Why bother with the expensive coffee creamer from the store when you can make your own homemade, keto vanilla coffee creamer?
I like to stick with my bullet proof coffee in the mornings. A bit of butter, some coconut oil and stevia, blend it up and we are good to go. A good cup of coffee can keep me going all morning long.
The hubby and the Frenchman love coffee. Well, they thought they loved coffee. Turns out that they just really love their French vanilla creamer. It’s got a lot of sugar, a whopping 5 net carbs per 1 Tablespoon serving.
Let’s be honest, they never put just one single Tablespoon in their coffee, either. For the guys, it’s more like 1/4-1/2 cup per time. I kid you not!
Store bought French vanilla creamer also has some additives that are not on most keto diet plans. For example, the stuff that I get them has carrageenan.
What is carrageenan, you ask?
It’s a little red seaweed that is commonly used in the food industry as a thickening or gelling agent. They are most commonly used in meat and dairy products, to help hold things together. Carrageenan is added to coffee creamer to help “stabilize” it in hot liquid, keeping it from separating out and breaking down.
You’ll notice a difference when you use coffee creamer and heavy whipping cream without the carrageenan. The heavy cream can separate in the hot coffee, and will need to be stirred in again and again.
Other Beverages To Enjoy
Peppermint Mocha
Fresh minty peppermint mocha-low carb and keto friendly!
Is carrageenan safe to consume?
According to the FDA, it’s perfectly safe to consume in “small amounts”. Of course, like any other food additive, you have to first figure out what is considered a “small, safe amount”. One Tablespoon of creamer a day, or more?
Can you consume 1/2 cup of creamer and be okay? What about the carageenan in other foods?
Since carageenan also has a laxative property to it, for some, it can cause severe stomach upset. Ever wonder why your dairy bothered your stomach? Maybe carageenan played a part in that.
The concern over food-grade carrageenan isn’t new. Beginning in the 1960s, researchers started linking the ingredient to gastrointestinal disease in lab animals, including ulcerative colitis, intestinal lesions, and colon cancer. (source)
Unfortunately, carageenan is in a LOT of foods, even organic ones.
Can I avoid carageenan totally?
It IS possible to avoid it completely, but it isn’t always easy. Since carageenan can be found in things like sour cream, heavy cream, and yogurt. Always read the label. This buying guide may help you as you learn what items are carageenan free.
Another thing you can do is learn to make some of your own products, such as this sugar free, keto coffee creamer.
All you need is some heavy cream, a bit of sweetner, unsalted butter and of course, vanilla bean. The butter is what holds everything together once it’s cooled, in place of the carageenan. Heavy whipping cream CAN have some carageenan in it, so try and source organic if you can for that reason.
You can use 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract instead of the vanilla bean if you would like. I prefer the full on vanilla flavor myself. Hubby and the Frenchman both agreed that this tasted great and even THEY are willing to make a switch from store bought to homemade coffee creamer!
Related: For coffee drinkers in Cincinnati, check out this Guide to Independent Coffee Shops in Cincinnati.
Can I make this coffee creamer dairy free?
Yes, you can. Simply swap out coconut milk and cocoa butter for the heavy whipping cream and unsalted butter. The results will not be as thick, but will still be very delicious.
Ingredients:
- 16 ounces heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup erythrtiol
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 vanilla bean
Instructions:
- Slice the vanilla bean down the center lengthwise, and scrape the insides out with a knife.
- Add all ingredients to a pan, and bring to a boil over medium low heat, stir frequently to prevent burning.
- Once mixture is at a bowl, turn heat to low and simmer until mixture begins to thicken up, approximately 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and pour into a glass jar. You can use immediately, or allow to cool ad thicken a bit more.
- Store in the fridge. It will thicken a bit more as mixture cools. Use within 3-5 days.
Are you a coffee drinker? What’s in your morning coffee? Be sure to let me know what you think!
Homemade Keto Vanilla Coffee Creamer
Ingredients
- 16 ounces heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup erythrtiol
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 vanilla bean
Instructions
- Slice the vanilla bean down the center lengthwise, and scrape the insides out with a knife.
- Add all ingredients to a pan, and bring to a boil over medium low heat, stir frequently to prevent burning.
- Once mixture is at a boil, turn heat to low and simmer until mixture begins to thicken up, approximately 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and pour into a glass jar. You can use immediately, or allow to cool ad thicken a bit more.Store in the fridge. It will thicken a bit more as mixture cools. Use within 3-5 days.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
36Serving Size:
1 TablespoonAmount Per Serving: Calories: 51 Total Fat: 5g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 17mg Sodium: 4mg Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 0g Protein: 0g
Zach
Some of Zach's favorite keto resources include:
Perfect Keto: For those who are looking for easy supplements that support a Keto diet, Perfect Keto offers a variety of products that make it easy to stay in ketosis including keto bars, whey protein, and keto nootropics.
KetoLogic: For those who have a sweet tooth, KetoLogic sells keto-friendly chocolate candies with only 1g of net carbs & zero added sugars.
Latest posts by Zach (see all)
- 20 Delicious Keto Mushroom Recipes - December 17, 2019
- Stuffed Peppers Without Rice (Keto-Friendly) - December 10, 2019
- Easy Fudge Balls (keto, low carb, gluten free) - November 20, 2019
I am a traveling nurse; therefore, my cooking utensils are instant pot and air fryer. I love to add coffee to my store-bought cream.
Is there an easy to make a keto creamer? I need to lose weight and lower my cholesterol without going on medication; can you help?
use your instant pot on HOT or sautee, and cook as directed.
Can I substitute powdered Swerve for the erithrytiol?