Kids Milk Recipe

Warm or chill

Decide whether the child prefers warm or cold milk. For warm milk: pour 2 cups whole milk into a small saucepan and heat over low to medium-low heat until just steaming (do not boil), about 3–4 minutes, stirring once or twice. For cold milk: pour 2 cups whole milk into a measuring cup or pitcher and keep chilled.

If using honey and vanilla: add 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp vanilla extract to the warm milk and whisk until fully dissolved. For cold milk, whisk or stir vigorously so the honey dissolves; if needed, briefly warm 1–2 tablespoons of milk to dissolve the honey, then mix back in.

For chocolate milk: whisk 1 tsp cocoa powder with 1–2 tsp warm milk to make a smooth paste, then stir into the rest of the milk until uniform. For strawberry milk: stir 1 tbsp strawberry syrup into the milk until blended. For banana milk: mash 1/4 cup ripe banana until very smooth and blend into warm or cold milk using an immersion blender or regular blender until smooth. For cinnamon: whisk a dash of ground cinnamon into the milk.

If serving cold: fill a glass with 4 ice cubes, pour flavored milk over the ice, and top with mini marshmallows if desired. If serving warm: pour into a child-safe cup and sprinkle mini marshmallows or a light dusting of cinnamon on top if desired. Let warm milk cool slightly so it is not too hot for the child (test before serving).

Stir gently to combine any separated ingredients before giving to the child. Store any leftover milk in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours; shake or stir before serving.