Learn how to make homemade Vanilla Milk in 2 minutes with just 3 simple ingredients. It’s seriously yummy, is a nice alternative to plain milk, and is just sweet enough.
Vanilla Milk
My girls love those shelf stable containers of vanilla milk but they are pretty pricy to buy with any regularity. And my little guy has never liked milk and while I don’t stress about it since he eats other dairy, I was looking for ways to make milk for kids more appealing simply so we have it as an option in the mix. Enter: Vanilla Milk!
This drink for kids is so quick and easy and I have to admit that I was shocked by how good it is. I don’t regularly drink milk on its own but this makes me kind of want to. (Same with my other Flavored Milks.)
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Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients on hand.
- Milk: You can use whole dairy milk or a favorite nondairy milk such as almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or a mixed nut milk. Milks with fat in them will be creamiest.
- Maple syrup or honey: This is an easy way to sweeten the milk and have it blend right in. Agave nectar would also work well here.
- Pure vanilla extract: Be sure to use pure vanilla extract, not artificial vanilla, for the best flavor. You can use alcohol-free vanilla extract if you prefer.
Step-by-Step Instructions
The process for this flavored milk is so easy! Just add the ingredients to a measuring cup, whisk to blend, and serve up. You don’t even need a blender and you could use a fork if you don’t have a whisk.
Which milk is best for this recipe?
I prefer to make this with whole milk since I think it tastes best (and kids need fat for proper development), but you can use whichever kind of milk you prefer. It will work with plain, unsweetened nondairy milk too, though you’ll need to taste it and adjust the vanilla and sweetener since nondairy milk can vary widely in terms of flavor.
To make this dairy-free, use plain unsweetened nondairy milk of your choosing.
How to Store
You can make this right before you serve it or a few hours before if you stash it into the fridge in an airtight container or jar for up to 3 days. Shake before serving.
Best Tips for Success
- Use honey or agave instead of the maple syrup if you prefer.
- Cut the recipe in half to make a smaller portion.
- Use whole milk or the type your family prefers.
- To make this dairy-free, use plain unsweetened nondairy milk of your choosing.
- It will work with plain, unsweetened nondairy milk too, though you’ll need to taste it and adjust the vanilla and sweetener since nondairy milk can vary widely in terms of flavor.
- You can use alcohol-free vanilla extract if you prefer.
- You may also like Chocolate Milk, Strawberry Milk, and Banana Milk.
Related Recipes
Smoothies
Favorite Yogurt Drinks
Birthdays
Healthy Vanilla Cupcakes
Breakfast
Vanilla Whole Wheat Waffles
I’d love to know what your kids think of this recipe, so please comment below to share.
Best Vanilla Milk
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a measuring cup and stir with a whisk.
- Add to a cup and serve cold.
Notes
- Use honey or agave instead of the maple syrup if you prefer.
- Cut the recipe in half to make a smaller portion.
- Use whole milk or the type your family prefers.
- Dairy-free: Use plain unsweetened nondairy milk of your choosing.
- You can use alcohol-free vanilla extract if you prefer.
Nutrition
This post was first published August 2020.
My 1 year old would NOT drink milk and he hates yogurt. I wanted to try something else and he LOVED it! He drank the whole cup! Thank you for this recipe. I hadn’t even thought about changing it up to help him drink milk.
I made it to try to entice my breastfed toddler to start drinking a little milk. Well, I tried it myself and think that it tastes good, though when I gave it to him he started crying like he had been betrayed 😅 (I think he thought the cup had water). Oh well, we’ll keep trying. He’s got a sweet tooth so I imagine he’ll accept this concoction easier than just straight milk.
No, if you check it out they are consuming 35% alcohol or 70 proof (very mild for actual liquor)! It takes at least 5 oz to feel the effect, perhaps a bit less for a child.. The 1/2 teaspoon the recipe calls for equals 0.0833333 oz. Put the 1/2 teaspoon in a shot glass if you want to see how little alcohol we are actually talking about. And, as she told you all, you can use alcohol-free if you are really concerned! Thank you for sharing a wonderful recipe!!! By the way, these foods also contain alcohol :
burger rolls – 1.28% ABV
rye bread – 0.18% ABV
banana (ripe) – 0.2% ABV
banana (very ripe with dark sections) – 0.4% ABV
pear (ripe) – 0.04% ABV
cherry yoghurt – 0.02% ABV
It’s irresponsible to post this recipe without noting that vanilla extract contains alcohol. This is exactly like putting a half teaspoon of rum in their drink.
It’s not straight alcohol and you are welcome to use alcohol-free vanilla if you prefer. Thanks for the comment!
almost all commercial extracts contain alcohol as a solvent. A good method would be heating the milk to evaporate it
so they are consuming the 70% alcohol content in vanilla extract- genius!
You can look for pure extract without alcohol if you are concerned.
almost all commercial extracts contain alcohol as a solvent. A good method would be heating the milk to evaporate it
Thanks for voicing your concerns, but in this recipe, we’re talking about 1/4-1/2 teaspoon, not shots of it. If you prefer not to use it, you don’t have to.
No, if you check it out they are consuming 35% alcohol or 70 PROOF – genius! It takes at least 5 oz to feel the effect. The 1/2 teaspoon the recipe calls for equals 0.0833333 oz. Do some research before you start criticizing others! And, as she told you all, you can use alcohol-free if you are really concerned!
I have been drinking this since I was a child.
My mom made it for us.
Those of you that are complaining about alcohol are insane! Please, get a life!
I made this exactly how it was supposed to. It was yummy, but it needed a little less syrup and a little more vanilla. It was still delicious though!!!
My al;most 2-year old LOVED this! He keeps yelling “leelee dunk!!” (vanilla milk). We used a little less than 1tsp of maple syrup and it was still super yummy! We’ve tried it both cold (blended with a couple of ice cubes) and warm. Both are a huge hit!
I am so glad to hear that! My kids think it tastes like melted vanilla ice cream:)