A healthy, plant based coffee creamer that will actually start your day off right.
Java, bean juice, cup of joe. Call it what you want, if you’re a coffee drinker, coffee is really only one thing: necessary. Also necessary for lots of coffee drinkers? A quality healthy coffee creamer recipe.
In case you haven’t heard, those of us who like our coffee really. like. coffee. All those sassy mugs and tee shirts that say things like, “Don’t talk to me before I’ve had my coffee” keep selling for a reason. Coffee drinkers don’t just like coffee, we love it.
Meanwhile, caffeine dependency is practically a competitive sport. “Oh yeah? You drink four cups of coffee a day? Well, I literally need coffee to sleep at night!” Oh, and if you dare mention you’re not particularly fond of the stuff yourself? Don’t think that’ll get you off the hook and end the conversation. If anything, a coffee drinker will just take that as an excuse to brag all the more intensely about their obsession with the stuff.
I don’t know, coffee drinkers are intense. Maybe it’s all the caffeine.
That said, not all coffee drinkers necessarily love the taste of coffee itself. Some people (allegedly) love their coffee black, but not everyone wants to start their day with a hot mug of bitter black liquid. For many coffee drinkers, coffee creamer is a must have, but fitting it into a healthy lifestyle or diet can be hard.
I’ve been a devoted coffee drinker (caffeine addict?) since high school. Raised in a house of fellow coffee drinkers, there were a few unwritten rules when it came to the morning brew. Rule number one? If it’s not black, it doesn’t count.
I listened to my dad make fun of my pale, sweetened coffee for years. But I just wasn’t going to give up something I liked for something I didn’t. And neither should anyone else. All you have to do is find a healthy coffee creamer recipe.
When it comes to starting a new diet or nutrition plan, cutting out habits and vices is usually where people start. Unfortunately, that usually includes their morning cup of coffee. Whether you cut it out completely or just nix the cream and sugar, editing your coffee order is one of the first diet changes people make.
Sure, cutting out creamer can definitely save you fat, sugar, and calories. But that doesn’t mean you have to go without.
With this healthy coffee creamer recipe, you can drink your coffee as light as you want it, without sidelining your clean eating goals. Made with nuts (of your choice), vanilla, and dates, this simple coffee creamer is clean, healthy, and vegan. And if you like your coffee sweet like I do, the dates in this recipe help add the perfect amount of natural sweetness, no sugar necessary.
I like to make different milks every few weeks, mixing up my choice of nuts for flavor variety. Whether you find a perfect fit right away or keep experimenting, making the switch to plant based coffee creamer is an easy and satisfying transition you’ll actually want to keep up. Check out the instructions below for a healthy coffee creamer recipe that will start your day off right.
How to Make Healthy Coffee Creamer
If you would like to make a nut milk that is not as thick and rich as the creamer recipe, see the following amounts as a guide:
- 2 cups raw almonds
- 10 pitted dates, (more or less depending on how sweet you prefer)
- 6 cups purified water
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla or hazelnut extract, optional
Combine two nuts for deliciously different taste. If you prefer a sweeter cream or milk, increase dates accordingly. Date sugar, honey, or maple syrup can also be used as a sweetener. When I make nut milk, I prefer unsweetened. But for the creamer recipe, a handful of dates adds just the right amount of sweetness.
Soaking Time for Nuts:
- Almonds – 8-10 hours, or overnight
- Cashews – 2 hours
- Hazelnuts – 8-10 hours, or overnight
- Macadamia nuts – 4 hours + (makes an ultra creamy milk)
If you’re like me, you prefer creamer that’s warm and creamy. My morning nut creamer is added to an automatic milk frother that heats the creamer and gives it just the right amount of foaminess. Starbucks? I must say, “my coffee, with it’s rich nut cream” is better, and a whole lot less expensive.
How to Make A Healthy Coffee Creamer
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds raw
- 10 pitted dates more or less depending on how sweet you prefer
- 2 cups purified water
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla optional
Instructions
- Add nuts to a glass or stainless steel mixing bowl, add enough water to cover completely, cover with a kitchen towel and set aside.
- 1-2 hours before making the creamer, add dates and 2 cups of the purified water to a bowl, cover.
- Allow almonds to soak 8-10 hours at room temperature, or overnight. Discard soaking water.
- Rinse almonds in a colander. Add almonds, dates with water, to a blender high powered blender if available.
- Blend until almonds and dates are thoroughly ground.
- Place the nut bag over a large bowl and slowly pour in the contents of the blender. Slowly squeeze and twist the bag, using both hands, until all the liquid is out. Add optional vanilla and stir until blended. Discard the contents of the nut bag, or freeze to use in smoothies.
- Refrigerate and store the creamer in a covered glass jar.
- Nut creamer will keep in the fridge for up to one week.
Nutrition Information
Have you made this recipe?
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Where did you purchase the ‘nut bag’?
Janet, This is my favorite nut bag on Amazon.