Homemade Vanilla Coffee Creamer (All-Natural)
Vanilla Coffee Creamer is easy to make homemade using just four simple, natural ingredients. This 5-minute recipe is flavored with vanilla extract and sweetened with maple syrup. Learn how to make coffee creamer without condensed milk!
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If you enjoy delicious morning drinks, you'll also love Cinnamon Dolce Syrup, Chai Tea Mix, or Healthy Oatmeal Smoothies!
Who out there enjoys a cup (or five) of coffee in the morning? {*Raises hand.*} Growing up, my parents always drank their coffee black. I didn't understand it then and I can't tolerate it now. When we got married, my hubby drank his with a splash of milk but no sugar, which I honestly didn't find much better...and now he's moved to the plain black coffee camp as well.
As for me? I need plenty of cream/milk, a bit of sweetener, and ideally some sort of flavoring. Enter this homemade Vanilla Coffee Creamer!
You see, many years back -- when I started paying attention to food labels and incorporating more "real foods" into my family's diet -- I was appalled at the ingredients found in my favorite store-bought flavored coffee creamers. How could something so tasty incorporate so many unpronounceable additives?
So I started forgoing all of the fun, flavored coffee creamers, instead making due with milk, sugar, and sometimes a splash of flavored coffee syrup (and I learned you still have to work hard to find a mostly-natural store-bought coffee syrup!).
But then I got on my make-your-own kitchen staples kick, and it occurred to me that surely it wouldn't be too hard to whip up my very own batch of flavored coffee creamer to store in the refrigerator and enjoy all week long. So this good ol' Vanilla Coffee Creamer was the first flavor in my little experiment!
Ingredients
Would you believe you can whip up your own Vanilla Coffee Creamer in a matter of minutes with just four all-natural ingredients?!
- Heavy cream + whole milk. These ingredients put the cream in creamer. However, depending on exactly how *creamy* you like your coffee, you can adjust the ratio to your liking (more on that below). You can also opt to sub half-and-half for the cream and milk combo.
- Pure maple syrup. This all-natural sweetener is the secret to how to make coffee creamer without sweetened condensed milk (an ingredient that's found in many recipes for homemade vanilla coffee creamer). I know that I'd be better off learning to drink my coffee unsweetened altogether, but if I'm going to ingest breakfast-time sugar on a daily basis, at least maple syrup is natural and unrefined. 😉 The lighter your maple syrup, the lighter the flavor it's going to have, so be sure to use Grade A golden or amber in this recipe. You might be wondering if the resulting coffee tastes maple-y...and the answer is no. You could also sub agave syrup instead if that's your preference.
- Pure vanilla extract. Use the real stuff! My all-time favorite brand of vanilla is particularly delicious in recipes like this where the vanilla flavor shines through.
How to Make Vanilla Coffee Creamer
(The below photos are intended to be helpful, but please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for FULL DIRECTIONS.)
It's beyond easy to whip up homemade Vanilla Coffee Creamer in a matter of mere minutes!
- Add heavy cream and milk to a small pot set over medium heat.
- Add maple syrup and stir to combine.
- Allow to heat, stirring occasionally, until the creamer is nice and steamy with small bubbles starting to form around the edges of the pot.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Since vanilla is alcohol based, too much heat can cause some of that alcohol to burn off, which also carries away some of the flavor.
- Allow to cool for about 30 minutes.
- Transfer your vanilla creamer to a jar or bottle. Cover and store in the refrigerator.
Tweaking to Your Liking
I think this Vanilla Coffee Creamer recipe is a great starting point, but please know that you can easily adjust the richness of your creamer by tweaking the ratio of heavy cream to milk.
Feel free to add more or less heavy cream -- and adjust the milk proportionately in the opposite direction -- as long as you keep the total amount (2 ¼ cups) the same.
Or if you prefer an equal ratio of milk and cream, you can substitute 2 ¼ cups half-and-half instead of using separate milk and cream.
Finally, you can make your creamer more or less sweet by fine-tuning the maple syrup to taste!
So whether you're a chronically sleep-deprived parent, a Starbucks addict trying to kick the habit, or someone who simply wants to enjoy a frou-frou tasting coffee made with better ingredients, I think you're going to love this Vanilla Coffee Creamer!
Please let me know what you think if you give it a try. 🙂
More All-Natural Homemade Coffee Creamers + More
- Caramel Coffee Creamer
- Chocolate Almond Coffee Creamer
- Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer
- Dairy-Free Almond Cashew Coffee
Homemade Vanilla Coffee Creamer (All-Natural)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine cream, milk, and maple syrup in a small pot set over medium heat. Stir together until bubbles start forming around the edges of the pot and mixture is hot and steamy. Remove pot from heat and blend in vanilla. Allow to cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes before transferring to a jar or bottle. Cover and store in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days.
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the milk-to-cream ratio if you prefer your Vanilla Coffee Creamer lighter or richer, as long as the total amount (2 ¼ cups) remains the same.
- You may substitute all half-and-half in place of the heavy cream + milk if you prefer equal ratios of each.
- For neutral flavor, use a light maple syrup (such as grade A golden or amber). You may tweak the amount of maple syrup (more or less) depending on how sweet you like your coffee.
- Agave syrup may be substituted for maple syrup.
- If you are bothered by the skin that forms on top of the creamer while it sits at room temperature, you may strain the creamer through a fine mesh sieve before storing.
Nutrition
Adapted from Deliciously Organic. Post originally published on February 19, 2014, and updated on May 7, 2021, and March 22, 2024.
What a great idea to use maple syrup. I can't wait to try!
Thanks, Jennifer...I hope you end up loving it! I think using syrup is a great alternative to regular sugar and I've never detected the maple flavor. 🙂
This creamer sounds delicious! I'm with you...I don't understand people who drink their coffee black. 😉 I'd love for you to link this up to our All Things Thursday Blog Hop that's live right now. Hope to see you there!
Blessings,
Nici
Thanks, Nici, and I appreciate the reminder about your party! Hopping over now...have a great weekend! 🙂
I have made my own creamers and will be trying your recipe the next time I make it.. I love the addition of maple syrup. Pinning this.
I hope you love it when you try it, Marlys, and I really appreciate the pin! 🙂
I am so excited to find this recipe! I loove my liquid coffee creamer, but I have been hoping to find a more natural alternative without all the yucky ingredients. I can't wait to try it out! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You're welcome, Laura! I'm so happy you found it and I hope you enjoy it!
I too cannot stand store bought coffee creamers. Gag me! I have been buying the Coffeemate Natural Bliss ones because of the milk and cream, but this sounds awesome! I should make my own. Thank you for sharing!
You're so welcome, Korilynn...I hope you enjoy this!
I love the idea of making your own coffee creamer! Sounds delicious!
Thanks, Shannon! It's so easy and so good that I don't see myself ever buying it again. I appreciate you stopping by...happy Friday!
MMM...I love homemade stuff and this looks like an excellent way to make your own creamer. Thanks for sharing!!
You're very welcome, Amanda! I hope you get to try this soon and that you love it when you do! 🙂
GREAT recipe... and your coffee mug is SO pretty! I found you through the Two Cup Tuesday link party
Thank you so much, Becca! I found that mug on clearance at Target...I'm always looking for pretty food props and the price was right -- ha! 😉 Thanks for hopping over...I'm glad you stopped by!
I'm following a Low Carb Healthy Fat diet and am trying wean myself off sugar in my coffee so I am so happy to find this recipe! Thank you so much. I'm pinning it right now.
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
I hope you enjoy this one, Natasha, and I really appreciate the pin. 🙂 Have a great week!
I love a little coffee to go along with my cream and sugar! It's one of my worst habits! This creamer looks delicious and would probably be a healthier alternative for people like me. Thanks for sharing this!
I'm with you, Carrie...I've got to work on upping my coffee ratio compared to the cream and sugar! 😉 But at least I feel a little better drinking this homemade creamer since I know exactly what's in it. Hope you enjoy it if you have a chance to try it! Thanks for stopping by...have a wonderful week!
Okay, I'm definitely trying this! My son loves vanilla coffee creamer and I just know he'd love this homemade version. Thanks!
You are so welcome, Lisa! I hope that this recipe is enjoyed by you and your son! 🙂
Oh I bet this is a fantastically Heavenly creamer! Mmmm
I love love coffee. But you can't live in the Pacific NW and not be a coffee snob. So I do love cream or milk in my coffee, but not the creamers. On the other hand show me a latte or a mocha and I am off and running. This looks divine. I am going to make jug to take to work. I suspect I will become an even more popular person---laughing-----I bake cookies for work so that is the my popularity driver.
Too funny, Carol...I'm sure you are quite popular at work if you regularly treat everyone to homemade cookies! And your status is sure to rise even higher if you start bringing homemade coffee creamer as well... 😉 I hope that you and your co-workers enjoy this recipe!
Samantha, this is pretty awesome! My daughter and I love different coffee creamer flavors and this will be fun to try! Thank you so much for sharing this at Best of the Weekend - pinned and will be sharing! Hope you have a happy and fabulous weekend!
Thanks, Cindy! I hope that you and your daughter enjoy this one. 🙂 Hope your weekend was great and that your week ahead is even better!
I love flavored coffee creamer, but never thought to make my own before. I love the thought of using only four ingredients. Pinning this for later. Thanks!
It's so quick and easy, Carrie...there's no reason to ever buy it again! 😉 I appreciate the pin and hope you enjoy this creamer!
Sounds wonderful! I love flavoring but hate the junk in the processed stuff, so this is exactly what I've been looking for. Oh--my family is addicted to your natural queso dip now! 🙂
Thank you, Dee! I hope you enjoy this creamer as much as y'all love the queso...it makes me so happy to hear that! 🙂 I'm totally addicted to it as well. Thanks for stopping by!
I've never thought to make my own creamer. I typically drink my coffee black but I do like to have creamer on hand in case I get a craving for it. I love the addition of maple syrup!
Thanks, Kathy! I wish I liked coffee black...but since I don't, making my own creamer is the next best thing! 😉 And I love maple syrup as well and find myself incorporating it into all sorts of things. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Can't wait to see if you come up with a Mocha flavored creamer! I just adore coffee; drink wayyyy too much of it, light and sweet, and flavored only sometimes. Mostly I like just 'regular' coffee. But I do love my Mocha Cappucinos now and then. Occasionally a hazelnut also. Thanks for a great post!
Deb
I will definitely be working on other versions, Deb! For mocha, I bet you could just reduce or eliminate the vanilla and stir in a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder? Let me know if you figure it out before I do -- ha! Happy Friday...have a great weekend! 🙂
Definitely sounds like your idea would work fine! I'll let you know how it comes out when I try it.
Deb
Yay! I can't wait to hear. 🙂