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
Hello! Although I know you make your own, do you by chance have a recommendation for a good store bought vanilla extract? Thank you!
HI Lorie, The Nielsen-Massey brand pretty highly regarded for vanilla extract.
How do you make it French vanilla? Is there a differed between vanilla and French vanilla?
Hi Bonnie. You can change up the flavor by using different extracts/flavors such as French Vanilla. French Vanilla has a slightly buttery taste like custard.
Delicious! I love caramel so I added two Tbsp of caramel and it’s perfect. We are blessed to have a local dairy near us that has high butterfat Guernsey milk and it’s perfect for this creamer.
That’s a great idea! Thank you for your review and excellent feedback!
PERFECTION! This is a staple in my fridge and part of my Sunday night weekly meal prep routine. I made sure to have extra on hand around the holidays for my out of town guests. It was a such big hit that I gave them all mason jars with the recipe tucked inside when they left.
Thank you so much for sharing this! Several other recipes required the mixture to be cooked. This made Zero sense since condensed milk is just that. I started with less canned milk, due to the reviews. After testing it in dark roasted coffee, I added the rest of the can. I used Mexican vanilla, super yummy! Make this your own, how sweet you like, what flavor you’d prefer. Thanks again-
You’re welcome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Has anyone found a way to make this with a chocolate flavoring? The Italian sweet cream would definitely do for me, but I’ve also enjoyed the chocolate and want to get away from the store brands as well. Thank you.
Hi Debi! You can likely add chocolate syrup and reduce some of the sweetened condensed milk if it’s too sweet. One of my readers also reported using hot cocoa mix.
I’ve been making my own creamers for the last several weeks as my favorite has been discontinued. White chocolate raspberry. I’ve used a couple tsps raspberry sryup and white chocolate hot cocoa mix. Yum! And yes, I just realized the missing oily layer on my coffee now!
Hi there! I tried this recipe and it’s so delicious! My question is if I want to add some extract for different flavoring how much should I add? (Almond, hazlenut, maple extract) and should I omit the vanilla when using different flavours? Thanks
Hi Courtney! I haven’t tested any other flavors but it should be easy to experiment with. Start with a little and add more. You can omit the vanilla or use it in combination with other flavors because it is a nice base. I hope that helps.
I wanted to love this but can’t. Trying to find an alternative to the sugar free French vanilla creamer. I made the recipe exactly as stated but it’s really sweet, not creamy, and could not taste the vanilla which I’m pretty sensitive to. I saw suggestions to add less sweetened condensed milk but then it would be even less creamier and would end up having to use twice as much as traditional creamer. Not sure what to do here.
Maybe try some heavy cream in place of some of the sweetened condensed milk? It has a neutral flavor and won’t overwhelm with sweetness while letting the vanilla come through.
You can use 2% or 1% milk to make it reduced fat..but it will be less creamy- but so are the low fat ones at the grocery
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!
Sounds perfect! I’m glad that you enjoyed our Homemade Coffee Creamer, Allison.
Hi! Thanks for this! No more “chemical” coffee creamers in my house! Yours was too sweet for my taste so I mix the 14oz can of sweentened condensed milk with a full 64oz of half and half and then add the vanilla flavoring, about 2 tablespoons.
Hi Vickie! Yes, this recipe can be adjusted. You can use more or less to sweetened condensed milk to get it to your preferred sweetness level.
Any way to make creamer without sweetened condensed milk? Is sweetened condensed milk better than corn syrup?
I think you could add Stevia in its place. I haven’t tested it but let us know how it turns out.
Hello, since I’ve switched to your vanilla and hazelnut homemade coffee creamer, I have not gone back to store-bought. I do miss drinking Italian sweet cream coffee creamer and I’ve been experimenting with it at home but I have not had success. Do you have a recipe for homemade Italian sweet cream coffee creamer?
Hi Fivi! I’m so glad you’re loving it. I do not have another recipe. You can use this as a base and experiment with different flavors/extracts.
I made one batch with pure maple syrup instead of vanilla and it was lovely.
The only problem with this recipe is that it’s so good that we get through a batch in less than 2 days. I normally don’t use creamer but I can’t resist this one.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Excellent recipe. I use 2 teas of vanilla and 1 teas almond and its like Italian cream! Love it!
I like PLAIN coffee mate creamer with sweet and low. I want to DITCH both because of the toxins. How do I make just the PLAIN coffeemate creamer? Thanks
I haven’t tried making modifications that way. Feel free to experiment.
This is my exact dilemma! Oh I also add a few squirts of honey. I’m such a creature of habit. I need to make major changes.
Could cinnamon apple cider be added to make apple pie creamer? Thanks!!
Hi Amanda! I haven’t tested any other flavors but feel free to experiment with extracts and spices.
Excellent recipe. I use 2 teas of vanilla and 1 teas almond and its like Italian cream! Love it!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Sasha!
Soooo happy finding your recipe! I used half&half, condensed milk and skinny syrup in Hazelnut (all time favorite!)
I added extra half&half to my taste and can’t wait to have it with my morning coffee tomorrow!
P.S. Half&Half has the expiration date of February 2024 (toy is November 26 2023) I’m sure I’ll use this up by February BUT it’s nice it lasts long
Great to hear that you enjoyed our recipe, Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing!
Can you use Coconut Milk in order to make this Dairy Free? Meaning use the Coconut Milk when making the Sweetened Condensed Milk? And instead of the Half & Half, use maybe Almond/Macadamia Milk?
Hi Stephanie, while I haven’t tried this, I do like the idea of sweetened condensed coconut milk that someone suggested in the recipe comments. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Yes you can! After gradually messing with it for years, my go to non-dairy creamer recipe is 1 can of coconut milk, 1 can of sweetened condensed milk, Vanilla, then whatever I feel like. It’s my favorite creamer right now.
I have never used vanilla front the grocery store. My Mom always used Mexican vanilla. It has a richer flavor and is more intense in baking. So you can use less if desired. Your recipes are awesome. Thanks for posting…
You’re welcome, Diana!
One 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk contains 215g of sugar. This is, by no means, a healthier alternative. The claim that this is not overly sweet is a false claim. I had one cup and my teeth hurt.
Hi Kyle! We do not feel like this is overly sweet like storebought creamers tend to but I did leave a note above that you can even add the condensed milk to taste if you prefer less sweetness.
The 215 grams of sugar in a can of sweetened condensed milk is divided into 52 servings in this recipe. That is roughly 4 grams of sugar per serving. CoffeeMate French vanilla creamer has 5 grams of sugar per serving.