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Pouring Creamer into a Cup of Coffee
Michelle Lee Photography/istockphoto

Coffee is a necessary morning crutch for people from all walks of life. And sometimes it seems like there is absolutely no affordable way to indulge in it, especially when you consider expensive coffee shop concoctions (I am fully convinced that Starbucks’ name is really just a clever nod to its astronomical prices) and overpriced store-bought creamers. To make your morning java jolt more affordable, however, you can turn to trusty TikTok to unlock cheap, made-at-home creamer recipes.

@katierpollard EASY delicious CHEAP coffee creamer #frenchvanilla #coffee #diy #alabamahomestead #diyrecipe #diycoffeecreamer #masonjar #farmlife #selfsufficient #homestead #simplerecipe #alabama ♬ Morning Coffee – Chevy & Nalba

TikTok user @katierpollard shared her recipe for homemade coffee creamer and all you’ll need is three affordable ingredients: one can of sweetened condensed milk, a cup of your preferred milk, and a tablespoon of vanilla extract. Mix it all in a jar and voila: vanilla coffee creamer.

While coffee creamer can run shoppers anywhere from $4 to nearly $10 a bottle depending on the brand and variety, this alternative aims to be much more affordable. A can of sweetened condensed milk runs about $2, and you’ll be able to make several batches out of one bottle of vanilla extract and a gallon of milk, so the $10 or so you’re likely to spend on those ingredients will go a lot further than your standard bottle of store-bought creamer.

Gallery: The Best (and Worst) Store-Bought Coffee Creamers

@thecraftologist Replying to @jangle003 DIY Cinnamon Dolce Coffee Creamer recipe! #5stars #coffeetok #diycoffeecreamerseries #cookwithcassie #coffeeupgrades #coffeetiktoklover☕️ #food_diy #cinnamondolce #cinnamondolceicedcoffee #starbucksdupes #ingredientcheck #caramelcoffee #coffeecreamerseries #doityourselfcreamer #lovelovelove♥️ #homemadeisbetter #oildoesntbelonginmycoffee #craftologistrecipes ♬ What’s Your Fantasy – Ludacris

Another TikTok user, @thecraftologist, points out that creamers at the store are chock-full of unfamiliar ingredients while at-home recipes are much simpler. Plus, if you want to get creative and swap the vanilla extract out for a different flavor of extract or syrup, there are plenty of recipes to choose from. 

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Meet the Writer

Rachel is a Michigan-based writer who has dabbled in a variety of subject matter throughout her career. As a mom of multiple young children, she tries to maintain a sustainable lifestyle for her family. She grows vegetables in her garden, gets her meat in bulk from local farmers, and cans fruits and vegetables with friends. Her kids have plenty of hand-me-downs in their closets, but her husband jokes that before long, they might need to invest in a new driveway thanks to the frequent visits from delivery trucks dropping off online purchases (she can’t pass up a good deal, after all). You can reach her at [email protected].