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Coffee Creamer
All about coffee creamer and the different ways in which it can be used.
Published February 7, 2022
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Chandra Melo
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Milk has always been one of the most popular options if you need to add more creaminess and sweetness to your coffee or tea. However, coffee creamer has become a more and more popular addition recently. How much creamer should you put in coffee? You don’t need a lot – one tablespoon of creamer is usually enough to add plenty of creaminess and sweetness to your favorite drink. When it comes to how to use coffee creamer in place of milk, there are plenty of ways that you can use this ingredient not only in coffee but also in other beverages, cooking and baking to get great results.
Using Coffee Creamer in Beverages
Putting coffee creamer in coffee might be an obvious choice, but what else can you do with it? Can you use coffee mate in tea? What is coffee creamer used for other than coffee? The good news is that if you want to know how to use coffee creamer for more than coffee, there are plenty of alternative options to consider. Coffee creamer works very well in tea. While milk might be your first choice, you may be pleasantly surprised if you try tea with coffee creamer instead. And, since coffee creamers are available in a range of different flavors, they can be an ideal way to create a different taste not just for coffee but also tea, hot chocolate, and other hot beverages. You can even add coffee creamer to green tea, although whether or not you like it is down to your personal preference – some people love it while others prefer to drink green tea plain. However, if you drink green tea mainly for the health benefits, then it’s worth bearing in mind that it might reduce some of the health benefits of this drink, including reducing the benefit of the catechins in green tea that are beneficial for your blood vessels and heart.
What is Coffee Creamer Made From?
Popular coffee creamer products are usually made with three main ingredients including corn syrup solids and hydrogenated vegetable oil. It also includes sodium caseinate, which is a derivative from milk that is a form of casein; however, it does not contain any lactose and should not affect anybody with a milk allergy as a result. However, it is an animal product therefore it is not vegan-friendly. You will usually need to get a coffee creamer designed to be vegan-friendly if you do not want to consume any animal products.
Is Coffee Creamer a Healthy Option?
When it comes to using coffee creamer in coffee and other beverages, you may be wondering whether or not it is a healthy option. How much creamer do you put in coffee? If you’re using a lot, then this will add up in calories. Along with this there are various different types of coffee creamer that you can get with some being lower in fat than others. Some coffee creamers are high in fat so should only be consumed in moderation. But as coffee creamer becomes more popular and more consumers are health conscious, there are plenty of low-fat, low-sugar options that are well worth considering if you want creamier coffee, tea, and other hot beverages without the extra calorie content.
Most people view coffee creamer as an indulgent treat to have once in a while rather than something they add to coffee every time, unless they are using a fat-free creamer. While making coffee with cream rather than milk definitely tastes great, you may want to bear in mind that consuming full-fat coffee creamer on a regular basis can have a negative impact on your health including increasing your risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease due to the high fat content. Experts recommend that adults consume no more than two grams of trans fat daily, and some coffee creamer brands contain more than one gram in a tablespoon, so being aware of the ingredients is important.
Who is Coffee Creamer Good For?
If you have a dairy allergy, you might find that coffee creamer is a better alternative to milk when making coffee, tea, and other hot beverages. Many coffee creamers are dairy-free but do not have the same unusual taste as you might expect when using some plant milks in coffee. Many coffee creamer products are also gluten-free which makes them an ideal choice to consider if you are allergic or sensitive to gluten. Coffee creamer can be a great alternative to offer instead of milk if you have a guest who is allergic to dairy or lactose as it is unlikely to affect them and will save you a trip to the store if you do not have any dairy-free milk at home.
Can You Whip Coffee Creamer?
If you want to make a luxurious topping for your coffee or just want the creamiest drink possible, you can whip your coffee creamer either using a hand whisk or an electric mixer. The colder the coffee creamer, the easier it will be to whip, so it’s a good idea to put it in the fridge beforehand for a while. Whipping will make it even sweeter, so you probably won’t need to add any sugar.
What Other Alternatives to Milk Can I Use?
Which milk alternative to use will depend on whether you want something for a beverage or for cooking and baking. If you’re making coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, plant-based milks, cream, and coffee creamer are all good milk alternatives to consider. On the other hand, in cooking or baking, if a recipe calls for milk and you do not have any to hand, plain yogurt or sour cream can be good alternatives to consider.
Using Coffee Creamer for Cooking
Coffee creamer is a popular ingredient used in baking to add some flavor. However, if you run out of milk that is needed for a recipe when cooking or baking, coffee creamer can be a good alternative to grab instead. Flavored coffee creamer can be a great addition to some breakfast foods; it works especially well in oatmeal, pancakes, or waffles for a creamier result or to add a different flavor. If you have unflavored coffee creamer, then this can be even more versatile in the kitchen. You can add it to make creamy soup or in place of milk and butter when making mashed potatoes.
What Can You Make with Coffee Creamer?
Aside from adding coffee creamer to coffee, tea, hot chocolate and other drinks, there are plenty of other ways that you can use it in your kitchen. Some uses for coffee creamer that you may be interested in trying include:
Pancakes and Waffles
To use coffee creamer for these popular breakfast foods, just replace some milk or water in your mixture with half a cup of coffee creamer instead. You can use flavored coffee creamer if you like to flavor your pancake or use plain to make them creamier with a fluffier texture. Just mix the batter including the creamer as normal and make your waffles or pancakes as you normally would.
Soups
Unflavored coffee creamer can also be used to make a soup creamier or to thin it out. It works best for soups that are naturally already quite creamy like potato soup or mushroom soup. All you need to do is add half a cup to two cups of coffee creamer to the soup depending on how much you are making. Mix the creamer into the soup while slowly pouring it in. If you like, you can add a spiced coffee creamer to improve the flavor of your soup.
Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mashed potatoes always taste better and one of the easiest ways to achieve this is by adding some unflavored coffee creamer. Simply add the coffee creamer and keep mashing until you get the desired consistency and texture. Coffee creamer can be an ideal alternative to milk and butter in mash if you have a dairy allergy or are lactose intolerant, allowing you to enjoy this favorite side dish without any negative effects.
Cake Icing
If you like to bake, then did you know that you can use coffee creamer to make icing for your cakes? Just whip any flavor of coffee creamer that you like and add some icing sugar to it to make a simple, sweet icing that’s easy to spread on sponge cakes, cupcakes and more. If you want a thinner, ganache-like icing, reduce the amount of creamer and add more icing sugar.
Smoothies and Milkshakes
If you like making your own milkshakes and smoothies at home, you can get a thick, luxurious texture like your favorite coffee shop or fast-food outlet by simply adding some coffee creamer. Using coffee creamer instead of milk or water when blending your smoothie can be a great alternative. For milkshake, add some coffee creamer to the milk and ice before blending for a thicker shake.
Coffee creamer isn’t just for coffee. You can add it to almost any hot beverage for a creamier drink or try it for great results with cooking or baking.
About the author
Chandra Melo
Marketing as job, barista as passion. An authentic coffee lover, looking for the next fantastic cup of coffee that I will fall in love with. Coffee, for me, is more than a beverage. It's about community and connection - how can all the world consume the same fruit? And differently? How can we have so many different tastes? I also don't know. And because of this, I feel in love each day more for this world. Happy to share and make a change in the coffee community.
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