Once you try Homemade Coffee Creamer you won’t want store-bought creamer again. This recipe is so easy with just 3 ingredients, and you will feel good knowing exactly what went into your creamer (without a paragraph of ingredients you don’t recognize). Homemade creamer also keeps well in the refrigerator.
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Helpful Reader Review
“There is a reason why this has almost 200, 5 ⭐️ reviews!!! I was skeptical, because that’s just who I am. Not only was this the easiest, but •OMG• the flavor is perfect! I like vanilla, so I added an extra tablespoon of vanilla. JUST MAKE IT!!! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!” – Rebekah Tolliver ★★★★★
It’s so easy to make your own coffee creamer and takes only 3 minutes–ok maybe 2 minutes. It makes me wonder why we ever started buying the stuff, but I can assure you that after making your own, you won’t want to. It’s rich, delicious, and totally customizable.
My husband and I look forward to our morning cup of coffee every day. It’s our ‘adulting’ treat, and I love making coffee at home more than going to a coffee shop because I can control the strength and sweetness of the coffee. This homemade coffee creamer recipe puts you in control, so you can make it as sweet, creamy, and flavorful as you like.
We love homemade condiments from Balsamic Glaze to Caramel Sauce for the same reasons. They are tastier, fresher, and have better ingredients than store-bought. If you are a coffee lover, this vanilla Coffee Creamer Recipe is a must-try!
Coffee Creamer Video Tutorial
Is it worth it to make your own coffee creamer?
- No Additives – Store-bought coffee creamers tend to have long lists of ingredients–beginning with vegetable oil (what?)–and often contain preservatives, additives, and artificial flavors
- Sweetened just right – homemade creamer is not overly sweet like store-bought creamers tend to be, and you can even add the condensed milk to your desired sweetness.
- Customized to your tastes – sweetened condensed milk and real vanilla extract taste amazing with coffee, but you can swap the ingredients; add new flavorings. It’s easy to make a creamer you love.
Ingredients for Vanilla Coffee Creamer
You’ll have this combination memorized from the first time you make it. Just remember that it’s equal parts of the first two ingredients. Easy!
- Half & Half – I like half & half because it has just the right amount of creaminess for a cup of coffee without creating an oily film. To make your own Half & Half, use equal parts of milk and heavy cream.
- Sweetened condensed milk – use a standard 14-oz can. It adds a milky sweetness without being overly sweet. To reduce the sweetness, add less.
- Vanilla extract – this is optional, but it definitely adds a nice layer of flavor to make it vanilla coffee creamer. I use Homemade vanilla extract, but store-bought works great.
Variations and Substitutions
- Dairy-Free – swap the Half & Half with your favorite Milk substitute, including almond milk, full-fat coconut milk, or oat milk, and then use dairy-free coconut sweetened condensed milk or a tablespoon of sweetener.
- Swap the Sweetener – swap the condensed milk for a tablespoon or two of maple syrup, sugar, brown sugar, or honey
- Change the flavor – swap the vanilla extract for a 1/2 Tbsp of almond extract, peppermint extract, or hazelnut extract. Try adding cinnamon or pumpkin spice. (Check the comment section for more ideas!) Add 1 Tbsp cocoa powder or hot chocolate powder for a mocha coffee creamer
How to Make Coffee Creamer
It’s so easy to make this homemade coffee creamer with just a mason jar, but you can also mix it in any bowl or pitcher.
- Combine Half and Half, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract in a quart-sized (32 oz) mason jar. Screw the lid on tightly, and shake the creamer until well combined (or whisk it up).
- Store – keep the creamer covered and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks (or go by the date on your Half & Half).
Helpful Reader Review
“Ran out of my usual French vanilla coffee creamer, but I had all these ingredients on hand. Mixed up super quickly, tastes lovely! One of the comments mentioned using 2 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp almond extract, which is what I did. A really good dupe for sweet Italian cream flavor. I’ll probably stick to mixing up my own creamer from now on. Thanks!” – Allison ★★★★★
Storage Tips
Homemade coffee creamer keeps well for about 2 weeks in an airtight container, unless the “sell by” date on your Half & Half comes first.
- To Refrigerate: as with all dairy products, store the jar on the bottom shelf in the back of your refrigerator where your refrigerator is the coldest. Do not store it on the door.
- Freezing: Dairy doesn’t freeze well, so it’s not recommended to freeze this coffee creamer
Homemade creamer is easy, quick to make, and will elevate your morning coffee. Have you tried any different flavors of homemade coffee creamer? Let me know in the comments below.
Homemade Coffee Creamer
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups Half & half, or equal parts milk and heavy cream
- 14 oz Sweetened condensed milk, or add to desired sweetness
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a quart-sized mason jar, cover with the lid, and shake up (or you can whisk together until combined).
- Cover and store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator (or until the ‘sell by’ date on your half and half or milk carton)
Notes
- For Dairy-Free Creamer– Use dairy-free milk instead of Half & Half (oat, almond, coconut) and Dairy-free sweetened condensed milk or 1 Tbsp sweetener (sugar, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup)
- Flavors – Swap vanilla extract for your favorite flavor (peppermint, hazelnut, almond, etc)
- Less calories – swap Half & Half for any type of milk (from skim to heavy cream will work)
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Homemade Condiments
- Mayonnaise
- BBQ Sauce
- Homemade Whipped Cream
- Strawberry Sauce
- Cherry Sauce
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Tartar Sauce Recipe
- Pesto Sauce
- Homemade Hummus
Love your post!
Can you share the coffee that you drink?
Thank you!
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte, we buy our organic SanFrancisco brand beans at Costco.
Would you by chance have a recipe for Italian Sweet Cream?? Thanks in advance. I love your recipes ❤❤❤
Hi Pat, thank you for your suggestion. I’ll make sure to share it if I find a great recipe!
How to make it sugar free? Not using the sweetens condense milk.
Hi Jen, I haven’t tested this with sugar-free alternatives but you might just sweeten the half and half with artificial sweetener. I haven’t tested anything to advise though.
ooh that is my fav creamer.. the only one i use.if you get the recipe will u share it,,
I’ve made a couple of your recipes. Like your sliders, and nacho packets. both were very good. Thanks a bunch.
You’re welcome, Brian. Good to hear that you’ve enjoying the recipes!
As a Diabetic I cannot use the sweetened condensed milk because it has too many carbs. Is there a anything you can think of to use as a replacement that is more carb friendly?
Hi there, I wish I could help but I haven’t tried any other healthier substitution to advise. You can check out the comments section if others have tried and shared that.
how about making your own sweetened condensed milk with stevia and another milk substitute like oat milk or coconut milk? https://addapinch.com/homemade-sweetened-condensed-milk-recipe/
My husband is diabetic and I use Erythritol and Monkfruit drops. Hubby doesn’t want to taste the monk fruit in it, so I put only 30 drops in a big batch (30 or so ounces of cream or half and half) but Erythritol is less sweet than sugar, so you need more than if using sugar. (Since hubby doesn’t use a lot of the creamer at a time, I use a bit more Erythritol…1.5-2 cups for a 32 Oz container of the 1/2 & 1/2 or Heavy Cream). It is the only sugar alcohol we will use because it tastes the most similar and is (supposedly), the least bad for you. I heat the half and half or heavy cream on the stove on low or medium low heat with the Erythritol to help dissolve it more easily. You can use heavy cream since it’s almost carb-free. You can reduce or condense milk by heating slowly on the stove to evaporate the water, but I would just use the heavy cream since it is carb-friendly. If it isn’t thick enough for you, I have heard of people using a small amount of tapioca starch (thinned with your dairy product before mixing in). However, I don’t know what the carbs are off-hand for tapioca starch
I do not use store-bought creamer or sugar in my coffee because it’s too sweet for my taste. Your ideas?
Change out the vanilla extract for hazelnut extract. Makes great Hazelnut Creamer!
Yum! I bet that made the best hazelnut coffee!
I just have to try this. My son continuously looks for a butterscotch creamer and can never find one. Now we can just make one!! This is fantastic!!
I’m so glad you discovered my recipe! I hope you love it!
My husband and I go through a lot of creamer so I’m happy to get this recipe to try. Thank you.
I hope you love this recipe, Wendy!
What is the serving size for the 36 Calories? Is it by the Tablespoon?
Hi Vel, The serving size can be found at the beginning of the print-friendly recipe card (located at the bottom of the recipe post). The nutrition label shows counts “per serving.” Hope that helps!
I have to say, “you are the best
Natasha”thank you for being here for us all. ❤️
Aww, thank you, Margaret! You’re the best for stopping by my blog!
Okay seriously😍 this looks and sounds amazing. You can’t go wrong with zhyschonka! Thanks for the recipe! Love your website
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Diana!
Thank you for the coffee creamer recipe can you show us how to make a non- dairy coffee creamer
You’re welcome! I appreciate that suggestion!
Thank you for sharing the coffee creamer recipe. I sometimes just use condensed milk in the coffee. I’m going to try your recipe. It is cheaper to make your own and you don’t have to worry about additives. I always enjoy receiving your emails.
I hope you enjoy this recipe, Chris! Thank you for your wonderful feedback!
Hi Natasha
Thanks for the coffee creamer recipe, looks delicious! BTW where did you get the beautiful glass insulated mugs? I would like to purchase some. Thanks!
Karen
I”m happy you enjoyed this recipe! The mugs are beautiful, we love them. Here is the link for the COFFEE GLASS MUGS.
This is awesome! Store bought coffee creamers are so often full of artificial ingredients and unnecessary additives. Love having a recipe on hand that I can modify to my tastes and I know exactly what’s in it! Thanks!!
The perfect recipe to keep on hand! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Great idea! I live alone so will make half at a time to make sure the Half and Half stays good. Thanks
I hope you love it, Laine!
I ran out of creamer this morning, but thankfully had all the ingredients for this! It was fantastic! Never going back to store bought.
I’m so glad that worked out, April!
I will never buy store bought creamer again! We love this so much.
Isn’t it the best! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
can you add flavors into the coffee creamer? like chocolate, ameretto, etc…
Hi Shelley, I bet you could! If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Can’t wait to try this! Any suggestions on how to make Peppermint Mocha creamer? My favorite but they don’t make it this season.
Hi May, there are so many different flavor extracts you can try. I know you will find peppermint. It might be tough to find a chocolate extract however, you can maybe just use a real mocha/chocolate sauce. I have not tested this but it may give you what you are looking for. Let us know how it works out if you try it. 🙂
you can make chocolate extract by adding vodka to cacao beans crushed shake everyday for 1 month and its done leave in dark place, hope that helps
Hi Deborah, thank you for sharing that with us!
Hi Amy,
I would try a little squirt of chocolate syrup then melt a small candy cane in your coffee. I know both would add extra calories & sugar but I melt a candy cane in my tea and cocoa all the time. To cut down on added calories, stir cocoa powder in hot water till smooth then add to coffee, and use the peppermint extract. Also caramel syrup in coffee is wonderful.
Take care!
You can check online for chocolate baking extract, or you can even make your own. If you don’t care as much about it being natural, you can also look for flavored oils that are used in baking, candy making, etc.