Golden turmeric milk with no added sugar: a warm, spiced drink ready in 5 minutes.
Turmeric turns the drink a deep yellow, ginger adds a gentle kick, and cinnamon softens the finish. This golden milk is a warm, plant-based drink infused with spices, with no added sugar. It takes 5 minutes to make with 250 ml of plant-based milk. This recipe joins my collection of keto drinks.
What is golden milk?
Golden milk takes its name from the bright color turmeric gives the drink. It is a warm drink made with a plant-based milk, flavored with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and a touch of star anise. You may get a little foam depending on the appliance and milk used, but its character comes mainly from the spice blend.
A little sediment at the bottom is normal, especially with ground spices; stir before drinking to redistribute the turmeric and cinnamon. It is an aromatic drink for breakfast or a break, with around 353 kcal per serving.
The origins of this version
What sets this version apart is the choice of coconut or oat milk as a base, and the addition of star anise, which brings an almost fresh anise note to the finish. Like many modern recipes, it prioritizes speed and a pleasant texture. Ground spices work well in a milk frother with a hot setting, while freshly grated turmeric and ginger are better suited to a brief infusion in a saucepan.
The main ingredients
The recipe calls for 250 ml of coconut milk, whose carbohydrate content depends on the product. It adds body, creaminess and a sense of sweetness without added sugar, but coconut milk for cooking is not the same as a diluted coconut drink, so read the label carefully. Oat milk is the other option, with a more pronounced grain flavor and generally more carbohydrates, even without added sugar, making it better suited to a moderate-carbohydrate diet.
Turmeric provides the color and character; use 1 to 2 ml of ground turmeric or a piece of fresh turmeric. The powder disperses easily, while fresh turmeric is brighter and very aromatic. It stains fingers and fabrics, so wipe up splashes quickly. Ginger lifts the deep notes of turmeric: it is easy to mix in when ground, but more fibrous and needs straining when freshly grated.
Cinnamon adds a mellow, woody note and a lingering finish without sugar. A pinch of black pepper brings everything to life with a little tingle. Half a star anise pod adds its anise aroma when briefly steeped, then strained out, in the saucepan version.
Technique and serving tips
Gentle heat is enough; a rolling boil is unnecessary and can alter the aromas, especially during a short infusion. Adapt the method to the form of the spices: ground spices go into a milk frother on a hot setting, up to a maximum of 250 ml, while grated rhizomes and the half star anise pod go into a small saucepan. Keep hard whole spices, such as star anise, out of the frother mechanism, and bear in mind that appliances that only whisk do not heat.
Serve immediately in a cup or heatproof glass. To store, cool quickly, refrigerate in a clean, sealed container, then stir before reheating gently without prolonged boiling, as the spices settle at the bottom and coconut-based milks can separate when cold. The carbohydrate content depends mainly on the milk base: check the carbohydrate line on the label, not just the sugars line, and do not subtract fiber a second time.
For another drink in the same family, discover my ube latte.
For everyday keto cooking, here are all my low-carb recipes.
Golden milk
Ingredients
- 250 ml of coconut milk low in carbs, or oat milk, moderate in carbs
- 1 to 2 ml ground turmeric or a piece of fresh turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger or a piece of fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch black pepper
- 0.5 star anise
Instructions
Milk frother and dried spices
- Put the milk in the frother. Use the “hot” and “250 ml” settings.250 ml of coconut milk
- Add the ground spices.1 to 2 ml ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pour the milk into the glass.
Small saucepan and fresh spices
- Pour the milk into the small saucepan and heat.
- Grate the turmeric and ginger and add them. Add the pepper, star anise and cinnamon as well, and let steep briefly.pinch black pepper, 0.5 star anise
- Pour the milk through a small strainer into the glass.
