Hot Vanilla, an Alternative to Hot Chocolate

Hot Vanilla is a warm milk drink with only three ingredients required, although you can add some others if you like. It’s low carb and super easy to make.

Really simple snacks and desserts are the best, and that’s what inspired this drink. But if you’re avoiding refined sugar and corn syrup these days, it’s also for you.

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The result is the most incredibly rich-tasting vanilla drink. It is seriously fabulous, and healthy to boot.

You can taste the honey, which adds not only sweetness but its own distinctive flavor notes.

Substituting Ingredients

You can use a non-dairy type of milk – I recommend almond milk because almonds have lots of nutrients and it’s naturally a little sweet, but anything you like will work.

In fact, if you’re using a sweetened milk substitute, you may not even need honey. But honey is also nutritious. The only thing not particularly nutritious is the vanilla extract, but you use only a tiny bit of it and if you buy the right stuff, it’s not unhealthy.

You can use any sweetener you like. Plain sugar, brown sugar, agave syrup, or artificial sweeteners.

Adding Spice

You can add cinnamon or any warming spices you like to this. Nutmeg, cloves, anything you enjoy.

Preparation Tips

I recommend adding just a drop or two of vanilla the first time you make this drink – too much vanilla can be overwhelming. Stir it up, taste it and add some more if you want. Once you find out how many drops you prefer, then you know how to make it next time.

As a Nighttime Drink

This is a great warm drink to enjoy right before going to bed. If you find warm milk soothes you to sleep, this drink will, too.

It’s lower calorie than a lot of treats you might opt for, so it’s great if you’re trying to satisfy a sweet tooth without eating something you know isn’t good for you.

And it’s almost as easy as ripping open a package of chips or pulling the lid off a carton of ice cream.