Cinnamon Golden Milk Latte, a warming turmeric latte recipe made with ground turmeric, ginger, coconut, and black pepper. An easy self-care ritual drink that is healthy AND tastes delicious!
Are you golden milk latte obsessed? Nothing beats a warm and soothing turmeric-based latte for a mid-morning, afternoon pick-me-up, or before-bed ritual.
While turmeric is the foundation of golden milk, adding a few additional spices can take the traditional Ayurvedic beverage next level — specifically a dash of cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and vanilla.
👉 Here are three reasons why you should make a Cinnamon Golden Milk Latte:
- You can make it ahead. This recipe’s ingredients are super easy to prep ahead, so you can save time when your turmeric latte craving hits!
- It’s comforting! This latte really brings the cozy vibes when the cold weather hits. It’s warm, delicious, and easy to whip together when you need a pick-me-up.
- You can make it your own. Enjoy it hot or iced, mix in your favorite spices, or add a sweetener to make the latte uniquely yours!
Ready for your new favorite plant-based ritual drink recipe that’s ready in under 5 minutes? Let’s do it!
💛 What is a golden milk latte? What are its health benefits?
Golden milk, or turmeric tea, is a traditional Ayurvedic recipe made with antioxidant-rich turmeric that has been enjoyed for centuries. It is thought to have anti-inflammatory health benefits because of the turmeric and other spices, and has now become a trendy wellness ritual enjoyed across the world.
While there are many variations of golden milk recipes, they all contain turmeric as the foundation and usually also have coconut (sometimes in the form of coconut milk or coconut oil) and black pepper. Other recipes add more spices as well, including cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg.
We have tried experimenting with many different golden milk recipe variations, and our favorite blend includes turmeric, ginger, coconut, black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. Each one of these delicious spices on its own is full of antioxidants, but together they add up to be a powerfully nourishing drink that not only tastes good but makes you feel good as well.
🥥 Ingredients
Milk and spices are the key ingredients that you need to make a golden milk latte with cinnamon. Here is a list of common golden milk spices (and their health benefits!):
- Turmeric powder: The foundation of golden milk is turmeric, and is what gives it its bright yellow color. Turmeric is a root in the same family as ginger and galangal, and is grown in India and parts of Southern Asia. Studies have shown that curcumin, the bioactive compound in turmeric, may have anti-inflammatory factors that may improve joint pain, skin irritation, and may even reduce the risk of heart disease. Ground turmeric, and golden milk, have long been used in Ayurvedic medicine.
- Ginger: Ginger is a cousin of turmeric, and is a flowering perennial plant with a root that is used in cooking both raw and dried and ground into ginger powder. Ginger is from the southern part of India and Asia, as has long been used to cure nausea and upset stomach, and some studies show that ginger creates a calming effect as consuming.
- Cinnamon: Hailing from the bark of the Cinnamomum tree species, cinnamon is grown in Southern Asia, specifically China and Indonesia. The bark is dried and then ground to produce ground cinnamon, which is commonly used in baked goods. Like ginger, cinnamon has a long history of use as a digestive aid and some research suggests cinnamon may have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
- Coconut powder: Coconut powder is made by draining coconut milk and drying coconut flesh, then grinding into a powder. Coconut powder is great in curries, soups, and stews, and mixes well into hot liquids like golden milk. It adds a smooth tropical taste to golden milk.
- Vanilla: Vanilla plants are actually orchids that grow on a vine and are harvest for their fruit, the vanilla “bean” pod that can be scraped to release its tiny black seeds. Vanilla originated in Mexico, but is now grown across the world in tropical regions in places like Madagascar and Tahiti. Vanilla is most often used in baked goods, but its extract is also delicious in drinks like lattes.
- Cardamom: Cardamom is a strong spice made from the small pods of the Zingiberaceae plant species, which is grown in India and Southern Asia. It is used in both sweet and savory Asian cuisines, as well as more widely in baking. Cardamom contains antioxidants which may reduce inflammation and may have antibacterial effects.
- Nutmeg: Nutmeg is made from the ground seed of the Myristica tree, an evergreen tree found in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. It is used in both sweet and savory dishes worldwide and is used in alternative medicine for pain relief and digestion.
- Black pepper: Common ground black pepper is the ground spice made from the peppercorn fruit from the Piperaceae plant, which is native to Southern India but is now also grown in Vietnam. It is now a staple spice used in cuisines throughout the world.
- Recommended tools: saucepan, small mixing bowl or cocktail mixer, whisk, mugs
🍵 How to make it hot (step-by-step photos)
1️⃣ Step One: Heat up the milk
First, add your milk of choice to a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Warm the milk until almost boiling before adding in the spices.
2️⃣ Step Two: Combine spice mix with milk
When the milk is almost boiling, add turmeric, ginger powder, cinnamon, coconut powder (or coconut oil), vanilla, and black pepper to the saucepan and then mix well with a whisk.
3️⃣ Step Three: Add toppings + serve
Finally, take the milk off of the heat and pour into a coffee or tea mug. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy!
🧊 How to make it iced
1️⃣ Step One: Combine milk + spices
First, pour your milk of choice into a small mixing bowl or cocktail mixer. Sprinkle in turmeric, ginger powder, cinnamon, coconut powder, vanilla, and black pepper. Whisk (or shake) until well combined.
2️⃣ Step Two: Add toppings + serve
Pour the golden milk into a glass-topped with ice. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy!
👉 Want to make an iced golden milk? Check out our full recipe tutorial for an iced golden milk latte!
❓ Recipe questions + quick tips
Any milk will do! We like to use plant-based milk like pea milk or almond milk, but coconut milk is also a great option for a more tropical coconut-flavored turmeric tea. However, animal-based milks like cow’s or goat’s milk also work well in this recipe.
Yes! Turmeric and cinnamon pair perfectly together, especially in our Cinnamon Golden Milk Latte. We find that the sweetness of cinnamon balances out the earthy, bitter flavor of the turmeric. Plus, both of these spices have anti-inflammatory properties that may provide health benefits.
👉 How to serve
We love how versatile that golden milk lattes are. From switching up the spices to adding sweeteners, here are a few ideas to make this recipe your own:
- Get creative with spices: add other spices like vanilla, nutmeg, or cardamom to make a uniquely spiced cinnamon golden milk.
- Make it sweet: add a teaspoon of maple syrup, agave syrup, or honey to sweeten your latte.
- Mix up the flavors: in addition to adding other spices, you can mix in flavored oils such as peppermint or flavored vanilla extracts.
♻️ Sustainable kitchen tips
Here at Fork in the Road, sustainability is our first priority (and we know yours is, too!). Take your environmentally-conscious lifestyle to the next level with these tips:
Make a big batch spice blend. Instead of making this spice blend from scratch every time, make a big batch of golden milk spices to use whenever the craving calls.
Use eco-friendly cookware. Every green eater needs a set of green cookware; we love Greenpans’s environmentally-friendly cookware because they are non-stick but toxin-free.
Choose sustainably sourced spices. Food tastes extra delicious when you know the ingredients are fair trade and sustainably sourced. Try making golden milk lattes with spices from brands like Frontier Co-op or Oakland Spice Shop’s online store, two of our favorites.
🫖 More winter drink recipes
Craving more warm and healthy drinks? We’ve got you covered:
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Cinnamon Golden Milk Latte
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon coconut powder, or coconut oil
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup, agave syrup, or honey
Instructions
- Hot Cinnamon Golden Milk Latte
- Add milk of choice to a small saucepan over medium high heat.
- Combine milk and spices: When the milk is almost boiling, add turmeric, ginger powder, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, coconut powder, vanilla extract, and black pepper to the pan. Mix well with a whisk.
- Take milk off heat and pour into a coffee or tea mug, top with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and enjoy.
Iced Cinnamon Golden Milk Latte
- Combine milk and spices: Add milk of choice and add turmeric, ginger powder, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, coconut powder, vanilla extract, and black pepper to a small mixing bowl or to a cocktail mixer. Shake or mix well to combine.
- Shake well to combine, then pour into glass topped with ice. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Tools needed: saucepan, small mixing bowl or cocktail mixer, mugs
- Prep ahead: make the golden milk spice mix in advance and store at room temperature until ready to use.
- Leftovers + storage: We recommend making each golden milk latte individually and not keeping leftovers, for best flavor. However, you can store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days. We do not recommend freezing.
- Nutrition notes: This recipe uses all plant-based, gluten-free ingredients, so it is appropriate for vegan diets.
Nutrition Information
UPDATE: This post was originally published in December 2018 and was updated for clarity in November 2021.
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