☕✨ Creamy Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea (Cozy 5-Minute Recipe!)

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)

1. In small saucepan, combine water, cinnamon stick, and vanilla. Bring to gentle simmer (180°F/82°C).
2. Remove from heat, add tea bag, and steep 3 minutes (for strong flavor).

2️⃣ Froth Milk (1 min)

1. Warm milk in microwave (45 secs) or saucepan until steamy but not boiling.
2. Froth with:
   • Handheld frother (20 secs)
   • Jar method: Shake vigorously in lidded jar for 30 secs

3️⃣ Combine & Serve (1 min)

1. Remove tea bag and cinnamon stick from infused tea.
2. Pour into mug, then slowly add frothed milk to create layers.
3. 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