Christmas is a magical time of year, but a very busy one where it seems like all your time is spent on holiday errands. Fuel your Christmas cheer while treating yourself to something festive and sweet with this easy homemade Christmas Coffee Creamer recipe!
If you could bottle holiday magic it would taste a lot like this amazing Christmas Creamer! It is a smooth, creamy, and warmly spiced treat that will instantly ignite your festive spirit! Here are a few things about this recipe that will make you positively jingle with joy:
- Irresistible Holiday Flavor – I adore the warm combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and more that makes up this warmly spiced flavor, and you will too!
- Fits in Any Schedule – Even when the holidays get hectic, you can still make time for this recipe because there is a fast and slow version to suit your timeframe!
- Great for Coffee and More – Christmas Creamer can liven up any cup! This creamer is delicious with anything from coffee to tea to a splash in your cocoa!
- Better at Home – During the holiday season, everything we do is shop and spend, but this delicious recipe makes you slow down and enjoy the warm smell of holiday spices. Plus, it’s more affordable and delicious than store-bought creamer!
Ingredients you need
Whole Milk
To make the longer version of this creamy concoction you start by reducing milk with sugar to make a homemade condensed milk. If you choose to make the fast take on Christmas creamer, grab a can of sweetened condensed milk instead.
If you are trying to cut down on dairy, make the short version with condensed coconut milk or replace the whole milk and heavy cream with coconut milk and coconut cream respectively.
Sugar
This common sweetener helps add a perfect kiss of sugary deliciousness to the creamer mixture. If you are using condensed milk, skip this ingredient because condensed milk is already sweetened.
Maple Syrup
In this holiday concoction, the maple syrup is more than just a sweetener. It brings a homey note of holiday sweetness that cannot be beaten. If you prefer a more mild and less complex sweet flavor, try agave syrup instead.
Heavy Cream
Luscious heavy cream has the right fat content to make this smooth coffee lightener thick in texture and indulgent in flavor. If you love dairy, but not lactose, try coconut heavy cream.
Ground Cinnamon
Sizzling cinnamon wakes up your senses with its amazing aroma.
Ground Ginger
The mild zest of ginger immediately makes people think of the holidays.
Ground Nutmeg
This underrated earthy spice sits on a shelf until October then it’s time to shine! In this recipe, the nutmeg will remind you of delicious eggnog and cozy nights by the fire!
Cloves
Cloves are the unofficial smell of Christmas! They have a sweet yet spicy herbal aroma that is so tantalizing! Use whole cloves and strain them out at the end or use about ¼ teaspoon of ground instead.
Ground Allspice
This spice is made from a dried berry and it has similar tasting notes to the other warm spices used here. This complex spicy flavor enhances the other elements so you get a delicious sweet and spicy sip!
Star Anise
This awesome herb tastes just like licorice. Star anise may not be everyone’s favorite flavor by itself, but when used in combination with other flavors it is mellow, sweet, and earthy!
Salt
A little salt makes everything better. A pinch of sodium will actually make the sugars in this mixture taste even sweeter which brings harmony to the whole batch!
Homemade Christmas Creamer Step-by-step
How To Make Christmas Coffee Creamer From Scratch
Quick Cook Christmas Creamer
- Step One: Mix the spices together to make Christmas Spice Mix.
- Step Two: In a small pot, bring the condensed milk and star anise to a low simmer.
- Step Three: Add the heavy cream, maple syrup, and Christmas spice mix. Bring everything back to a simmer again over low heat for about 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk constantly.
- Step Four: Strain the liquid into a bottle or container and leave it to cool down completely.
- Step Five: Once cooled, seal the container and store the creamer in the fridge.
Long Cook Christmas Creamer
- Step One: Mix the spices together to make Christmas Spice Mix.
- Step Two: Combine the milk, sugar, and salt, add the star anise in a small pot over low heat, and reduce the liquid by about half, stirring often. This process takes about half an hour.
- Step Three: Add the heavy cream, maple syrup, and Christmas spice mix. Bring everything back to a simmer again over low heat for about 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk constantly.
- Step Four: Strain the liquid into a bottle or container and leave it to cool down completely.
- Step Five: Once cooled, seal the container and store the creamer in the fridge.
Barista Tips
- The long version offers a deliciously intense holiday spice flavor thanks to the added steeping time.
- Remember to stir and scrape the sides of the pot often!
- Use this creamer in coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or even milkshakes to add a little holiday cheer to whatever you’re drinking!
Storing Homemade Christmas Creamer
Once you’ve crafted your beautiful coffee creamer you will not want to waste a single drop! Make the most of this delicious drink enhancer by saving any extra in an airtight container or pitcher. This creamer will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Products
Fine Mesh Sieve – To strain out any whole spices or lumps that occur during the cooking process you will want to run the creamer through a fine mesh sieve or strainer.
Frequently Asked Questions About D.I.Y. Coffee Creamer
This delicious mixture is best when it’s used within three days of making. It can be stored in a bottle in the fridge to keep it nice and fresh!
Yes, with a few swaps, you can make this creamer vegan. Swap the dairy for their coconut-based counterparts and be sure to use vegan-friendly sugar.
Unfortunately, it is not. Christmas creamer is high in carbs and sugars. However, most people only use a small amount of creamer, so it may be acceptable to have a splash here and there without ruining your ketosis.
More Recipes and Tips You Might Enjoy:
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- How to make Homemade Creamer?
- Salted Caramel Coffee Creamer
- Homemade Pumpkin Spice
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- Eggnog Latte
- Oat Milk Coffee Recipe
- Iced Honey Latte
- Iced Lavender Latte
- Why does Oat Milk Separate in Coffee?
- Can you put Hot Coffee in Glass?
- How much Syrup to put into Coffee?
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Christmas Creamer – 2 Versions
Equipment
- Small bowl
- Whisk
- Medium pot
- Fine meshed sieve
- Glass container
Ingredients
Ingredients Short Version
- ¼ tsp Ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Ground ginger
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
- 4-5 pieces Cloves or ground cloves ¼ teaspoon
- ¼ tsp Ground allspice
- 3-4 pieces Star anise
- 1 ½ cup Sweetened Condensed milk
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ½ cup Maple syrup
- 1 ¼ cup Heavy cream
Ingredients Long Version without Condensed Milk
- ¼ tsp Ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Ground ginger
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
- 4-5 pieces Cloves or ground cloves ¼ teaspoon
- ¼ tsp Ground allspice
- 3-4 pieces Star anise
- 1 ½ cup Whole milk
- ½ cup Sugar
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ½ cup Maple syrup
- ¼ cup Heavy cream
Instructions
Short Version
- Mix ¼ tsp Ground ginger, ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg, 4-5 pieces Cloves, ¼ tsp Ground allspice, and ¼ tsp Ground cinnamon in a small bowl to create a Christmas spice mix.¼ tsp Ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp Ground ginger, ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg, 4-5 pieces Cloves, ¼ tsp Ground allspice
- In a small pot, pour in 1 ½ cup Sweetened Condensed milk¼ tsp Salt, and bring it to a low simmer with 3-4 pieces Star anise.3-4 pieces Star anise, 1 ½ cup Sweetened Condensed milk, ¼ tsp Salt
- Add 1 ¼ cup Heavy cream, ½ cup Maple syrup, and Christmas spice mix, then bring everything together to a simmer again on low heat while constantly whisking, this time for another 5-10 minutes.½ cup Maple syrup, 1 ¼ cup Heavy cream
- After the final simmer, strain the liquid into a glass container or glass bottle and leave it to cool down completely.
- After it is cooled to room temperature, seal it or cover it with a cling film and keep it in a refrigerator.
Long Version
- Mix ¼ tsp Ground ginger, ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg, 4-5 pieces Cloves, ¼ tsp Ground allspice, and ¼ tsp Ground cinnamon in a small bowl to create a Christmas spice mix.¼ tsp Ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp Ground ginger, ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg, 4-5 pieces Cloves, ¼ tsp Ground allspice
- In a small pot, pour in 1 ½ cup Whole milk, ½ cup Sugar, and ¼ tsp Salt, add 3-4 pieces Star anise, and reduce the liquid to 1⁄2 of the starting volume on low heat, mixing and scraping the sides occasionally (I set my alarm every 10 minutes) of the pan using a silicone spatula. (Total weight after reduction should be about 300-350 gr/ml). This process will take about 30 minutes.3-4 pieces Star anise, 1 ½ cup Whole milk, ½ cup Sugar, ¼ tsp Salt
- Once we get the milk reduction/condensed milk, we can add ¼ cup Heavy cream, ½ cup Maple syrup, and Christmas spice mix, then bring everything together to a simmer again on low heat while constantly whisking, this time for another 5-10 minutes.½ cup Maple syrup, ¼ cup Heavy cream
- After the final simmer, we can strain the liquid into a glass container or glass bottle and leave it to cool down completely.
- After it is cooled down to room temperature, we can seal it or cover it with a cling film and keep it in a refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food and beverages unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
