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
It did the trick when I was out of creamer. Could I possibly use a can of dulce de leche for a carmel taste?
Hi Ashley! I think that could work too. Let us know how it is if you experiment.
Can Stevia be used in place of the sweetened condensed milk?
Hi Lisa! I think you could add Stevia in its place. I haven’t tested it but let us know how it turns out.
I’ve made this creamer so many times! It’s that good! When I’m watching my calories (which is most of the time), I use Fat Free Half and Half (I Iike the creaminess it adds over almond milk) and Fat Free Sweetened Condensed Milk. Flavor is still on point and just as delicious! Thank you, Natasha! Love everything you make!
Hi Edna! You’re very welcome. I’m glad you are loving the recipes.
Edna, I used fat free half and half, too, until I learned that the second ingredient in it is corn syrup!
they sound delicious, but do you have anything for dairy free folks. Thanks
Hi Deb, one of my readers mentioned trying coconut milk, but I am honestly sure how that will turn out since I haven’t tried that combination yet. You would have to experiment on that, we’d love to know how you liked it if you try!
I just made this today with coconut sweetened condensed milk and unsweetened almond milk adding just a tsp of vanilla and it is amazing!!! I am excited to try other flavors! Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe!!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Konie!
Sounds like a good alternative! This is something I will have to try.
How is the shelf life of this in comparison to store bought creamer? Thanks!
Hi Jon, we address this in the recipe: “Store – keep the creamer covered and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.” I hope that helps.
Or you could just use the evaporated milk that comes in tins.
It’s what my parents used, and what we used on cereal and porridge.
It makes really good french toast, as well (the old-fashioned way, when it was made of milk, melted butter, eggs and “regular” bread … no vanlla, no sugar: that’s what syrup is for!)
evaporated milk in place of 1/2 and 1/2 or the sweetened condensed milk?
My husband absolutely loves this creamer over the store bought almond mike creamer I would buy. And I have been making coffee at home to enjoy it as well. I added some skinny girl caramel sweetener to the most recent batch I made and it is still pure perfection.
Thank you for sharing, Amanda! 🙂
Hi, I was just wondering what is the serving size for this recipe? 1tbsp? I use a food tracker and need to figure out what to enter. Thank you!
Hi Ashlea, It’s at the top of the recipe card, 52 servings (about 1 Tbsp per serving).
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!!!
Thank you for your excellent review, Rebekah! I’m so glad you loved it!
Thank you for this recipe!!! I will never go back to store creamer!!!!
I’m so glad you loved it, Ronda!
How would you make the Coconut Creme?
My best friend loves it and sometimes you cannot find it. I wanted to make some and can it for her so that she would have backup if need be.
Hi Sheena! I have not tested that. I assume to make it coconut flavor, you could use coconut extract.
I’ve made this several times for my daughter. It’s a great recipe, and so easy! I love knowing what’s in her coffee creamer! Thank you!
Hi Kelly! I’m glad you love the recipe. It is so easy to make. Thank you for sharing.
I have a strange question! I have organic half & half and sweetened condensed COCONUT milk…would those two mix together well? I am not dairy free but that’s just what I have on hand. I’m afraid to try and have it not turn out well! 🙂
Hi Lauren, I am honestly sure because I haven’t tried that combination yet. You would have to experiment on that, we’d love to know how you liked it if you try!
I have used a homemade recipe that called for heating the ingredients to just under a boil. I quit making it because it was too fussy with having to watch it constantly, dirtying a pan plus several utensils, and then having to wait forever for it to cool. I love this recipe that is much easier to make, can be used immediately, without getting everything in the kitchen sticky. I will be making it all the time now. Thanks so much!
You’re very welcome! I’m so glad you found this recipe. 🙂
I ran out of creamer and didn’t want to run to the store, so I tried this recipe. I left some unflavored but added hazelnut syrup to some and vanilla extract to some. They’re all three surprisingly delicious. I use milk and put it in my aeroccino then add it to a Nespresso double espresso pod.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Lee! It’s a great alternative, especially when you run out!
I made this and I’ll never go back to store bought. I heated the condensed milk up with cinnamon sticks first and let it cool down, then grated a little fresh nutmeg to the jar too. It’s amazing. Thanks for the recipe, Slava Ukraine!
That sounds amazing! I’m so glad you loved it. Thank you for sharing.
Oh my 🤩 I added a tablespoon of cinnamon. This is so decadent.
Sounds delicious! 🙂
I am partial to French vanilla flavor. How would I make this French vanilla? I do not know what makes French vanilla versus regular vanilla. If someone can guide me I’d be very appreciative
You could see if there is a french vanilla extract or custard extract/flavor you could replace the regular vanilla with.
I was told by a barista at my college, that French Vanilla is just a combination of the vanilla and caramel flavors. You could try using Vanilla extract and Caramel flavoring/extract to see if that works for you.
I have made it by using the Vanilla shot and Caramel shot in places like 7-11, but plan to try it with this as well.
Thank you for sharing that with us. 🙂
Do you ever make the condensed milk from scratch? I’m trying to eliminate processed foods.
Hi Alicia, I have not tried, but it sounds like a good experiment.