stovetop.
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Warm Vanilla Milk
INGREDIENTS
Warm Vanilla Milk
- 16 oz milk (2 cups) see notes for different types of milk
- 2-3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Whipped Cream
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream cold
- 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder natural or dutch processed
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar more or less to taste
Instructions
Vanilla Milk
- Add milk to a large saucepan.
- Heat over medium heat until just simmering, stirring constantly. Watch closely, as it can go from warm to boiling and overflow very quickly.
- Once warm, mix in the sugar and vanilla and stir until dissolved.
- Remove from heat and serve in a mug along with any desired toppings like whipped cream or marshmallows.
- You can also chill in the refrigerator for cold vanilla milk. Enjoy!
Chocolate Whipped Cream
- Using a hand held mixer, whisk, standing mixer with a whisk attachment, or milk frother, whisk together the cold heavy whipping cream, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, in a medium bowl until thickened.
Notes
- Any type of milk works in this recipe, including whole milk, skim, 2%, or your favorite non-dairy milk like soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.
- In addition to topping with chocolate whipped cream, you can use homemade marshmallows, or drizzle caramel sauce, ganache, strawberry coulis, or marshmallow creme.
- You can easily halve the recipe for a small batch or double or tripped for making a large batch or serving a crowd.
- Check out my full chocolate whipped cream recipe for tips and tricks for making perfect whipped cream.
Sophia Assunta says
This was my favorite drink growing up, we made it way more than hot chocolate in my family (it’s also way easier!). I hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years!!