The Sweet Ingredient That's Key For Making Coffee Creamer At Home

Millions of Americans agree that their days don't start until they've had their coffee. Sure, the jolt of caffeine opens up sleepy eyes, but it's also the flavor they're after — the nutty, roasted, unmistakable flavor of coffee that is so good after a night of rest, or during that dreaded afternoon slump. When it comes to how coffee tastes best, it's personal. Strong, black coffee may be some people's pick while the mere idea of it makes others cringe. It's these coffee drinkers who often love the addition of creamer to their java.

Sweet, creamy coffee creamer is wildly popular. To see this, all one has to do is take a look at how many flavors are available at any given supermarket. Indeed, those who like their coffee sweetened with a kick of hazelnut, vanilla, or even breakfast cereal flavor have plenty of options to choose from. But all that flavor comes at a cost, both from a financial and nutritional standpoint and if you're looking to improve upon both, making your own coffee creamer is a brilliant idea. Doing so really doesn't take much more than heavy cream (or milk, half and half, or evaporated milk) and a sweetener. The sweetener you'll find in most recipes for homemade creamer is one you may already have in your pantry, and if not, it's simple to find.

Store-bought coffee creamers are creamy and sweet, and if you're making your own, you don't necessarily want to sacrifice these things. Using sweetened condensed milk in your recipe ensures you don't have to. Canned milk is basically regular milk that has been heated to remove excess water, creating a product that is super thick and rich. The sugar that's added to it not only increases its shelf life but makes it oh-so-satisfyingly sweet. When the product is combined with regular milk or cream and any desired flavorings, you've got a homemade, delicious coffee creamer that you can feel much better about drinking (no vegetable oil or cellulose gum here).

When milk is condensed but no sugar is added, you have evaporated milk which also works as a vehicle for making creamer, but if you want sugar, you'll need to add your own in the form of granulated sugar, honey, agave, or whatever sweet ingredient you prefer. Once you have a base creamer made, you can enjoy it as is or add flavorings like pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, almond extract, or Irish Cream. Sweetened condensed milk is available year-round and is typically found in the baking aisle of markets. Plus, the cost of one can is a fraction of the cost of any given commercial creamer on the market. Mixing up a personalized batch of creamer only takes a few minutes but it's bound to change the way you drink your coffee for good.