A sleepy hot cocoa that quiets the racing mind. L-theanine, GABA, magnesium glycinate and tart cherry in real cacao. No synthetic melatonin.
Try it tonight · from $59.95The coffee-shop pumpkin spice latte comes with a shot of espresso, which is great at 8am and a problem at 8pm. This version keeps everything people love about it, the pumpkin, the cinnamon, the froth, and swaps the espresso for a scoop of KillSwitch.
It takes three minutes, it tastes like October, and it's built for the last part of your evening, not the first part of your morning.
Ingredients
- 1 scoop KillSwitch
- 8 oz warm milk (any kind)
- 2 tbsp pumpkin purée
- ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ½ tsp vanilla
- Frothed milk and a pinch of cinnamon, to top
How to make it
- Warm the milk until steaming and whisk in the pumpkin purée until smooth.
- Stir in KillSwitch, the pumpkin pie spice and the vanilla.
- Top with frothed milk and a pinch of cinnamon.
- Sip it slowly, 30 to 60 minutes before bed.
Why it helps you switch off
KillSwitch is a sleepy hot cocoa made with real cacao, and every recipe on the Journal uses one scoop per serving. L-theanine, the calming amino acid from green tea, quiets mental noise without sedating you. GABA helps you relax and lowers the bedtime buzz. Magnesium glycinate relaxes the nervous system and muscles. Tart cherry supports your body's own melatonin, with no synthetic melatonin and no morning fog.
Worried about chocolate before bed? Real cacao contains only trace amounts of caffeine, and its main compound, theobromine, is calming rather than stimulating.
Make it a ritual
The recipe matters less than the habit. Make it at about the same time each evening, 30 to 60 minutes before bed, then lights down and screens away. Your body learns the cue, and the cup becomes the signal that the day is over.
New to KillSwitch? Get KillSwitch here. Try it for 90 nights, and if it's not working for you, get your money back.
Questions people ask
Can I make it dairy-free?
Yes. Oat milk froths best, and almond or coconut milk work too. Pick an unsweetened one if you want to keep the sugar down.
Is pumpkin purée the same as pumpkin pie filling?
No. Use plain pumpkin purée. Pie filling already has sugar and spices in it, which will make the latte too sweet.
Can I make it iced?
You can. Dissolve KillSwitch and the pumpkin in 2 oz of warm milk first, then add cold milk and ice.
More bedtime recipes: see them all.
