How to Make Golden Milk: A Pan-Side Guide

For this golden milk method, start with the oil and spices, add the milk beverage, then finish with a covered steep away from the heat.

This guide follows Whole Foods Market's Golden Milk recipe, with a short setup checklist. PUKO has not kitchen-tested it; the licensed stock photos illustrate the drink, ingredients and cookware rather than this particular batch.

Cover: golden turmeric latte by Anna Tukhfatullina / Pexels. Its decorative spices are not an exact ingredient checklist for the recipe below.

Set up before turning on the stove

Keep a small saucepan, its lid, a whisk, measuring spoons, a measuring cup and two mugs within reach. Set the lid beside the pan rather than searching for it halfway through. Measure the spices into one small bowl; leave the milk beverage in the measuring cup. This separates the two additions visually, so you do not have to remember a list of fractions while watching the pan.

Check the carton, then gather the ingredients

The source specifies unsweetened plain almond milk or coconut milk beverage, not an interchangeable amount of concentrated canned coconut milk. Honey means this version is not vegan.

If you have a food allergy, read the entire ingredient list, not only a front-of-pack claim or a “Contains” statement. Almonds are a tree-nut allergen. The FDA's label-reading guidance explains why a missing “Contains” statement does not remove the need to read all ingredients.

For two mugs, from the linked source recipe:

• Milk beverage: 2 cups.
• Coconut oil and honey: 1 tablespoon each.
• Ground turmeric: 1½ teaspoons.
• Ground cardamom and ground black pepper: ⅛ teaspoon each.
• Fine sea salt: a pinch.
• Optional: a large pinch of ground cinnamon, cloves, ginger or nutmeg.

Three operations, with a visible stopping point

1. Start the mixture. Stir the oil, honey, spices and salt together in the pan. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the oil melts.
2. Add the beverage. Whisk it in. Stir occasionally; stop heating at bubbles around the pan's edge, about 2–3 minutes in the source method.
3. Steep off heat. Remove the pan from the heat, cover for 5 minutes, then divide between the mugs.

A useful note for your next batch

Write down the beverage and optional spice you used. Change one choice at a time on your next batch, so your note can distinguish a different carton from a different spice. Keep the original recipe open for its additional variation: its storage instruction concerns a spice mixture, not the finished drink.

Still choosing a drink base? See our guide to caffeine-free fall drink bases.

Editorial guide by Iris for PUKO. Method and quantities: Whole Foods Market. Food-allergen label guidance: FDA. Stock photography is used under the Pexels License.