What Can I Use As a Substitute For Coffee Creamer?

A perfect cup of coffee with some creamer on it energises you and gives a kick to your mood. 

You might have been using a creamer to your coffee all the time until you suddenly notice that it has an insane amount of calories and sugar!

So, does that mean that you have to quit adding creamer to your coffee?

But worry not! There are numerous alternatives, from herbs and fruits to barley and barley flour. 

These delicious coffee creamer alternatives will not only keep you caffeinated but will also keep you healthy as well as a bit more flexible with your breakfast routine.

Here are some great alternatives to coffee creamer that will ensure you're getting the vitamins and minerals you need, along with some added flavour!

Homemade coffee creamer alternatives  

Instead of buying pre-packaged coffee creamer, make your own! Then, you can top off your coffee with absolutely no sacrifice!

Doing so will save you a ton of calories and sugar, as well as keep your coffee creamer alternatives healthy! Of course, the health benefits of making your coffee creamer are endless, but it makes sense to give it a try for these reasons alone.

Here are the four creamers you can make in your kitchen:

Vanilla coconut milk creamer

This creamer is something unique – it’s rich, creamy, and will enhance the flavour of any coffee! It’s also an excellent healthy alternative to your typical sugary coffee creamer.

All you need to make this coffee creamer alternative is:

• 1 – Can of coconut milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Pour out the can of coconut milk and place it in the refrigerator overnight. The following day, scoop out the solid white cream and place it in a small saucepan – do not put in the clear liquid part. 

Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and mix well. Finally, pour your coconut milk mixture back into its original container, refrigerate for an hour or more (to set), and then enjoy.

Coconut pumpkin spice creamer

For those who like pumpkin spice in their coffee, this creamer is right up your alley. It’s subtly sweet, just the perfect amount of creamy, and adds just the right amount of pumpkin spice flavour.

Ingredients & directions:

• One teaspoon pumpkin spice mix
• 1/2 cup coconut milk

First, stir together the pumpkin spice mix and ½ cup of coconut milk in a small saucepan. Gently heat and stir it until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Then remove from heat and refrigerate until it's fantastic. 

Pour it back into your coffee mug, add more vanilla extract if desired, and enjoy!

Date-sweetened chocolate cashew milk

This sweet and creamy coffee creamer might be a bit too sweet for some, but they’ll most definitely love the rich, chocolatey goodness of this alternative.

Ingredients & directions:

• ½ cup raw cashews
• One tablespoon cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 – 16 oz. can of full-fat coconut milk

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a jar and then store in the refrigerator until needed.

To use, shake up your jar of coffee creamer well, then pour it into your coffee. Stir well after adding to get all of the chocolate goodness!

Homemade powdered creamer

Did you know you can make your powdered coffee creamer? If so, you’ll want to try out this recipe, which is a healthy alternative to the original.

Ingredients & directions:

• ½ cup raw cashews
• Two tablespoons cocoa powder
• Two teaspoons instant coffee crystals
• One teaspoon vanilla extract

Put all ingredients in a blender, then blend it until an acceptable powder forms. Keep in an airtight container for up to one month.

You can then mix up your favourite coffee creamer by adding two teaspoons of this powder to each 1 cup of milk.

Commercial coffee creamers  

Are you preferred to purchase coffee creamers and other coffee creamer alternatives? Then it is important to read nutrition facts before you buy!

Here are some of the store-bought coffee creamers

Nut Pods

Nut Pods are a coffee creamer substitute that’s very popular for those who need a sugar-free option. The Nut Pods come in chocolate, vanilla, and plain- made from almonds and cashews, which gives them their thick consistency.

Ingredients & directions:

• One tablespoon Nut Pod (for every 8 oz of coffee)

Pour your desired amount into your coffee mug and stir well. For chocolate varieties, stir in 1 teaspoon of Hershey’s sugar-free chocolate syrup, or for vanilla varieties, go in ½ packet of Splenda.

These are great to use in cereal, too!

Laird Superfood creamers

When you prefer powdered creamers, then these are the ones for you! You can mix Laird Superfood creamers with hot or cold water, and they boast many health benefits. 

They have natural ingredients and contain many healthy ingredients and minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.

Ingredients & directions:

• 8 oz. of Laird Superfood creamers

Mix ½ cup of water, and then stir well with a spoon to create a thick mixture. Then mix up your coffee! It’s that easy!

Elmhurst oat creamers

Most people prefer sweet creamers – but sometimes you want something with a lot of flavours. Elmhurst oat creamers contain natural ingredients, and they come in several different flavours. 

So you can use them like milk, for cereal, cooking, and also in coffee!

Ingredients & directions:

• One bottle of Elmhurst oat creamers (for every 8 oz of coffee)

Pour into your coffee mug and mix well. You can then choose to blend or stir for different results.

Vital Proteins collagen creamers

If you’re looking for a dairy-free drink that will have your mouth watering, remember this one! 

Surprisingly most people don't know these are a great coffee creamer alternative. They're a thick, creamy yoghurt-based creamer with excellent benefits from natural collagen.

Ingredients & directions:

• One tablespoon of Vital Proteins collagen creamers for every 8 oz of coffee

Stir well with a spoon to create a thick texture.

Milk Unsweetened Oat + Almond Milk Creamer

Milk Unsweetened Oat + Almond Milk Creamer is a very popular creamer that you can use in many different ways! You can add it to cereal, add it into your morning smoothie, or your coffee. It has natural ingredients, and it’s non-GMO!

Ingredients & directions:

One tablespoon of Milk Unsweetened Oat + Almond Milk Creamer for every 8 oz of coffee. These work well and taste great in almond and plain flavours.

Why Use an Alternative to Creamer

There are many different drink and food creamer substitutes, so there are various reasons to use one. Some people use creamer to watch their calories and fat intake, while others want a healthier alternative. 

Some people want a soft cheese-like consistency, while others prefer the less liquid form of the powder. But whatever your reason is for using an option to creamer, choose wisely as you'll be drinking it regularly!

Ingredients to look for

When choosing a creamer alternative, make sure it contains no corn syrup as it is highly processed and unhealthy. 

In addition, it has high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)- an added sugar used in many food products. Do your best to avoid this added sugar at all costs.

Another essential ingredient to look for is vanilla. Vanilla is a natural flavouring, but many creamer alternatives don’t contain it for this reason. But again, make sure the product has no corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup!

Another ingredient to watch out for is carrageenan. This additive has been linked to digestive diseases, including problems with the mouth and stomach. So if you're buying a creamer alternative that contains carrageenan, then proceed with caution.

Another ingredient to look for is chia seeds or chia seed oil. Seeds are a bonus of using these alternative creamer substitutes! 

Almond milk,  coconut milk, soy milk, and rice milk contain omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Toss the seeds right in your drink instead of using plain raw almonds.

Ingredients to avoid

Just as there are ingredients to look for when choosing an alternative creamer substitute, avoid ingredients. Here are a few things to watch out for:

• Carrageenan – as mentioned above, this additive has been linked to digestive diseases, including problems with the mouth and stomach.

• Ingredients with corn syrup – corn syrup is highly processed and unhealthy. It contains high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and added sugar used in many food products.

• Ingredients with sugar – some creamer alternatives contain sugar. But this is not the type of sugar you want to be drinking. It’s added into the creamer alternative for taste, but it is processed and unhealthy.

• Ingredients that are processed – many creamer alternatives are processed with artificial ingredients. It is usually because the choice was created before there was a desire for the component in the beginning. 

But these ingredients most likely won't have health benefits, so be sure to check out the label for this before consuming.

• Natural ingredients – some creamer alternatives are made using natural ingredients, but others are just flavourings. Make sure you’re choosing an option that contains natural ingredients!

Conclusion

Creamers are great for people who don’t want milk calories, but creamers are also not good for you. They may taste good, but they won’t benefit you at all. 

You can always choose an alternative to creamer if you're trying to get healthier, avoid unwanted fats and sugars, or not drink regular milk. Just remember that there are ingredients to look for and ingredients to