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I first enjoyed a mug of moon milk at a cafe in Los Angeles. Then I decided to make it myself. Now it’s my favorite way to wind down in the evening. I track my nights with my Oura ring, and my sleep score hit 92 after I started making this.
So here’s the recipe for a tangy, creamy, blush-pink mug with Lion’s Mane powder and raw honey. Best of all, it comes together in one small saucepan in about 10 minutes. The trick is simple: add the cherry juice last, off the heat.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love It
- Silky, not grainy. Gentle heat and adding the juice last keep the cashew milk smooth.
- Ready in about 10 minutes. One small saucepan makes one big mug, so cleanup stays easy.
- Tangy and creamy. Tart cherry juice brings the bright flavor and blush-pink color, while cashew milk keeps every sip rich.
- Dairy-free and easy to adjust. Use Lion’s Mane, swap in ashwagandha, or skip the powder. Maple syrup makes it vegan.
Pink Moon Milk Ingredients
Here’s what each key ingredient brings to the mug.
- Cashew milk: Creamy and mildly nutty, it gives the drink its silky body. Homemade stays smoothest, so I use my guide on how to make cashew milk. Store-bought brands often add ingredients that separate when heated with the juice.
- Tart cherry juice: Tangy and bright, it adds the pink color. Look for 100% juice with no added sugar or blends.
- Lion's Mane powder: Earthy and slightly bitter, it blends well into warm drinks. Follow the serving size on your brand’s label.
- Raw honey: Its floral, caramel-like sweetness rounds out the tart juice. Choose raw, unfiltered honey if you can.
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How to Make Pink Moon Milk
- Warm the milk. Heat the cashew milk in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring now and then. Stop when it steams, before it simmers.
- Warm the juice. Next, warm the tart cherry juice in a mug until it feels warm, not hot. That way the finished drink stays hot.
- Add the juice last. Take the saucepan off the heat. Then whisk in the warm juice a splash at a time.
- Whisk in the extras. Stir in the Lion’s Mane powder and raw honey until smooth.
- Froth and serve. Whisk hard, use a frother, or blend until light. Pour into a large heat-safe mug and add a few rose petals.
Substitutions and Variations
- Milk: Use any unsweetened dairy-free milk, and keep the same gentle heat. My guide to non-dairy milk alternatives has more ideas.
- Dairy milk: If dairy milk works for you, use it the same way. Add the juice last.
- Lion’s Mane: Swap in 1 teaspoon of ashwagandha powder, or skip the powder entirely.
- Honey: Try maple syrup for a vegan mug. My list of natural sweeteners has other options.
- No added sugar: Skip the honey and use unsweetened milk with 100% tart cherry juice.
- Rose petals: Sprinkle on dried culinary rose petals for a light floral aroma. Choose food-grade petals.
Storage and Make-Ahead
- Best fresh: Pink moon milk tastes best right after you froth it.
- Make-ahead: Measure the milk and juice into separate jars and keep them chilled. Then heat and whisk when you’re ready.
- Leftovers: Chill extras in a sealed jar. Reheat gently over low heat and whisk well before drinking.
More Evening Drinks
When you want another warm cup for the end of the day, try these next.
- Simple Golden Milk Latte: a creamy, turmeric-spiced latte for slow evenings.
- Lavender Sleep Tea: a floral herbal tea for the end of the day.
- Warm Almond Milk: this is the bedtime drink I enjoy when cleansing.
Cherry Moon Milk
Jen HansardIngredients
- ½ cup cashew milk
- ½ cup tart cherry juice
- 2 teaspoon Lion's Mane powder
- 1 tablespoon raw honey raw
- dried culinary rose petals optional
- dried culinary lavender buds optional
Instructions
- Heat the cashew milk in a small pan over medium heat until very hot. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cherry juice, Lion’s Mane powder and honey. For a frothy drink, whisk vigorously, use a frother or blend in a blender.
- Pour into heat-safe mugs, garnish with rose petals and lavender buds, if using, and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Milk Swaps: Homemade cashew milk works best. Store-bought may separate or curdle when heated with the cherry juice, though it’s still fine to drink, and any dairy-free milk can stand in.
- Ingredient Swaps: Lion’s Mane amounts vary by brand, so follow the serving size on your package. You can also use 1 teaspoon ashwagandha powder instead.
- Vegan Swap: Use maple syrup in place of the honey to make it vegan.
- Garnish Tip: Use only rose petals and lavender labeled culinary or food grade.
Nutrition
Common Questions
Pink moon milk is a warm, dairy-free drink made with cashew milk, tart cherry juice and honey. The cherry juice adds a tangy flavor and a blush-pink color. I also whisk in Lion’s Mane powder.
Tart cherry juice is acidic, and acid can make hot cashew milk separate. Warm the milk gently, take it off the heat, then whisk in the juice slowly. That way the drink stays smooth.
Yes, but homemade stays smoother. Store-bought brands add ingredients that can separate when heated with cherry juice. If yours does, it is still fine to drink.
Yes. Swap in 1 teaspoon of ashwagandha powder, or skip the powder for a simple cherry and honey version. Either way, use the same gentle method.
Yes, if dairy milk works for you. Use the same gentle heat and add the juice last. Unsweetened versions keep the sweetness in your control.
Moon milk is a name for warm, lightly sweet milk drinks served in the evening. Many people trace the idea to Ayurvedic traditions.
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Any replacement od the cherry?
Hi Georgia! There’s not a really great replacement for the tart cherry juice due to it’s ability to help increase melatonin. Yet, you may give grape juice or pineapple juice a try!
Hi! Would reishi powder work instead of lion’s mane? I have some to use up.
Hey Julie, although they have different health properties both can do wonderful things and would make a great substitute!
Can you substitute moringa for the lion’s mane?
Hi Susan,
Moringa has a lot of health benefits, but there are mixed reviews on what time of day is the best time to consume it. It doesn’t contain caffeine, but it is touted for improving energy. Our Pink Moon Milk recipe is intended as a night cap of sorts, but you can of course make it anytime! So, I would go for it. Maybe just note if moringa seems to energize you, before including in your tea close to bed time.
Moringa is energizing , I would not take it after noon.
Ashwagandha powder.
Lion’s mane
Montmorency tart cherry juice
I’m not familiar with ashwaganda or lions mane. I did find a ashwaganda tea-would that work?
I found tart cherry juice but not montmorency -would that work?
Just from briefly reading reviews on Amazon some say that Ashwagandha has a bad taste. Is the Lions mane a milder taste?
This sounds delicious! Would you recommend oat milk instead of cashew to not have clumps when it heats up?
Hi Erin, great question! Homemade cashew milk (or any homemade plant milk) will react the best when heating. It won’t give you that clumpy consistency that you may get when using store-bought plant-milk. The curdling is due to the extra ingredients added to the store brands. However, store-bought brands will work, too! If you use cashew milk and it starts to get clumpy in your Pink Moon Milk, it’s still safe to drink. Try to make sure the milk doesn’t heat too quickly or to too high of a temperature.
You can use oat milk, if it’s preferred, however the same curdling possibilities and suggestions I made for the cashew milk would apply.
Homemade is the best option. Warmed milk, not boiling. Safe to drink either way. 🙂
Hope this helps.