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
Can you use whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla
Yes, you can use any milk you’d like. 🙂
Holy Moly! I’ve tried other homemade creamers but this one is, by far, the best! I am hooooooked!
That’s wonderful, Mandy! So glad you enjoyed this recipe.
You’re right. Much better than store bought! If you like cinnamon, try adding a tablespoon of cinnamon to the recipe.
I have not tested cinnamon but this recipe is very versatile and you can make some great flavor combinations. I’m glad that worked out well!
I washed out a creamer container and use that instead of a jar. Pouring is less messy. I also pour the sweetened condensed milk in a glass measuring cup and microwave for 1 minute. It mixes with the other ingredients much easier. I love this creamer.
Hi Sue! Thank you for the feedback. So glad you enjoy this recipe. 🙂
I love this creamer recipe. I used your Vanilla Extract recipe I made back in February 2022. Turned out great! The vanilla flavor really shines. Used 2 tablespoons vanilla, because I love vanilla! Thanks
Yay, lovely to hear that! Thank you for sharing that with us, Ronnie.
Sorry if I missed something. What is the serving size? I didn’t see it on the Nutrition Facts label.
Hi Meredith. It’s at the top of the recipe card, 52 servings (about 1 Tbsp per serving).
Hi Natasha,
I would like to make Irish creamer and I was wondering if you have the recipe! My husband loves the vanilla coffee creamer! I love all your recipes!! Thank you!
Hi Pat, I don’t have a recipe for Irish creamer but thanks for the suggestion!
Soooo good!
Never going back to store bought creamer again!
It’s got the perfect flavor, the perfect color and the perfect mouth feel, for a delicious cup of coffee!
Wonderful to hear, Patty! Thank you for the feedback. So glad you loved this recipe.
I haven’t tried this yet, but I am going to make it next week. Any suggestions on using cinnamon-sugar?
Hi Jay, I have not tested cinnamon sugar. This recipe is very versatile and you can make some great flavor combinations. I would love to know how it turns out if you try it. I would try to use a cinnamon flavor/extract rather than cinnamon spice. Cinnamon spice does not mix very well.
Oh My Gosh!!! That was delicious…. I altered and used Watkins Chai extract…. it was to die for 🤤🤤🤤🤤… oh the possibilities…. Thank you Natasha
That’s wonderful! Thanks for sharing. Eva-Marie. It is so versatile, so many flavors can be made using the base of this recipe.
WONDERFUL! YUMMEEE!! DELICIOUS!!! You have to make this. I did not use any flavoring. I am not a sugar I’m my coffee person, but this was pleasantly sweet, not too much. Will try whole milk next time. The condensed milk is so rich I may save a bit of $$ not using half and half.
That’s a great idea, Anne! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. Let us know which way you like it better. 🙂
I made this creamer this morning and its delicious. But my husband wants to make it a little more sweeter, can I add more sweetened condense milk or should I add brown sugar?
Hi May! Yes, either of those options would be fine.
I’ve been making this since I first saw your video about it. My husband loves it too! He suggested 2 Tablespoons of vanilla extract and I foam mine every morning. Fat free doesn’t foam well so I don’t like to use it. I do like the idea of sweetened condensed coconut milk that someone suggested.
We are always trying your recipes and love your videos. You’ve never steered us wrong! Keep up the wonderful videos!
Thank you for your feedback, Lynn. So glad you enjoy my recipes.
I made creme brulee coffee creamer with one can of evaporated milk half a cup of light brown sugar that was packed one and a half cups of milk tea two teaspoons of vanilla extract taste better than the store-bought brand which I haven’t been able to find in the past month.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Robert! That’s so great!
What is 1 1/2 cups milk tea. I want to try your recipe. Thank you.
I know my non dairy Starbucks coffee creamer has not ideal things in it, and the non dairy’s always seem to have baking soda that I can taste.
I made this with 1 1/3 cup cashew milk, one can of sweetened condensed coconut milk (11oz) and still used 1 Tbsp vanilla extract. Very good! Thank you for the recipe guidance!
Hi Teresa! Thank you so much for sharing that with us. I’m sure some of our other readers will find this very helpful.
I made this this morning, since I ran out of store bought, I’m HOOKED! ill be making my own from now on lol Thank you Natasha!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Rebecca!
I am a label reader. The stuff in coffee creamer…and I just kept on buying it for my husband…
Thanks Natasha! This is so much better!!! Taste and ingredients!
Now how do I get him to clean the sticky drops up off the counter bedore I notice them? lol
You’re welcome, Jenny! 🙂
YUM! Made it this morning but used unsweetened almond milk. Delicious! Not going back to store bought creamer 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Cameron! I’m so happy you enjoyed that.
Can you help explain what the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are in the nutrition label? Thank you!!
Hi Haley, here is a great article that explains it. https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-are-monounsaturated-fats
How can I make this sugar free?
I love all you recipes.
I’m making you Chicken Enchiladas tonight!
Hi Barbara, I think you could add your favorite sweetener to taste. I haven’t tested any since I don’t use artificial sweeteners in my cooking but I think there is room to experiment.
Can I use evaporated milk and cream in place of half and half?
I’m not sure if that will work but I recommend using half whipping cream and half whole milk as a substitute for half and half.