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
I love this creamer so much, my hips don’t lie! I look forward to making my coffee every morning because I know my special creamer awaits! I ran out of 1/2-n-1/2 the other day and decided to just use my 2% milk only and it still tastes delicious. Thanks again Natasha!
That’s great! I’m happy it worked out well. Thank you for sharing.
So good and easy. Thanks for sharing your recipes with us Natasha.
You’re very welcome, Cathy!
I will be trying this. As another reviewer said, I am also uneasy when I see all the additives in the brand name product. Also the price in my grocery store has skyrocketed.
The nutrition label shown doesn’t indicate the serving size-1 Tablespoon, 2 Tablespoons?? Please provide!
Hi Carole, 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.” This recipe makes 52 servings (about 1 Tbsp per serving) Hope that helps!
This really is a simple and fantastic recipe. It is a great way to control the ingredients that go in your body. It also works wonderfully over fresh berries. Thank you, sweet Natasha, for another outstanding recipe! Wishing you and your family well…
Thank you for sharing that awesome feedback with us, Linda!
This is so easy to make and tastes great! Even my picky creamer snob hubby likes it!!! Drinking it in my coffee right now.
That is the best when kids love what we moms make, especially the picky ones. That’s so great!
Personally I’d say add more half & half & slightly less sweetened condensed milk. It’s very thick & creamy for sure.
I love making my own coffee creamer. I used unsweetened almond milk because I don’t do well with dairy! Thank you Natasha I love your recipes
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Melani!
I can’t use dairy…but have almond milk.what did you use for the evaporated milk?
Hi Gracie, that should work! Here’s what one of my readers wrote: ” I love making my own coffee creamer. I used unsweetened almond milk because I don’t do well with dairy! Thank you Natasha I love your recipes” I hope this helps!
Hi Natasha,
We don’t have half and half milk in my country. Is it equal quantities (about 200ml) of milk and cream?
Yes, tt’s about 414ml total equal parts milk and heavy cream.
Turned out so good! I used whole milk since I didn’t have half and half on hand and it turned out great!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Dina!
Would like to try this healthier version. Can I use evaporated milk? Love your recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Gemma, I haven’t tested that to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how you liked that version.
Finally a “clean” coffee creamer!! It’s so simple, and so good!! I’ve experimented with making my own flavored syrups and such, but nothing was ever what I wanted to drink everyday.
I love love love all your recipes I’ve tried (sweet and savory) and trust you to always come through with the best! Thank you!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review, Melanie!
Could you make this with fat-free 1/2 &1/2? Trying to shave off calories.
Thanks!
Hello Diana, I haven’t experimented on that to advise. If you give that a try, please share with us how it goes.
Peppermint extract sounds great! How do I do Peppermint Mocha? Unsweetened cocoa powder?
Hi Lori, 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. 🙂
In the past I have found chocolate extract in the stores, so I will be looking for it again 🙂
NOT recipe related…….
Praying your families are not in harms way because of Putin’s aggression. Bless you all.
Thank you for your prayers and for thinking of us, Carol.
Thank you for this recipe. I used lactose-free sweetened condensed milk and unsweetened almond milk and real vanilla extract. PERFECTO!
You’re welcome, Jacqueline. Good to know that you enjoyed it!
I didnt even know there was a lactose free sweetened condensed milk…thank you! That right there could possible be a huge games changer for me! Eeeks 😁💝
I wasn’t aware there was a lactose free sweetened condensed milk!!! You just made my day. I been searching for a alternative to the coffee creamers without all the additives!
Will you don’t mind give me a recipe how to make peppermint creamer? I am addict peppermint creamer.
Hi Debra, I bet this would work great with peppermint extract! I hope you love it!
This sounds delicious! How do I turn it into a scrumptious caramel coffee creamer?
Hi Virginia, I bet adding caramel or caramel syrup would work great!
This is delish! Love your recipes. The Foccacia is fabulous!
Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful feedback with me, Helen!
You got me chugging down my hot coffee with this creamer! I just made it, and it is wonderful. Wow! I wonder if you could substitute the vanilla for almond extract?
Hi Rebecca! You sure can! I hope you love this recipe!
Just made your coffee creamer and its great! For my taste it was a little sweet, but just added more 1/2 & 1/2. I used to cringe when reading the labels of store bought creamers, so its wonderful to have this alternative. Thanks so much Natasha!!!
Happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing.
Another added benefit to making your own creamer is reducing plastic waste. I hate to think of the plastic creamer bottles in the landfill.
A great benefit! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
Hi! I’m living in the Philippines right now and I haven’t come across real vanilla extract (or vanilla beans to make my own). Is it ok to use imitation vanilla extract?
I make your recipes often and my kids love your videos, and doing taste tests!
Thank you!
Hi Joe! Yes, that would be fine. You’ll have to experiment with the vanilla to find one that tastes good. I have used some extracts that are very bitter.
I made this for my wife’s coffee this morning and she loved it!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Patrick!