Last Updated on December 8, 2023
You might love the taste and texture of traditional coffee creamer, but it’s not always the healthiest thing to add to your hot coffee. If you don’t like black coffee but want to keep your morning coffee healthy, what options do you have?
Thankfully, there are lots of choices. Some of these options are ideal for everyday coffee drinkers who are watching their weight, while others are perfect for those trying to navigate a dietary restriction.
The best coffee creamer substitutes are things like coconut creamer, plant-based milk, Stevia, protein powder, and skim milk.
Here’s our list of the 10 best alternatives to creamer.
10 Coffee Creamer Substitutes
1. Protein Powder
One of the most popular coffee creamer replacement options is protein powder. If you go to the gym regularly, you may make a drink out of protein powder when you get back. You can add protein powder to your morning cup of coffee as well.
One of the benefits of using protein powder is that it comes in a wide variety of flavors. Therefore, you can customize your cup of coffee to meet your needs. Whether you like caramel, chocolate, or even milk-flavored powder, you should be able to find one that complements your coffee.
Just be sure to check the nutrition facts and the ingredients label before you make a decision. For example, you might be looking for a protein powder that excludes added sugar. Or you might be looking for a protein powder that is dairy-free.
2. Pumpkin Spice and Coconut Creamer
There are lots of people who love some pumpkin spice and coconut when the temperature begins to drop outside, but there is no reason why you can’t enjoy it throughout the entire year!
This is a creamer alternative that you will make at home. All you need is some coconut cream, almond milk, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice. Just mix everything together! You might have an easier time doing so with a blender.
If you want to make it a bit sweeter, don’t hesitate to add some vanilla bean powder in there as well.
3. Plant-Based Milk
Some people are looking for alternatives for coffee creamer due to dietary restrictions. If that’s you, consider going with plant-based milk. For example, you may want to go with fortified soy milk. It has a lot of potassium and protein, which could make it a suitable replacement for standard coffee creamer.
Keep in mind that some plant-based milk options do have some added sugar.
4. Coconut Milk and Vanilla Extract
Do you prefer to drink coffee that has a bit of sweetness to it? If so, you might want to go with canned coconut milk. This is a thick, rich substitute that matches the texture of many coconut creamers. So you might not even notice the difference. For a bit of sweetness, you can combine it with vanilla extract.
This is also a coffee creamer replacement that you can make at home. All you need to do is combine a can of coconut milk with a teaspoon of vanilla extract, then shake up the mixture to combine it. This might end up being your new favorite substitute.
5. Dates and Chocolate Powder
If you are looking for another homemade alternative to coffee creamer, you may want to try this out. Grab a handful of pitted dates, about a quarter cup of cocoa powder, and four cups of filtered water. Combine everything in a blender on high for a few minutes, and stop the blender when it has a creamy texture.
If you want to spice it up a bit more, you can add some vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, or sea salt.
This will give you a smooth, sweet, delightful flavor that you can add to your delicious coffee in the morning.
6. Skim Milk
If you are looking for a healthy alternative to traditional coffee creamer, consider using skim milk. There are many people who are trying to avoid increasing their intake of saturated fats. Skim milk will help you do exactly that. It is still a great source of calcium and protein, and it may help you reduce your risk of heart disease.
If you want to add some sweetness to coffee, you may want to try combining it with some vanilla extract or some honey. Keep in mind that this will increase your intake of added sugar.
7. Maple Syrup and Cocoa Powder
Another homemade coffee creamer alternative is maple syrup and cocoa powder. Maple syrup will give you a smooth, rich taste, and it combines beautifully with cocoa powder. All you need is a few teaspoons of maple syrup and approximately a quarter cup of cocoa powder. Combine with about four cups of filtered water. You might want to use a blender to make sure all of the ingredients are mixed evenly.
Keep in mind that maple syrup does have a lot of sugar, so be careful about how much of this you add to your cup of coffee. It should store well in the refrigerator for a few days.
8. Cinnamon
Many coffee lovers who add flavor shots of cinnamon to their morning coffee, but you do not need to use a flavor shot, which typically has a lot of added sugar. Instead, you can add cinnamon directly to your cup of coffee. It may not have the same texture as coffee creamer, but it has potential health benefits.
For example, cinnamon is metabolized into sodium benzoate, which can lead to increased levels of neurotrophic factors in the brain that have been known to prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
If you want to match the texture of coffee creamer, you may want to mix the cinnamon with some skim milk. You can also add it to the plant-based milk mentioned above. That way, you can get the best of both worlds.
9. Stevia
Stevia has become one of the most popular substitutes for coffee creamer. This is a natural sweetener that comes from a plant. It also has zero calories and a glycemic index of zero. This makes it a great option if you are watching your weight.
Keep in mind that Stevia is several hundred times sweeter than regular sugar. Some people find the flavor a bit strong, so use it in moderation when enhancing the coffee taste.
10. Monk Fruit Extract
Monk fruit extract comes directly from a fruit in Southeast Asia. It is several hundred times sweeter than traditional sugar, so you don’t need a lot of it to add a flavor boost to your morning coffee. It is available as a liquid and as a powder, but it is a bit hard to find. It doesn’t contain any carbohydrates or calories, so it is ideal for someone who is watching their weight.
It has a bit of an unusual aftertaste, so you may want to combine it with a few other ingredients to get your cup of coffee the way you like it.
Find the Best Coffee Creamer Replacement To Meet Your Needs
In the end, these are just a few of the many options available if you are looking for an alternative to traditional coffee creamer. You might not like to drink your coffee black, but you might not like the nutrition facts on traditional coffee creamer, either.
The best way to figure out what you like is to give a few of these options a shot! See what texture and flavor you like, and spice up your coffee experience with a bit of flair!
