Try These Homemade Coffee Creamer Flavors For the Holidays!

Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for McCafé packaged coffee. I received product samples as well as a monetary promotional incentive to thank me for my participation.

So, every morning I have this routine.

Get up, get ready, get the kids ready, wake up the teenagers and make sure they are ready, get everyone clothed and fed, then off to school. Usually this goes well with only minor hiccups. Sometimes a teenager is late waking up. Occasionally the littlest wants to play Lego’s or watch tv. Once in a while the first grader will balk at which shirt I’ve chosen or stall on getting his shoes on. For the most part, though, our mornings go pretty smoothly. Once everyone is dropped off, I return home. I make my coffee, add my creamer, include a little sweetener, and sit down and get into work mode. Whether it’s checking my email, writing out a recipe or beginning my shopping list – this is my “me-time” every day. I get to enjoy my coffee in silence and process how my day will go.

You can imagine how thrown off I might be if I’m out of creamer, right? Especially if I didn’t realize I was out of creamer?

Oh yes, it’s like an emergency!

Thankfully, I discovered a way to make my own creamer quite a few years ago. On the occasion I unexpectedly run out of creamer, I’ll often just make my own. And if I happen to have run out of sweetened condensed milk, I’ll just make that too.

Throughout the year I’ll typically make a vanilla creamer or sweet cream. During the holidays, though, I like to go all out and make fun holiday coffee creamer flavors. Sometimes I prefer this over my normal creamer too, since you can control what ingredients are in there. If you make your own sweetened condensed milk too, you can also control the fat and sugar as well!

I recently got the opportunity to try out some of the most popular McCafé packaged coffee flavors. I have to say, the Hazelnut is my favorite. I’ve never smelled a better smelling coffee, and we all know that part of the whole coffee experience begins with the aroma. You can fin McCafé packaged coffee in K-Cup® pods form as well as in a traditional ground form. I thought it would be fun to try them out with some of my favorite homemade coffee creamer flavors for the holidays, which would also be wonderful to set out for guests or even provide to coffee lovers as a gift option. Just package up a bottle of homemade coffee creamer, coffee, and a cute mug with personalized tags and a sticker for the cap for the coffee lover in your life. What a treat!

McCafé packaged coffee is available wherever you buy groceries and is made with 100% Arabica beans. It also comes in seven different varieties including roasts and blends, such as Premium Roast, French Roast, Breakfast Blend and Colombian, as well as different flavors, such as French Vanilla and Hazelnut. For more information you can check out McDonalds.com/McCafeAtHome or follow along at @McCafe!

Even if you’re not a coffee lover, this coffee and creamer would be great to serve at your next holiday gathering along with your favorite desserts. I know I’d definitely accept a cup or two with my favorite cookie!

Eggnog Creamer Ingredients:

• 1 can condensed milk (or homemade condensed milk*)
• 1 and 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon rum extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Peppermint Mocha Creamer Ingredients:

• 1 can condensed milk (or homemade condensed milk*)
• 1 and 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Gingerbread Creamer Ingredients:

• 1 can condensed milk (or homemade condensed milk*)
• 1 and 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

*Homemade Condensed Milk Ingredients:

• 3 cups milk
• 1 and 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

*If you’re making the homemade condensed milk, add the milk and sugar to a medium, heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Once mixture has come to a boil, lower heat to a high simmer. Continue to whisk every so often, watching as the liquid reduces by half. This is condensing the liquid in the milk, creating a thick sauce. Once the liquid is about half of what it was when you began, stir in the vanilla and butter. Measure and use as you would a canned sweetened and condensed milk. The canned version is about 1 and 3/4 cups measured.

Begin by heating the condensed milk in a heavy bottom saucepan on a medium/low heat. Add the extracts and slowly add the dry powders.

While the condensed milk is warm, whisk the flavorings until well incorporated. You don’t want a mouthful of cinnamon or cocoa powder! Once the condensed milk has heated through and the flavorings are well mixed, slowly mix in the milk (or cream). Whisk it all together until it’s well mixed, then remove from heat.

Allow the creamer mixture to cool, then carefully pour into containers for storage. I filled them with these adorable glass bottles I found.

I also created cute inexpensive tags for the bottles, making them perfect for gifting.

To use the creamer, brew your favorite flavor McCafé coffee. For this go around I used the Breakfast Blend, but you can play with flavors. I love to add a lot of flavor to my coffee by using the flavored coffee and mixing it with a creamer in a different flavor.

Add a splash of your favorite creamer flavor to the coffee and sweeten as you wish (or don’t, if that’s what you prefer).

Stir the creamer with the coffee.

And serve with your favorite treats! Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite coffee flavor?

Try your favorite flavor with one of these seasonal homemade coffee creamers for a real treat! Remember, McCafé is still available at your local McDonald’s, this is just another way to enjoy your favorite coffee at home with your own ways to customize it!