The best golden milk latte?! Okay, kidding – kind of. I told myself I would never call one of my recipes “the best”. I mean come on, can it really be the best? There are 100s and 1000s of recipes out there, but I am in love with this turmeric golden milk latte so much.
It’s rich and creamy, not too sweet, has protein in it, and even has a little spice to it! But, this turmeric latte is not for the faint of heart – it packs a punch and is full of flavor. While I love the boldness of it, you can adjust it according to your taste and preferences.
Plus, it’s loaded with a bunch of health benefits thanks to turmeric, collagen, and ginger. Make it on a chilly day or enjoy it before bed to help you wind down.
Why we love this turmeric golden milk latte
- ready in 5 minutes
- rich and creamy thanks to the addition of a date and cashew butter
- not loaded with sugar – we are using one date to add the perfect amount of sweetness!
- macro-balanced – it has a good ratio of protein, carbs, and fat to keep this beverage blood sugar friendly and avoids those spikes and crashes.
What is golden milk?
Golden milk, also known as turmeric milk, originated from India and has been consumed for thousands of years. It is dairy or non-dairy milk blended or whisked with turmeric (to give it that golden color) along with other spices and add-ins for flavor and taste. You can either heat the milk while you are making it (my favorite way) or keep it chilled.
Popular additions to golden milk are ginger, cinnamon, some kind of sweetener (maple syrup or honey), coconut oil, and pepper. What you add to it is up to you and your personal preference.
Turmeric benefits
If you haven’t gotten on the turmeric train yet, now is the time! You might be familiar with turmeric if you like Indian cuisine as it’s an important part of curry. The benefits are amazing.
The yellow pigment that gives turmeric its beautiful color is curcumin and is responsible for a lot of its medicinal benefits as well. One of the main benefits is its amazing anti-inflammatory properties. It has an anti-tumor effect, is an antioxidant, is antibacterial, and is one of the highest sources of beta-carotene.
It can be helpful for people with arthritis, joint pain, Alzheimer’s disease, or dealing with depression. You can even mix ground turmeric with water to form a paste and apply it to irritated skin.
It’s important to note to use black pepper and some fat when cooking with turmeric – it helps with the absorption and boosts the bioavailability in the body!
What makes this the best turmeric latte
So what makes this the best turmeric latte? The different factors in this recipe from others are collagen, cashew butter, and cayenne.
The collagen adds a protein boost and gives the latte a great foam top when blended. Cashew butter makes it rich and super creamy, while also adding some healthy fats to help absorb the turmeric. And the cayenne gives it a little kick and balances out the sweetness.
The addition of collagen and cashew butter makes this latte a little more filling by adding protein and some fat, along with other health benefits.
It comes out so smooth and creamy, with a little froth on top. It is a little sweet from the date and a little spicy from the cayenne and ginger. This turmeric latte just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside and is the perfect way to start your day or end the day before bed.
Golden milk ingredients
- milk – your favorite kind will work!
- fresh turmeric
- fresh ginger
- medjool date – for some natural sweetness
- cashew butter – for some creaminess
- cinnamon
- collagen peptides – optional, but increase the protein. Use plain or vanilla flavored.
- cayenne pepper – optional, but adds a nice little kick to it
- black pepper – is needed to help with the absorption of turmeric
- salt – to help bring out the flavors
How to make golden milk
- Add almond milk, ginger, turmeric, and the date in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine and let it come to a boil, about 5 minutes.
- Blend. Add mixture to a Vitamix or high-powered blender, along with collagen, cashew butter, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, and salt, and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Enjoy! Pour into your favorite mug, sprinkle with a little more cinnamon, and enjoy!
Substitutions and additions
As I mentioned before, this golden milk turmeric latte recipe can be easily customizable to your liking. Here are a few suggestions:
- milk – you can use dairy or dairy-free milk (almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, oat milk…).
- fresh turmeric and ginger – while I love using fresh, you can use ground turmeric and ground ginger. I would suggest 1/2 teaspoon depending on your taste preference. If using dried, you can just add it to the blender with the collagen as it won’t need to be heated up with the milk and the date.
- date – you could also use honey or maple syrup. I would suggest starting with 1/2 tablespoon and going up from there depending on how sweet you like it. If using maple syrup or honey, you can just add it to the blender as it won’t need to be heated. Leave out the sweetener to make this latte Whole30.
- cashew butter – any neutral nut or seed butter would work. Tahini or coconut butter would be a good option, but I would not suggest peanut butter.
- collagen – plain or vanilla collagen will work. Feel free to leave it out to make this recipe vegan.
- cayenne – I love a good kick of spiciness and feel like it takes this recipe to the next level, but if you don’t like spice, leave it out.
Here are some additions:
- vanilla extract – add 1/2-1 teaspoon.
- spices – try a dash of cardamom or nutmeg if you like.
More healthy drink recipes
- collagen hot chocolate
- coffee protein smoothie
- tropical green protein smoothie
- iced matcha latte
- orange creamsicle smoothie
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Golden Milk Latte
equipment
ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 Medjool date (15 grams)
- 1/2 inch fresh turmeric
- 1/2 inch fresh ginger
- 1 scoop collagen (10 grams – optional)
- 1/2 tablespoon cashew butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of cayenne pepper (optional – leave out if you don't like spice)
- pinch of black pepper
- pinch of salt (optional)
instructions
- Add almond milk, ginger, turmeric, and the date in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine and let it come to a boil, about 5 minutes.
- Blend. Add mixture to a Vitamix or high-powered blender, along with collagen, cashew butter, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, and salt, and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Enjoy! Pour into your favorite mug, top with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and enjoy!
Lynn says
Where did you get the cup in the picture of the finished product? I just love it!
Kelly says
Hey Lynn! Thanks so much – it was a few years ago, but I believe world market.
Dan says
Looks tasty and healthy
Kelly says
It definitely hits the spot and makes you feel so good!
Gen says
This was quite possibly the worst tasting turmeric recipie I’ve ever made. I was so looking forward to it…followed it to a T except I added 1/8 tsp of cayenne since 1/4 tsp seemed excessive. I’m willing to take responsibility for the final outcome as the ingredients I used may have been inappropriate. So for those of you who want to try, and love this… don’t use Mountain Rose spices as they are just too strong; cinnamon, cayenne. Also, don’t use Himalayan pink salt. Even a pinch was too much. I may try to tweak this toward a more tasty outcome.
Kelly says
Hi Gen. I am so sorry to hear that. I actually made this again today and really enjoyed it, but I like things strong and spicy (lots of ginger and cayenne). Feel free to adjust according to your taste as my goal is the recipes to be a guideline if something doesn’t suit you tastes. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Bob says
Am I missing something? There is no actual recipe. You laid out the steps on how to make it but no amounts? I’m sure that matters ?
Denise says
It says to go here right under the last picture to get the full recipe
Makes sure you head on over to Pure Taste Recipes to snag the recipe!
Kelly says
Thank ya Denise!
Kelly says
Hi Bob! The recipe is linked above and is featured on the Pure Taste blog – here is the link if you missed it – http://www.puretasterecipes.com/recipe/turmeric-latte/