Welcome to the cozy corner of the tea world where indulgence meets comfort — let me introduce you to the sublime pleasure of Homemade Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea.
The aromatic caress of vanilla and the spicy whisper of cinnamon, combined with the velvety embrace of milk, make a delicious, healthy, and fulfilling drink you must try.
Whether you’re wrapped in a blanket on a lazy Sunday morning looking for a hot and soothing drink or need an iced and caffeinated pick-me-up in the middle of a hectic day, this recipe delivers!
Why You Should Try This Recipe
- Comfort in a Cup: The combination of vanilla and cinnamon offers a soothing, comforting taste that’s perfect for relaxing after a long day or warming up on a chilly evening.
- Aromatic Delight: The fragrant notes of vanilla and the warm, spicy scent of cinnamon make each sip a deeply aromatic experience, uplifting your mood and refreshing your senses.
- Easy and Customizable: This recipe is straightforward and easy to follow, allowing you to adjust the sweetness and spice levels according to your preference. Whether you like it sweeter or spicier, you can tailor it to your taste.
- Health Benefits: Cinnamon is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and can help regulate blood sugar levels, while vanilla adds antioxidants that combat free radicals, making this tea not only delicious but also beneficial for your health.
- Versatile Beverage: Serve it hot for a cozy and warming drink, or enjoy it iced for a refreshing treat on warmer days. This versatility makes vanilla cinnamon milk tea a delightful choice for any season.
Ingredients
I recommend using high-quality organic cinnamon sticks and whole vanilla beans for this recipe. But if you want to keep things fast and simple, you can use ground cinnamon and vanilla extract instead.
I often make this recipe with black tea, especially when I need the caffeine for extra energy. However, if you want to avoid caffeine, you can leave the black tea out of the equation.
Ingredients for making 4 cups (32) oz of Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea:
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 4 cinnamon sticks (or 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon)
- 4 vanilla beans, split and scraped (or 4 teaspoons vanilla extract)
- 2 star anises (optional)
- 4 teaspoons of loose-leaf black tea or 4 black tea bags (optional)
- Sweetener of choice (sugar, honey, or a sugar substitute), to taste
How to Make Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea
Step-by-step instructions for making 4 cups (32 oz) of Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea:
- Boil Water: In a small pot, bring water to a boil.
- Add Cinnamon & Vanilla: If using a cinnamon stick and vanilla beans, place them in the pot, turn off the heat, and cover with a lid. If you are using star anis, you can also add it. If you are using vanilla extract and ground cinnamon, you can just add them to the pot but there is no need to steep so you can skip the next step.
- Steep: Let the ingredients steep in hot water for about 10 minutes.
- Add Tea (optional): Add the black tea and brew for an additional 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
- Heat Milk: In a separate pot or in a microwave, gently heat the milk until it is warm but not boiling.
- Strain & Combine: Pour the cinnamon vanilla infusion through a stainer into the warm milk to combine them.
- Sweeten (optional): Add sweetener to taste and stir until dissolved.
- Serve: Pour the vanilla cinnamon milk tea into your favorite cups and enjoy!
Iced Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea
To make an iced version of the Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea, first follow the recipe to brew the tea with vanilla and cinnamon. Allow the brewed tea to cool to room temperature after preparation.
Once cooled, refrigerate the tea until it’s fully chilled. To serve, fill a glass with ice cubes and pour the chilled tea over the ice. For an extra touch, you can add a splash of additional milk or a cinnamon stick for garnish.
Enjoy your refreshing iced Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea!
Tips & Variations
- Experiment with Tea Bases: Replace black tea with green tea or rooibos for a different flavor profile. Each type of tea brings its own unique characteristics that can complement the vanilla and cinnamon.
- Add a Creamy Topper: After pouring the tea into your cup, add a dollop of whipped cream or a float of frothed milk on top for an extra indulgent treat.
- Incorporate Other Spices: Enhance the complexity of the flavor by adding cardamom, nutmeg, or cloves along with the cinnamon. This can create a warming, spiced tea perfect for colder months.
- Make a Vegan Version: Use plant-based milk such as almond, oat, or coconut milk and a vegan sweetener like maple syrup or agave nectar to cater to vegan dietary preferences while maintaining the creamy texture and sweet taste.
Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea
Ingredients
- 2 cups Water
- 2 cups Milk dairy or plant-based
- 4 Cinnamon sticks or 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
- 4 Vanilla beans, split and scraped or 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 Star anises optional
- 4 tsp Loose-leaf black tea or 4 black tea bags optional
- Sweetener of choice sugar, honey, or a sugar substitute
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a small pot.
- If using a cinnamon stick and vanilla beans, add them in the pot, turn off the heat, and cover with a lid. If you are using star anis, you can also add it now. If you are using vanilla extract and ground cinnamon, you can just add them to the pot but there is no need to steep, so you can skip the next step.
- Let the ingredients steep in hot water for about 10 minutes.
- (Optional Step) Add the black tea and brew for an additional 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
- Heat the milk in a separate pot until it is warm but not boiling.
- Pour the cinnamon vanilla infusion through a stainer into the warm milk to combine them.
- Add sweetener of your choice and stir.
- Serve it hot, or let it cool and serve over ice for a refreshing twist.
