This Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea combines the comforting warmth of cinnamon with sweet vanilla in a velvety, café-quality drink you can make at home. Perfect for chilly mornings or afternoon pick-me-ups, it’s naturally sweetened and fully customizable for dairy-free diets.
Why You’ll Love It:
✔️ Ready in 5 minutes – faster than coffee shop lines
✔️ Uses pantry staples – no special ingredients
✔️ Calming properties – cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar
✔️ Customizable caffeine – use regular or decaf tea
🛒 Ingredients
Tea Base:
- 1 cup (240ml) filtered water
- 1 black tea bag (Earl Grey or English Breakfast)
- 1/2 cinnamon stick (or 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon)
- 1/4 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract)
- 1 tsp maple syrup (or honey)
Creamy Element:
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk (or oat milk)
- Pinch of ground cinnamon for dusting
Optional Enhancements:
- 1 star anise pod
- 1 cardamom pod, crushed
- 1 tsp brown sugar for caramel notes
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Infuse Tea (2 mins)
- In small saucepan, combine water, cinnamon stick, and vanilla. Bring to gentle simmer (180°F/82°C).
- Remove from heat, add tea bag, and steep 3 minutes (for strong flavor).
2️⃣ Froth Milk (1 min)
- Warm milk in microwave (45 secs) or saucepan until steamy but not boiling.
- Froth with:
- Handheld frother (20 secs)
- Jar method: Shake vigorously in lidded jar for 30 secs
3️⃣ Combine & Serve (1 min)
- Remove tea bag and cinnamon stick from infused tea.
- Pour into mug, then slowly add frothed milk to create layers.
- Dust with cinnamon and drizzle 1/4 tsp vanilla extract on top.
Health Notes:
• Antioxidants from cinnamon and tea
• No artificial flavors
• Lower caffeine than coffee
🌟 Pro Tips
✅ Tea hack: Steep at 180°F (82°C) to prevent bitterness
✅ Extra creamy: Use half-and-half instead of milk
✅ Iced version: Cool tea, pour over ice, add cold frothed milk
