• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Moments
    • Pregnancy/Baby
      • Baby Registry List
      • Thriving Postpartum: What to Expect & Postpartum Essentials for Mom
  • Shop
    • Best Kitchen Gifts
    • Baby Registry List
    • Kitchen Tools (Must Haves)
    • Pantry Staples (Baking & Cooking)
    • Food Photography Essentials
  • Instagram
JoyFoodSunshine
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Laura
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Never Miss a Recipe

  • ×

    Home » Homemade Healthy Coffee Creamer

    Homemade Healthy Coffee Creamer

    Published: Mar 17, 2019 · Modified: Nov 1, 2022 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Homemade Healthy Coffee Creamer Recipe (Paleo & Vegan)! A 4 ingredient, easy recipe that's healthier than store-bought creamers!

    Front view of healthy coffee creamer being poured into a mug of coffee

    A good friend once said to me, "drinking tea is like getting a friendly handshake, but drinking coffee is like getting a warm hug."  It's so so true.

    I look forward to the warm embrace of a good cup 'o joe every morning with my breakfast.  I do like a touch of sweetness and creaminess in my coffee though (sorry to all you black coffee purists)! That's where this Homemade Healthy Coffee Creamer comes in!

    I used to use store-bought non-dairy creamer. However,  one morning I went to pour some into my cup and it "glopped" into my coffee. Yes, I used the word glopped because I can't think of a better way to describe it!  I was totally freaked out.

    The creamer wasn't expired (I bought it the day before!) and it didn't have a funky odor. But it was thick and gelatinous and....so not natural! That was the final straw! I was determined to make my own dairy-free creamer that tasted amazing but had no chemicals or weird "gloppy" properties.

    If you're a creamer user like me, you will love that this Paleo Vanilla Coffee Creamer is just slightly sweet but adds a wonderful, deep, complex, vanilla flavor to your coffee!

    Front view of a glass jar full of healthy coffee creamer.

    Healthy Coffee Creamer: Ingredients & Substitutions

    As always, I recommend making this recipe exactly as written! But here are a few substitutions that are possible!

    • Coconut milk: For an even creamier result, use full-fat coconut cream. I do not recommend replacing the coconut milk with any other non-dairy milks, because it has the highest fat content and is an important component of this recipe!
    • Almond milk. The almond milk is added to this recipe to ensure that it doesn't solidify when stored and to keep it nice and smooth. In this case, any other nondairy milk can be used in place of almond milk.
    • Coconut sugar: Maple syrup or honey may be used in place of some {or all} of the coconut sugar.
    • Vanilla beans: I have a thing for vanilla beans. When I want to make something that isn't chocolate (gasp) I still want it to have a rich flavor. I think vanilla beans impart a depth of flavor that can't be achieved with regular vanilla extract. I make vanilla bean cheesecake, vanilla bean ice cream, and now...vanilla bean coconut milk coffee creamer.
      • Readers have reported using 1 tsp pure vanilla extract with great results! However I highly recommend the beans! 😉
    healthy coffee creamer being stirred into a mug of coffee

    How to make healthy coffee creamer

    Let's walk through the steps in making this healthy vanilla coffee creamer and don't forget to watch the video.

    Begin by putting the ingredients (except for vanilla beans) into a small saucepan and whisking to combine.

    two photos showing how to make healthy coffee creamer - combining coconut cream and almond milk

     Next, warm the mixture until it just begins to boil then remove the pan from the heat. Be very careful not to actually let it boil, because it will result in a big mess!

    two photos showing how to make healthy coffee creamer -whisking in coconut sugar

    Next, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and stir them into the warm paleo coffee creamer mixture. Then add the whole vanilla bean pods.

    After the vanilla beans and pods are added, cover the pot, and let it sit for 30 minutes for the vanilla bean flavor to really infuse into the healthy coffee creamer.

    Choose a large glass jar and place a fine mesh metal sieve over it. Strain the vanilla coffee creamer into the jar and discard the vanilla bean pods.

    two photos showing how to make healthy coffee creamer - adding vanilla beans and straining

    How to remove the seeds from a vanilla bean pod

    To remove the seeds from a vanilla bean, follow these instructions:

    1. Cut the bean in half (as pictured below).

    2. Carefully slice each piece of the vanilla bean lengthwise with a very sharp knife.  Make shallow cuts that do not go all the way through the pod.

    photo showing how to cut a vanilla bean

    3. Use a small spoon and scrape out the seeds on the inside of the bean.

    4. Stir the spoon with the vanilla seeds into the coffee creamer mixture and repeat with the remaining pod pieces!

    photo showing how to cut a vanilla bean

    What if I use vanilla extract instead of vanilla beans? 

    If you use vanilla extract instead of vanilla beans, I still recommend gently warming the ingredients on the stovetop and whisking them until the mixture is smooth.

    However, if you use vanilla extract you do not need to use a strainer or let the mixture sit on the stovetop for 30 minutes to infuse! Simply whisk it in!

    healthy coffee creamer being poured into a cup of coffee

    To store/freeze:

    1. Store in the refrigerator. If you plan on using it within 1 week, store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator.
    2. In the freezer. I often freeze this healthy coffee creamer so it lasts even longer. To do this, I recommend pouring the coffee creamer into an ice cube tray and freezing it into cubes. Then you can simply remove one or two cubes at a time to use in your morning coffee! I do recommend warming the frozen vanilla coffee creamer in the microwave in your coffee mug before adding the coffee so that it doesn't cool it off too much!
    overhead view of a hand holding a spoon stirring the healthy coffee creamer into a mug of coffee

    Recipe FAQs

    Is coffee creamer bad for you? 

    If you're curious about the benefits of making your own coffee creamer, check out this article from Prevention Magazine, where this very recipe was featured, "5 Worst Things in your Coffee Creamer - And What You Should Use Instead."
    While some store bought varieties are not good (at all), this homemade paleo coffee creamer IS totally healthy! It's dairy-free, refined-sugar free, vegan and paleo! It adds the perfect flavor and creaminess to your coffee without sacrificing health or taste! PLUS it is only 4 ingredients and is crazy easy!

    Can you use coconut milk as coffee creamer? 

    Absolutely! We use coconut milk or coconut cream in this recipe and it turns out amazingly creamy and ultra delicious! Coconut milk is my favorite base for coffee creamer!

    front view of a glass jar of healthy coffee creamer

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Homemade Healthy Coffee Creamer Recipe (Paleo & Vegan)

    Laura
    Homemade Healthy Coffee Creamer recipe (Paleo & vegan)! A 4 ingredient, easy recipe that's healthier than store-bought creamers!
    4.95 from 75 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Resting time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15 servings
    Calories 51.4 kcal

    Equipment

    • 3 quart saucepan
    • whisk
    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • glass jar

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 13.5 oz coconut milk
    • 2 TBS Almond Milk (unsweetened, vanilla)
    • 3 TBS coconut sugar
    • pinch of salt
    • ½ vanilla bean
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Shake up a can of coconut milk then pour it into a small saucepan.
    • Add almond milk and stir to combine. 
    • Add 3 TBS coconut sugar & a pinch of salt, whisk to combine.
    • Cook over medium-low heat until the mixture just starts bubbling and sugar is dissolved (don’t let it boil or you’ll have a coconutty mess all over your stove)!
    • Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Add seeds to the milk mixture and stir.
    • Put the whole vanilla bean into the pot and cover with a lid.
    • Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes, or until cooled to room temperature.
    • Using a fine mesh strainer, strain your creamer as you pour it into a glass jar. Discard beans.
    • Store in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator! Give it a shake before adding it to your favorite coffee!

    Video

    Notes

    Ingredient Substitutions 
    • Coconut milk: For an even creamier result, use full-fat coconut cream. I do not recommend replacing the coconut milk with any other non-dairy milks, because it has the highest fat content and is an important component of this recipe!
    • Almond milk. The almond milk is added to this recipe to ensure that it doesn't solidify when stored and to keep it nice and smooth. In this case, any other nondairy milk can be used in place of almond milk.
    • Coconut sugar: Maple syrup or honey may be used in place of some {or all} of the coconut sugar.
    • Vanilla beans: Readers have reported using 1 tsp pure vanilla extract with great results! However I highly recommend the beans! 

    To store/freeze:

    1. Store in the refrigerator. If you plan on using it within 1 week, store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator.
    2. In the freezer. I often freeze this healthy coffee creamer so it lasts even longer. To do this, I recommend pouring the coffee creamer into an ice cube tray and freezing it into cubes. Then you can simply remove one or two cubes at a time to use in your morning coffee! I do recommend warming the frozen vanilla coffee creamer in the microwave in your coffee mug before adding the coffee so that it doesn't cool it off too much!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2TBSCalories: 51.4kcalCarbohydrates: 3.3gProtein: 0.3gFat: 4.2gSugar: 2.7g
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    side view of a glass jar of homemade healthy coffee creamer

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

    « Healthy Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars
    Easy Overnight Oats with Yogurt »

    Did you make this recipe?

    Leave a comment and review below, then take a picture and tag @joyfoodsunshine #joyfoodsunshine on Instagram so I can see it! Sign up here to receive weekly e-mails!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julie

      November 15, 2022 at 6:39 am

      Can't wait to try!

      Reply
    2. Jessica

      May 16, 2022 at 10:29 pm

      How does this mix into iced coffee?? I drink iced during the week and usually only get a hot cup of coffee once on a the weekends.

      Reply
    3. Nichole Thompson

      March 18, 2022 at 10:42 pm

      What size of a glass jar do I need for storing the creamer?

      Reply
      • Kimberly

        January 14, 2023 at 3:41 am

        I used a 16oz standard canning jar and it left room to seal if needed.

        Reply
        • Blair

          March 05, 2023 at 6:57 am

          Thank you for spilling when pooring into the jar. I feel like some content creators make everything look so perfect and this just was real to me. Everyday life, everyday practice. Sorry I just felt I needed to tell you that. Thank you for publishing the reciepe

        • Laura

          March 05, 2023 at 3:47 pm

          Thank you Blair! I suggest watching my chocolate chip cookie video too - people got super upset about the flour spilling out of the mixing bowl on a couple social channels (obviously, I scooped it off the counter and dumped it back in with my hands)! 😉

    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

    Click here to read more >>

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Most Popular Recipes

    • The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever
    • Best Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Better than Cinnabon)
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe
    • Easy Dutch Oven No Knead Bread
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (5- Minutes)
    • Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
      Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Better than P.F. Chang's)!

    Trending now

    • Blueberry Baked Oatmeal Recipe
    • Healthy Pineapple Carrot Cake
    • The Best Banana Cake Recipe
    • Egg Casserole (Egg Bake)
    • Baked French Toast Casserole
    • Best Carrot Cake Recipe
      Best Carrot Cake Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Joy Food Sunshine Logo
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Never Miss a Recipe

    105355 shares
    • 2705