This is an easy, naturally sweet milk that’s warm, cozy, and the perfect healthy alternative to hot chocolate or a milkshake! Dates are packed with natural sugars and fiber, which adds the perfect touch to milk and warm spices. It’s a traditional Indian drink that’s nutritious, filling, and great for fasting.

Here’s how to make date milk at home!

What are Dates?

Dates are a small, round fruit from the palm fruit family that has a sweet, caramel-like flavor. They’re often coined “nature’s candy” because they have around 15 grams of sugar per date, and one of the sweetest fruits in the world! But besides high sugar, dates are also packed with potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.

Normally, people eat dried dates, which are sticky, chewy, and soft. Fresh dates are plump and have a crunch, similar to a prune or plum. While Medjool dates are the most common, there are dozens of varieties ranging in color, sweetness, size, and flavor.

What is Date Milk?

Date milk, or khajoor dudh, is a traditional Indian and Middle Eastern milk made by combining dried dates, milk, and sometimes a variety of spices, most commonly ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. It’s almost like chai, but without the tea or extra water. It’s mostly served during winter as a warming drink.

While popular in India, it’s also consumed in the Middle East, as Medjool dates originate from there. It’s popular for consuming during Ramadan, either at iftar to break the fast or at suhoor to maintain energy throughout the day.

The base is simply dates and milk, but you can add nuts, fruits, and spices to make it more flavorful!

What Does Date Milk Taste Like?

It tastes like a sweet, slightly caramel milk, which can also be spiced or fruity, depending on whether you add other ingredients. It’s super smooth and creamy, and it’s the perfect sweetened milk that’s cozy and nourishing.

I love drinking it on its own, plain, without any spices or nuts, and it makes the perfect base for matcha or coffee lattes. But I enjoy it spiced during cold weather—just fits the vibes!

Benefits of Date Milk

As mentioned, dates are superfoods packed with potassium, calcium, nutrients, and antioxidants. This study showed that consuming dates reduces cholesterol levels. Although dates are high in sugar, they have a lower glycemic index than other fruits like bananas or apples. So, they’re a great fruit for those monitoring sugar levels. Plus, the high sugar levels make them great energy-dense foods.

If you pair that with milk, which is known for being great for bone density and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, you have a superfood drink! It’s great for sustaining energy throughout the day or as a calming nightcap near bedtime.

Date Milk Recipe: Ingredients

• Medjool Dates — I like Medjool dates the best because they’re the sweetest, but you can use any sweet, dried date you’d like. Deglet Noor or Ajwa dates are great substitutes because they’re also super sweet.
• Milk — I like using 2% or whole milk for date milk for the most creaminess and flavor. But you can also use your favorite non-dairy milk, like oat or soy milk.
• Cardamom (Optional) — Cardamom is probably the most popular spice inclusion for this milk. It’s super fragrant, citrusy, and floral, perfect for pairing with dates.
• Cinnamon (Optional) — I like using whole cinnamon sticks instead of ground cinnamon, but the latter works in a pinch.
• Ginger (Optional) — Fresh ginger root is ideal. It’s spicier, fresher, and has more of a kick than ground ginger.
• Pistachios or Almonds (Optional) — Nuts are commonly added on top as garnish and for extra nutty flavor, but feel free to add them to the base if you want to infuse it.

How to Make Date Milk

1. Soak Dates in Hot Water. Boil water in a kettle. Add dates and hot water to a bowl and soak for 5 minutes or until soft. You should be able to squish the date easily with your fingers. Once soft, drain the water.
2. Crush Spices. (Optional) In a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, add cardamom pods and the cinnamon stick and grind into small pieces. Once the cardamom pods open, remove the skins and shake out the cardamom seeds. Keep grinding until aromatic.
3. Blend Dates in Milk. Add the soft dates and milk to a small blender, then blend until smooth. There might be small pieces of dates, which is okay, but try to get it as blended as possible.
4. Simmer Mixture. Add the blended date milk and spices to a small pot, then simmer on low-medium heat for 5 minutes or until the spices infuse into the milk. Taste around the 4-minute mark to gauge whether you want to keep simmering.
5. Strain. Let the mixture cool slightly, then pour through a sieve to strain out the solids. If you don’t add spices, you can skip this step if you like some texture.
6. Serve and Enjoy! Ladle or pour the milk into a mug and garnish with a dash of ground cinnamon or nuts.
7. Iced Version. For iced date milk, let the milk cool completely before serving over ice.
8. Matcha Latte Version. Sift 1 1/4 tsp of matcha powder into a matcha bowl and add 1/4 cup of hot water. Vigorously whisk the matcha using a bamboo whisk in a zigzag motion for 20 – 30 seconds until foamy. Pour into warm date milk or onto iced date milk for a spiced date matcha latte!

Tips for the Best Date Milk

• Go Easy on Spices: The first time I made this, I used way too much cardamom, and my date milk had a very cardamom-forward flavor. It was still good, but I wish I used less so it would be more balanced. I would start light, then add more spices at the end after you taste it.
• Use Finely Ground Spices: To save time and effort, you can use ground spices instead. You can add it to the already-made date milk, so you don’t need to wait for it to infuse. Although the flavor might be duller than fresh spices, I would add more than you think.

FAQ’s

Can you add dates to milk?

Yes! It’s actually one of the best natural sweeteners for drinks, especially milk. Together, they’re a nourishing combination that’s perfect for when you want something delicious and energy-providing. Pair it with a protein-heavy breakfast for a well-rounded start to your day.

Is date milk good for you?

Date milk is super good for you! There are lots of nutrients, antioxidants, and beneficial health effects that date milk provides for you. It’s high in potassium, fiber, healthy sugars, calcium, and more.

Other Cozy Recipes to Try

This cozy date milk is one of my favorites to make and is literally so easy. After you make this, here are some other cozy recipes to try next:

• Chai Hot Chocolate
• Iced Vanilla Maple Latte
• Chinese Jujube Tea
• Beetroot Latte
• Strawberry Fields Smoothie