Lavender Moon Milk Popsicles

Lavender Moon Milk Popsicles are a relaxing bedtime ritual reinvented for the summer months…these vegan coconut milk popsicles are lightly sweetened with honey and speckled with vanilla bean.  Sweet dreams!

What is moon milk?

I don’t blame you for asking, I didn’t know myself until recently.

• Moon milk is trendy and ancient at the same time.  It’s a milk based drink that is taken at bedtime to soothe and send one off to sleep.  The concept of blending warm milk with herbs and spices has origins in Indian Ayurvedic traditions, which is an ancient form of medicine still practiced today.
• Traditionally it’s made with dairy milk, but you can use any type of non dairy milk.
• Moon milk traditionally blends cardamom, cinnamon (and sometimes other spices) along with the Ayurvedic anti-anxiety herb ashwagandha. 
• Ashwagandha root is a medicinal herb classified as an “adaptogen,” meaning that it can help your body manage stress.  Although this root has been used for centuries in India, and is a household remedy in that country to this day, Western medicine is just beginning to study it.  Research suggests ashwagandha may help reduce anxiety, stress, and fatigue, and may even be incredibly useful in fighting cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, arthritis, and other diseases, but further studies are needed.  If you’re interested you can read more here.

• Ashwagandha is a supplement, and supplements aren’t subject to the same regulation that drugs are in the US.  Be sure you buy it from a reputable source, or speak to your pharmacist. Like all supplements, ashwagandha may interfere or interact with some drugs and other herbs and supplements. It’s not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding and hasn’t been tested in children.
• If you’re interested in using it regularly, USA News and World Report recommends “talking to a qualified health professional before starting it and doing your research before choosing a brand. Look for brands that are independently tested for safety and potency, and ones that are transparent about how and where the ashwagandha is sourced.”  

Moon Milk is usually enjoyed warm, just before bed.

But with the summer temps upon us I couldn’t help but try it out in popsicle form.  I used coconut milk and calming lavender in my moon milk pops, and they make the perfect ending to a sweltering day.

Ingredients for moon milk popsicles ~

• Traditionally moon milk is made with dairy milk, but I used coconut cream (you can use coconut milk as well.) I prefer coconut cream because it freezes up with the silkiest texture for popsicles.  The difference between coconut milk and coconut cream is simply the amount of shredded coconut used to make them.
• Culinary grade lavender which is known for its anti-anxiety, sedative, and sleep-inducing properties.  Culinary grade just means lavender that was grown specifically for food use, so no pesticides, etc. 
• Ashwaganda powder
• Honey for sweetening
• Vanilla bean for flavor

I heat the coconut milk and let the culinary grade lavender buds steep to infuse their flavor into the milk.  I add some vanilla bean and honey to sweeten the mixture, blend in some Ashwagandha, and then chill before I fill my popsicle molds.

Other ingredients for moon milk popsicles ~

You can blend many other ingredients into your coconut milk for popsicles or warm moon milk.  Many of these ingredients will add healthy benefits as well as a gorgeous colors to your pops. 

• spices like cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, saffron, or turmeric
• maple syrup
• berry powder such as goji berry, wild blueberry, açai, or raspberry.
• matcha tea powder
• rose powder
• beet powder
• spirulina
• butterfly pea flower powder

That little black dusting at the top of my popsicles is where the vanilla beans settled, so if that bothers you maybe vanilla extract would be a better choice.