If you’re a coffee lover, you know that the right creamer can make all the difference in your morning cup of joe. This simple homemade coffee creamer recipe is a delicious creamer that’s made with real ingredients. Its an easy homemade coffee creamer to make and it’s easy on your wallet.
This is the best homemade coffee creamer we have tasted so far. We love sweet creamer in our coffee and this one hits all the right flavor notes. Another definite bonus to this recipe. It is made with just five simple ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen.
This coffee creamer is sweet, creamy, and infused with a touch of vanilla. Plus, it can be easily customized to your taste preferences. Although we love this creamer and would not change a thing; we offer some ideas on how you can tweak this creamer to suit yourself. It’s simple to create your own signature homemade coffee creamer. Why settle for a store-bought creamer when you can make your own at home?
What can I use as a Substitute for Coffee Creamer?
If you’re looking for a quick substitute for coffee creamer, you don’t have to make a complete coffee creamer recipe. Here are some common substitutes for coffee creamer:
- Milk: If you have milk on hand, you can use it as a substitute for creamer. While it may not be as rich and creamy as creamer, milk can still add a pleasant flavor and texture to your coffee.
- Half-and-half: Half-and-half is a mixture of equal parts whole milk and heavy cream, and can be used as a substitute for creamer to add richness and creaminess to your coffee.
- Coconut milk or almond milk: If you prefer a non-dairy option, coconut milk or almond milk can be a great substitute for creamer. These plant-based milks are often creamier than other non-dairy milks and can add a unique flavor to your coffee.
- Soy milk: Soy milk is another popular non-dairy substitute for creamer. It has a mild flavor and a creamy texture that can enhance the taste of your coffee.
- Whipped cream: If you want to add a decadent touch of rich sweetness and creaminess to your coffee, you can also use whipped cream as a substitute for creamer.
- Sweetened Condensed milk: This is a very thick sweet form of milk that some people enjoy stirring into coffee. It is quite sweet so be careful to start with only a small amount.
These choices will offer you the creamier, milkier coffee you may want. But we can do better than this. Without much trouble you can take your creamy coffee add ins to the next level.
Is it Cheaper to Make Your Own Coffee Creamer?
Making your own coffee creamer recipe is often cheaper than buying pre-made creamers from the store, but not always. Commercial creamers are made at scale and most often use cheap ingredients. However, The ingredients used in homemade creamer can be less expensive, per serving, than those found in store-bought versions.
You can control which ingredients you use, use what you have on hand, and adjust your creamer to fit your budget as well as your taste preference. so, Making your own coffee creamer can save you money and provide you with a delicious and customizable alternative to store-bought creamers.
Aside from price to our own pocket books, there are other benefits to making your own creamer which impact cost on a larger scale.
Making your Own Reduces Waste:
Making your own creamer helps reduce packaging waste and industrial waste associated with commercial creamers. Rather than throwing away packaging every time you purchase your creamer, use a glass jar or do a one time purchase of a creamer container that you can reuse over and over. Here is the Amazon Link to the cute container we used. We also have a label maker and used that to personalize it.
The production of commercial coffee creamers most often requires a significant amount of resources and can have negative environmental impacts. Packaging waste, Industrial footprints, extra energy use, water use and chemical additives produced and added into the creamers are all good reasons to look for other ways to enjoy your coffee.
Homemade coffee creamers typically use simpler and more natural ingredients so are more sustainable and eco-friendly.
The environmental impact of homemade creamers still depends on the origin and production methods of the ingredients used. But more than likely you are moving in the right direction when you get away from the industrial produced commercial brands.
What is the key ingredient in coffee creamer?
The key ingredient in most commercial coffee creamers is usually a base combination of water, sugar, and low grade vegetable oils. These ingredients are used to mimic the creamy and rich texture of traditional dairy cream, but with a longer shelf life than real or natural ingredients.
Other common ingredients found in commercial coffee creamers include thickeners, emulsifiers, and artificial flavors. Some commercial creamers also use corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, or hydrogenated oils. The specific ingredients used will vary depending on the brand and type of creamer.
When making homemade coffee creamer, the key ingredients will vary depending on the recipe. Homemade creamers often use heavy cream, milk, sweetened condensed milk, or half-and-half as a base. Vegan recipes could use coconut milk, coconut cream, soy or almond milk. Sweeteners can include sugar, stevia, agave syrup, honey, or maple syrup. along with flavorings such as vanilla extract.
Is it Healthier to Make Your Own Coffee Creamer?
Since Store-bought creamers are often full of preservatives and artificial ingredients. Making your own coffee creamer is healthier option compared to store-bought creamers if you take control of the ingredients.
You can avoid added sugars, preservatives, and artificial flavors when making homemade creamer. Instead, Choose natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, and choose high-quality ingredients like organic milk or cream. There are so many healthier ways to add a yummy rich creamer to your coffee.
There are many different types of chemical additives that are used in various commercial coffee creamers. Here are some of their potential health and environmental impacts:
- Artificial flavors: Many commercial creamers contain artificial flavors, which can be made from a variety of chemicals. Some of these chemicals, such as diacetyl, have been linked to lung disease in workers who were exposed to them at high levels. Additionally, the production and disposal of these chemicals can contribute to air and water pollution.
- Artificial sweeteners: Some commercial creamers use artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame or sucralose, as a low-calorie alternative to sugar. These sweeteners may have negative health effects, such as disrupting gut bacteria and potentially increasing the risk of certain diseases.
- Preservatives: Some commercial creamers contain preservatives, such as potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate, which can help extend their shelf life. However, these preservatives can also have negative health and environmental impacts. For example, sodium benzoate has been shown to react with vitamin C to form benzene, a carcinogenic compound.
- Emulsifiers and stabilizers: Many commercial creamers contain emulsifiers and stabilizers, such as carrageenan or sodium stearoyl lactylate, which help to prevent separation and improve the texture of the creamer. However, some studies have suggested that these additives may have negative health effects, such as promoting inflammation or disrupting beneficial gut bacteria.
How to Make Homemade Coffee Creamer:
There are SO many ways to make and enjoy your own signature coffee creamer blend. Different flavor add ins, and base ingredients all make a difference in your finished result. So be sure you like it.
Do we Have to Heat the Ingredients?
No you do not have to heat the ingredients but your personal recipe may be better off if you do. There are risks and benefits both ways.
You will see our printable recipe does NOT heat the ingredients. But you can heat them if you choose to. Our stir and whisk recipe is SO simple and produces great results with no need to heat the ingredients. Just make sure the sugar is completely dissolved before serving.
Some recipes, such as those using condensed milk, may require heating to properly dissolve and combine the ingredients. Other recipes, like ours that use only cream, milk, and flavorings, do not require heating if the ingredients can be effectively mixed together without heat.
If you prefer not to heat your coffee creamer ingredients for these recipes, you can experiment with alternative mixing methods, such as using a blender or shaking the ingredients vigorously in a sealed container, to ensure that the ingredients are fully combined. BE CAREFUL not to overmix heavy whipping cream recipes like ours or you may wind up with whipping cream. 🙂
Heating the ingredients does help the sugar to dissolve and fully incorporate with the other ingredients. This also helps to infuse the flavors of the additional ingredients or add ins like our chocolate or pumpkin puree creamers (recipes below), resulting in a richer and more complex taste.
Heating the creamer mixture to just below boiling can help to thicken and emulsify the creamer, creating a smoother and creamier texture.
Homemade Coffee Creamer Recipes:
A Healthier Coffee Creamer Recipe:
The key to a healthier coffee creamer is to use natural and high-quality ingredients, limit added sugars, and practice portion control. Making your own coffee creamer can be a healthier and more satisfying option than store-bought versions. you may need to play around a bit with various ingredients and flavorings to find your perfect creamer, but its worth it!
To make our printable recipe healthier, here are some possible substitutions:
- Use natural sweeteners: Instead of using brown sugar, you can use natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar.
- Use low-fat milk: To reduce the saturated fat content of the creamer, you can use low-fat or skim milk instead of whole milk. This will result in a less creamy texture but will be lower in calories and fat.
- Use non-dairy milk: If you prefer a non-dairy option, you can use almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk instead of dairy milk. These plant-based options are lower in saturated fat and can add a unique flavor to your creamer.
- Use coconut cream: Instead of heavy cream, you can use coconut cream, which is rich and creamy but lower in saturated fat. This option will also provide a subtle coconut flavor to your creamer.
Here is an example recipe of how you can make our coffee creamer healthier. This version of our creamer recipe is dairy-free and vegan. It’s lower in calories, fat, and sugar compared to many store-bought coffee creamers and our original recipe. It’s also a good source of healthy fats from the coconut cream and provides a subtle sweetness from the maple syrup.
It provides a rich and creamy texture and a subtle sweetness from the maple syrup.
Ingredients:
- 1 can coconut cream (13.5 oz)
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the coconut cream, almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and sea salt over medium heat until fully combined.
- Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the creamer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Shake well before using and add to your coffee as desired.
Nutritional Breakdown for Our healthier coffee creamer:
Serving size: 2 tbsp (30 ml)
Calories: 44 -Fat: 4 g -Saturated fat: 3 g -Carbohydrates: 2 g -Fiber: 0 g -Sugar: 1 g -Protein: 0 g -Sodium: 31 mg The exact nutritional information may vary depending on the specific brands and measurements used.
Homemade Coffee Creamer with Condensed Milk:
Making coffee creamer with sweetened condensed milk is very simple and tasty.
What is condensed milk? Condensed milk is just milk with the water reduced by about 50%. Sweetened condensed milk has sugar added and is very thick and sweet. It can be added to coffee straight, but you might like it better when the sweet is tempered and diluted this way.
Ingredients:
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
- 1 cup milk or cream (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and milk/cream until fully combined.
- Add the vanilla extract and whisk again until incorporated.
- Transfer the creamer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Shake well before using and add to your coffee as desired.
This creamer is rich, sweet, and creamy, and provides a great alternative to store-bought coffee creamers. You can adjust the amount of milk/cream used depending on your desired level of creaminess. Additionally, you can experiment with different flavors by adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, or using different extracts like almond or peppermint. Enjoy!
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer:
This pumpkin spice coffee creamer is perfect for adding some fall flavor to your morning cup of joe. You can adjust the amount of pumpkin pie spice to your liking, depending on how strong you want the flavor to be.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, pumpkin puree, and brown sugar. Whisk together until fully combined.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is heated through.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and pumpkin pie spice.
- Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the creamer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Shake well before using and add to your coffee as desired.
Nutritional label for the pumpkin spice coffee creamer recipe:
Servings: About 16 (2 tablespoons per serving)
Calories per serving: 35
- Total Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
- Sodium: 40mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 4g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 3.5g (including 3.5g added sugars)
- Protein: 1g
- Vitamin D: 6% DV Calcium: 4% DV Iron: 0% DV Potassium: 0% DV
Adding additional sweeteners or adjusting the amounts of other ingredients can affect the nutritional value.
Chocolate Coffee Creamer:
The beauty of making coffee creamer homemade is all the different things you can do to it. Homemade chocolate coffee creamer adds some mocha in there. A good rich option for your coffee.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder (or comparable amount of melted chocolate-any sweetness or darkness)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (or other sweetener of your choice)
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, heat the cream and milk over medium heat until just simmering.
- Add the salt, vanilla extract, and brown sugar (or other sweetener) to the saucepan and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the cocoa powder to the mixture and whisk until it is fully combined and there are no lumps.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the mixture cool.
- Transfer the mixture to a jar or other container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Note: You can adjust the amount of cocoa powder or sweetener to your preference. You can also add a pinch of cinnamon or other spices to enhance the chocolate flavor if you’d like.
Here is an estimated nutritional label for the chocolate coffee creamer recipe, based on the ingredients and amounts listed:
Servings: About 16 (2 tablespoons per serving)
Calories per serving: 50
- Total Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sodium: 60mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 4g
- Dietary Fiber: 0.5g
- Total Sugars: 3g (including 3g added sugars)
- Protein: 1g
- Vitamin D: 8% DV Calcium: 4% DV Iron: 2% DV Potassium: 2% DV
Please note that this is just an estimate and may vary slightly based on the specific ingredients and brands used. Also, keep in mind that adding additional sweeteners or adjusting the amounts of other ingredients can affect the nutritional value.
Our printable recipe is below. Please let us know how it works out for you. We’d love to know how you tweak this recipe. It’s always fun to share ideas.
Homemade Coffee Creamer
A deliciously rich coffee creamer you can make from simple, real ingredients in just a few minutes. This creamer has a wonderful flavor with a hint of vanilla that is perfect with coffee. Look in our notes section for several different version recipes of this rich coffee creamer recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 Cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Cup Whole Milk
Instructions
- Pour the brown sugar, salt and vanilla into a medium sized bowl.
- Add the cream and milk.
- Whisk it together until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Pour into a pitcher or air tight container and store in fridge one to two weeks.
- Store in fridge up to a week. Shake before serving.
Notes
It's fun to have a few recipes for homemade coffee creamer in your back pocket. Here are some of our favorites. We hope you enjoy them.
Healthier Coffee Creamer Recipe:
This version of our creamer recipe is dairy-free and vegan. It’s lower in calories, fat, and sugar compared to many store-bought coffee creamers and our original recipe. It’s also a good source of healthy fats from the coconut cream and provides a subtle sweetness from the maple syrup. It provides a rich and creamy texture and a subtle sweetness from the maple syrup.
Ingredients:
1 can coconut cream (13.5 oz)
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions: Whisk all ingredients together in a medium bowl (or gently warm them on the stove and then whisk them). Cool the creamer and pour into an airtight container. Store in fridge up to a week.
Condensed Milk Creamer:
Ingredients:
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
1 cup milk or cream (dairy or non-dairy)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and milk/cream until fully combined.
Add the vanilla extract and whisk again until incorporated.
Transfer the creamer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Shake well before using and add to your coffee as desired.
This creamer is rich, sweet, and creamy, and provides a great alternative to store-bought coffee creamers. Shake well before serving.
Pumpkin spice Coffee Creamer:
This pumpkin spice coffee creamer is perfect for adding some fall flavor to your morning cup of joe. You can adjust the amount of pumpkin pie spice to your liking, depending on how strong you want the flavor to be.
Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Instructions: Warm the ingredients (except vanilla) on the stove while whisking until it all dissolves together. DO NOT LET IT BOIL. Cool to room temperature. Whisk in vanilla. Pour into an airtight container and store in fridge up to one week. Shake well before serving.
Homemade Chocolate Coffee Creamer:
Homemade chocolate coffee creamer adds some mocha in there. A good rich option for your coffee.
Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa powder (or comparable amount of melted chocolate-any sweetness or darkness)
1/4 cup brown sugar (or other sweetener of your choice)
Pour the milk and cream into a pan over medium heat. Warm and stir together until almost simmering. Add the vanilla, sugar and salt and stir until dissolved. Add in the chocolate or cocoa powder. Stir until dissolved. Remove pan from heat. Allow to cool. Pour into air tight container and store in fridge. Shake well before serving.
Nutrition Information
Yield
32Serving Size
1 TablespoonAmount Per Serving Calories 52Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 9mgSodium 43mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 0gSugar 6gProtein 0g
Delicious Coffee Drinks:
Here are a sample of some of our favorite drinks that celebrate coffee.
We all love coffee here in many recipes. Try some of these yummy ways to enjoy your coffee:
- Coffee Cupcakes With Salted Caramel Frosting
- Decadent Mocha Cupcakes with Espresso Frosting
- St. Patricks Day Guinness Cupcakes
- Mexican Coffee Drink With Kahlua
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