Hot Milk with Honey and Cinnamon

To make hot milk with honey, gently heat the milk with a cinnamon stick, without letting it boil, then leave it to infuse for a few minutes before stirring in the honey, off the heat. Added to milk that is hot but not scalding, the honey keeps its aromas. Allow 15 minutes for two large mugs of this comforting drink.

Method

1. Add cinnamon to the milk Pour the milk into a small saucepan and add the cinnamon stick, broken in two to release its fragrance more fully.
2. Gently heat the milk Heat over a low to medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the milk steams and small bubbles form around the edge. Do not let it boil: it could boil over and form a thick skin.
3. Leave to infuse Take the pan off the heat, cover and leave the cinnamon to infuse for 5 minutes.
4. Remove the cinnamon Remove the cinnamon stick. The milk should be very hot but no longer simmering: this is the right moment to add the honey.
5. Sweeten with honey Add the honey and stir with the wooden spoon until it has completely dissolved. Start with one teaspoon per mug, taste, then adjust to your liking.
6. Pour and serve Pour into the mugs, dust with a pinch of cinnamon if you like and serve straight away.

Which honey should you choose?

Chestnut honey, powerful and slightly woody, stands up to the cinnamon and gives hot milk almost spicy notes. For a milder, more floral mug, choose lavender honey harvested in Provence. Forest honey, made from the honeydew of oaks and pines, brings a malty note reminiscent of caramel. A crystallised honey dissolves easily in hot milk: there is no need to melt it first.

Tips and variations

• Plant-based version: almond, oat or rice drinks work very well. Heat them gently, as some plant-based drinks split or catch on a high heat.
• Vanilla version: replace the cinnamon with half a vanilla pod, split and scraped, infused in the same way.
• Spiced version: add a star anise, two crushed cardamom pods, a thin slice of fresh ginger or a pinch of grated nutmeg to the cinnamon.
• For a frothy texture, whisk the milk for a few seconds with a whisk or milk frother just before serving.
• For another hot drink, try our lemon, ginger and honey infusion.

Storage

Hot milk with honey is best drunk as soon as it is made. If there is any left, let it cool, keep it in the fridge in a closed bottle and drink it within 24 hours, reheating it gently without boiling. Honey itself keeps for a very long time in its closed jar, at room temperature, as our article does honey go off explains.

Frequently asked questions

When should you add honey to hot milk?

Off the heat, once the milk is no longer simmering. In a liquid that is very hot but not boiling, honey dissolves easily and keeps its aromas, which strong heat tends to dull.

Does hot milk with honey help you sleep?

It is a drink traditionally associated with bedtime, enjoyed for its comforting, ritual quality. It is no substitute for medical advice: if you have persistent sleep problems, talk to your doctor.

Can you give hot milk with honey to a child?

Yes, from one year old, using less honey and serving the milk lukewarm. Honey must never be given to a child under one year old, because of the risk of infant botulism. Our guide which honey to choose for children details the precautions.

Can you make hot milk with honey using plant-based milk?

Yes. Almond, oat or rice drinks lend themselves well to the recipe. Heat them over a low heat, without boiling, and add the honey off the heat, just as with cow’s milk.