Standing in the coffee aisle, staring at rows of artificial creamers packed with unpronounceable ingredients, I realized something had to change. My grandmother always said the best flavors come from the simplest recipes, and she was right. This three-ingredient French vanilla creamer delivers the same luxurious taste as expensive store brands, but with real ingredients, you can trust.
The secret lies in using canned condensed and evaporated milk instead of regular dairy. This creates a vibrant, velvety texture that transforms ordinary coffee into a café-quality experience without artificial additives or preservatives. Recreate your coffee shop experience at home with simple ingredients.
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Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
This homemade version combines sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk for optimal consistency, unlike traditional creamers that use fresh milk or half-and-half. The condensed milk provides natural sweetness and richness, while evaporated milk adds the perfect creamy texture without watering your coffee. The concentrated nature of canned milk means flavors remain bold and satisfying.
What makes this homemade French vanilla creamer recipe so good?
The delicate sweetness of this creamer is sure to impress anyone who tries it. You can enjoy your own creamer in both hot and iced coffees.
It’s perfect for adding to a coffee bar when you have guests over, whether they’re just visiting or you’re hosting a party. Everyone loves the indulgent taste it adds to their coffee!
Some creamer recipes use half-and-half or even fresh milk. However, this one uses condensed and evaporated milk, which is the perfect consistency and doesn’t water your coffee down!
It is also easily adjustable if you want to try adding other flavored extracts, such as almond or maple.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make homemade vanilla coffee creamer:
- Sweetened condensed milk – Provides natural sweetness and creates a rich, luxurious base texture
- Evaporated milk – Adds creaminess without diluting coffee flavor or creating a thin consistency
- Vanilla extract – Delivers the signature French vanilla flavor and aromatic sweetness
How to make French vanilla creamer
- Pour all the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend until well combined, about 30 seconds.
- Pour the mixture into a container or small pitcher.
How to make it dairy-free
It’s pretty simple to make a dairy-free alternative to sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk.
To make dairy-free sweetened condensed milk, simmer the following ingredients on the stove until it is nice and thick:
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
Dairy-free evaporated milk is also really simple. Let your favorite milk alternative (oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk) simmer on the stove until it is reduced by half.
How to use this creamer
Stir this creamer in your preferred morning cup of coffee, such as homemade cold brew coffee or hot brewed coffee.
You can even add it to blended drinks like fruit smoothies, protein smoothies, or milkshakes to make them sweeter and richer! If you want to get creative, add a dash of it to your French toast custard mix, pancake mix, or oatmeal.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Freezing: Not recommended, as dairy separates when frozen and thawed.
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container, we love using a mason jar for up to 10 days. Separation may occur naturally.
- Usage Method: Shake vigorously before each use to recombine ingredients. Never heat creamer directly as it may curdle.
Frequently Asked Questions about this homemade coffee creamer recipe
You can choose to use the full-fat versions or the low-fat sweetened and condensed milk. I like to use the full-fat version because it adds a nice flavor. The coffee tastes perfectly sweet with the two types of milk.
I like to buy my vanilla extract at Costco. It is a great value, and you can buy a large amount for under 10 dollars. You could even use homemade vanilla.
With this French Vanilla coffee creamer recipe, you can make just about 1 quart of creamer that lasts about 10 days. I like to make a batch of this creamer and take it to work.
Each store-bought creamer has different calories. For my recipe, 1 ounce of creamer has 62 calories.
Love Coffee? Try these Coffee House Favorites
- Homemade Amaretto Coffee Creamer
- Caramel Syrup for Coffee
- How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
- Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Starbucks Eggnog Latte
- White Chocolate Latte like Starbucks
Can’t get enough copycat recipes? Try some of these!
- Kentucky Fried Chicken Cole Slaw recipe
- Chocolate Mocha Coffee like Starbucks
- Mrs. Field’s Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe
- Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
- White Chocolate Dipped Oreos
- Cracker Barrel Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake
- Chocolate Chippers
- Easy Chocolate Pie
Be sure to get all of your favorite restaurant recipes and pair them with some delicious bakery-style dessert recipes.
French Vanilla Coffee Creamer – Easy 3-Ingredient
Ingredients
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 15 ounces evaporated milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place all three ingredients into a blender, and blend for about 30 seconds.
- The mixer will be uniform.
- Store creamer in an air-tight container.
- Pour into coffee as desired.
I am making this creamer for my daughter, she loves French Vanilla Creamer, Will let you know what she thinks. Thank you again for this
I made this and taste delicious but when I add to hot coffee it has a bad flavor. I made it up recipe and put in refrigerator, was that correct? I’m just disappointed cause it taste so good by itself. Thank you
Well, I ran out of International Delight French Vanilla and I had bought SCMilk because I was going to try making this but I didn’t have Evap Milk so I used Coconut Milk and my extremely expensive vanilla bean paste. Well, I can’t wait to have some evap milk or some heavy cream around because the coconut milk version was one of the most disgusting things ive ever taste in my coffee. It was so bad I wanted to run my fingernails down a chalk board just to get the taste out of my mouth and distract myself by doing something slightly more annoying than having to drink this. I’m hoping and praying that it’s somewhat better and I’ll definitely be trying the hazelnut as the “french” part because I really need IDFV in my coffee or I become extremely irritated like I’m having dental work done or something, yes it’s that bad. I must be an addi ct of it or something. I know companies can do that to us.
Hi, can you tell me the measurement for 25 servings? I’m on weight watchers and need to calculate. I love the concept of making homemade food to eliminate some of the additives. Thank you!
I have modified the serving sizes to 30, so each serving size is 2 tablespoons.
Dear Stephanie,
Do you think you could reproduce the Charleston Restaurant dessert, Bread Pudding. It’s divine, think there is a touch of Grand Marnier in there. Hope this chain has a spot near you.
Thanks, love your offerings for us!
Diane Mandt
I will keep it in mind! I don’t have immediate travel plans in the area.
Do you have recipes for any other flavored creamers?
Not yet!
Thank you for taking your time to share this! Good to have for preps.
Not sure why, but it seems so hard to pin down what actually makes up a “french vanilla” coffee creamer. In the ice cream, the differentiation between vanilla and french vanilla seems to be a (for french vanilla) custard (egg yolks base) . Here’s how it’s defined by Mauricio Poulsen, director of creation and application flavors for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.: “Today, in sensory terms, when we refer to French vanilla, it is when the vanilla flavor is caramelized, custard-like, cooked, egg yolk-like, slightly floral.” Hard to reproduce in a coffee creamer, but I so love my coffee, I’m going to try. Not being much of a chef, my chief question is how to include the yokes with out ending up with scrambled eggs in my coffee 🙂 . I’m going to experiment with various ingredients, such as caramel, egg yolks, brown sugar, quality vanella, maple syrup, salt, and whipping cream and try to get something “floral” in there. 🙂 . Should be interesting. 🙂
you could make a top of the stove custard and keep it in the refrigerator.
And? How did it come out?
I had been trying to make this, but had been using just milk, I just made it with the listed ingredients and I am so HAPPY!!! My budget is super tight, and I remembered I had the condensed milk and the evaporated milk left over from baking for the holidays.
This will be my go to for creamer from now on! I’m not into all the other flavors, but must have French vanilla cream with my morning coffee, you made this poor church mouse very happy!! ????????
Haven’t tried it and probably won’t after price checking. I may not like the additives, but I can get a 32oz French Vanilla for about $2.30. The 15oz of Evaporated milk alone would be $2.82 plus the $1.33 for the sweet condensed milk and don’t forget the vanilla at $0.33 per teaspoon. It may be healthier but it is definitely not cheaper.
To make according to directions 29.6 oz = $4.81 or $0.164 per ounce.
Pre-made generic is 32 oz = $2.30 or $0.072 per ounce.
Nestle is $0.088 per ounce
International Delight is $0.082 per ounce
It is more than double what I can buy it for. So other than not having additives it is cost effective to purchase the pre-made.
You have a great point, some folks prefer less preservatives or may want to use what they have at home instead of going out and buying new items. Thank you for doing the math.
I don’t know where you shop, but the 2 top brands of prepared creamer in Florida run $3.99, sometimes 2for $6 or occasionally BOGO at $3.68-3.99.Store brand runs $2.68. I never pay that for evaporated milk….$1.48 Walmart & $1.49 target, often BOGO.Vanilla is a staple on my shelf so I’ll take your price.I pay $1.64 for store brand SC milk, more for Borden’s or Goya.My issue is paying that much for sugar,Palm oil & the rest junk.I never pay full price for any of those ingredients, so have them on hand.
I totally understand your point, the more food you I can eat without chemicals the happier I am.
Better with a teaspoon of hazelnut or maple flavorings. But if you’re like me, milking goats this was a wonderful starter for making great coffee creamer
We love french vanilla in our coffee at home. Its my husband’s favorite. Thank you. I cant wait to try. 😉
You seem like a really sweet person.
Looks like I’m a bit late to this party!
This looks like a great idea for our church; we go thru lots of coffee & creamer each week. Thank you so much for sharing!
I would love for you to figure out a recipe for “Charlston’s Chicken Tortilla Soup”.
I have 9 children, so we don’t go out much, but this soup is soooo good, I really want to learn to make it.
You will love it, especially if you can go to Sam’s or Costco and make it a large container. I’m so happy I found this healthier version!
as a chef i know how sceicne is and to mak things how they r meant to be but sometimes u go online and u read the recie and then u know sumthing isnt roght so u make erros but u need to know wt went wrng and learn from tjem!! alaus fin to go around and recret recioes~ i know hoe to make chilis queso dip!! google it!! i dont know wats in creamer but i used 2 percetn and condenes can.. is is beter to use evaported instea of the 2 d? my email is lesnar333@gmail,com
Thank you for your input. Where are you at chef at?
Hi Stephanie – French Vanilla is actually a combination of Vanilla and Hazelnut. You may want to try adding hazelnut to your recipe. I think you will like it!
Thank you for the heads up, I had not read that any wear when researching the recipe.
I don’t know where you shop, but the 2 top brands of prepared creamer in Florida run $3.99, sometimes 2for $6 or occasionally BOGO at $3.68-3.99.Store brand runs $2.68. I never pay that for evaporated milk….$1.48 Walmart & $1.49 target, often BOGO.Vanilla is a staple on my shelf so I’ll take your price.I pay $1.64 for store brand SC milk, more for Borden’s or Goya.My issue is paying that much for sugar,Palm oil & the rest junk.I never pay full price for any of those ingredients, so have them on hand.
I made this creamer but before adding the vanilla I separated it into two parts adding the vanilla to one half and maple extract to the other and the maple was so good. If you love anything maple you have to try this.
Great call on the maple flavoring. I will have to give this one a try.
Stephanie…I found both Cafe’al Fresco sf vanilla and hazelnut syrup at Dollar tree. I have been using it with half and half to avoid paying $3.99 for junk creamer ( which I love!). I think I’ll try this in your recipe…but it does have “junk ” to preserve and sweeten it. Love it that you respond to your fans !
Since “Scroogedude” above is such a Scrooge, I’m sure 1/2 of this could be frozen to take out & thaw, then use, when the first half has been used up. And this recipe is good, not exact but absolutely a life saver when the creamer runs out! Thank you, Stephanie, I appreciate your time in sharing this easy recipe with us.