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 would like to leann how to make Bone Fish Grill salad dressing and their Jens Jamacian coconut pie and the rum sauce.
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Thanks,
Fran
We have a lactose intolerant family, do you have a lactose free recipe?
I would buy lactose free milk and try to make a simple sugar syrup and add some vanilla to it. It won’t last as long, but it should work fine.
Do you think this recipe will work with Amaretto extract instead of the Vanilla Extract?
I think it would great. I want to try making a hazelnut version. I just bought some hazelnut from The Spice house.
I love that there are so few ingredient! I’m with you on the chemicals!
It really doesn’t take a lot to make this taste delicious.
I bet this tastes so yummy in your coffee. Sounds like an easy way to make your own.
You can make many flavors.
International coffees used to sell an orange coffee..I will try orange..it was great..my wife and I love French vanilla too
I bet orange coffee is delicious.
This sounds really nice. I bet it goes great in iced coffee which is my favorite!
What a great suggestions! I should try it in iced coffee.
I love me some coffee. And I love it with creamer. Buying creamer gets expensive, however. Maybe I should try and make this at home!
I know a lot of coffee drinkers and this looks like something they would love.
Love the idea of making my own coffee creamer! I can’t wait to try it!
Making your own coffee creamer is such a great idea since it is super easy to do. No more running out of creamer in this house.
Great idea to make your own! I can’t use flavored cream because of all the preservatives and additives they give me migraines
My husband loves coffee so I will have to see his thoughts on this. I’m more of a tea or cola girl so this definitely his thing.
I love making my own creamer. I don’t think people realize how easy it is.
I will be making some of this…I love a good French vanilla flavored coffee.
I love french vanilla coffee creamer!
Can’t wait to give this recipe a try 🙂
I bet it tastes amazing! I don’t like the kind with so many chemicals in them. Coffee is such a pure taste that I don’t like to mess it up. This is great.
That sound ah-mazing! I am definitely trying this.
This is amazing!!! Thanks Stephanie!!
Thank you very much! Do you have some other flavors you would like to see?
Can you make a sugar free creamer?
I will have to work on it.
I would like that also
I appreciate your request. Are you looking for particular flavors?
Do you have a recipe for hazelnut creamer? That is my all time favorite! Thank you!
I recently bought some hazelnut flavor from the spice house, I am going to play around with it. I haven’t tried or developed a recipe yet.
Thank you.
How long does this last and does it go in refrigerator ????
This lasts for about 10 days, and it needs to go in the refrigerator.
Who would use 30 OZ of creamer is 10 days?
Waste of time.
I use a good ounce in each cup of coffee.