This naturally sweetened, dairy-free peppermint mocha coffee creamer is a healthy alternative to store-bought creamers. It’s vegan, gluten-free, paleo-friendly, refined sugar-free, and super easy to make. A delicious way to spruce up your morning coffee without the artificial flavours and preservatives!
You know you have a slight problem on your hands when you’re standing over your kitchen counter holding a bottle of coffee creamer and fighting hard to resist the temptation to drink the entire thing down. Sans coffee.
But that’s exactly the kind of situation I found myself in the other night, and the only thing that stopped me was the fact that I still had to photograph the recipe for you guys. So thank you. Love you. Owe you.
I mean, it wouldn’t have been that horrible if I downed the entire thing, considering it was homemade and packed with healthy ingredients [like dates, coconut/almond milk, peppermint, and cocoa powder], but it was around 8pm and I’m pretty sure it would have left me pretty darn wired. Sans coffee or not.
Besides, I used up my last can of coconut milk, and I wasn’t about to go running out to the store to buy more. Turns out the joke was on me, because while I saved myself the late night run for coconut milk, I ended up having to make an two early morning runs for mini candy canes — just because I thought they’d make a cute little addition to the pictures…
… which you have to admit, they do.
The whole thing did teach me a very important lesson, though –> hold on to those sad-looking mini candy canes that you randomly pick up during the holiday season, because you never know when you might need them.
Truth be told, I’m not overly crazy about peppermint… probably because it reminds me of toothpaste, which I don’t make a habit of eating. Pair that peppermint with chocolate, though, and I will gladly jump through hoops for you. As long as they’re not on fire.
But enough idle banter — let’s get to the good stuff! With “the good stuff,” in this case, being dairy free peppermint mocha coffee creamer.
While I’ll always and forever like black coffee best, black coffee with a splash of homemade creamer is pretty freaking epic as well… especially when said creamer is made from a base of dates and coconut milk. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about that combination that just amplifies the effects of my morning coffee x10. Maybe it’s the caffeine + natural sugar + MCTs. Or maybe it’s all a placebo stemming from my excitement. Either way, it’s delicious.
And healthy! Have you ever taken a look at the ingredients list of store-bought creamers? Hydrogenated oils, artificial flavours, colours, preservatives. Basically a whole lot of stuff you don’t want to be putting in your body, especially when it’s so easy to whip up your own using just a handful of healthy ingredients! And when those healthy ingredients include peppermint and cocoa? Day equals made.
I’d love to know if you make this recipe! Leave a comment and rating down below to let me know what you think, and subscribe to our mailing list to receive new recipes in your inbox!
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Dairy Free Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of dates, pitted (~100g or 6 large dates)
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup light canned coconut milk*
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk*
- 1/4 tsp. peppermint extract**
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Add dates and hot water to a high-speed blender or food processor. If your dates are a little dry, allow them to soak for 10 – 15 minutes so that they’ll be easier to blend. Otherwise, process until dates have broken down and turned into a smooth paste, scraping down the sides of your blender as necessary.
- Add the remaining ingredients, and continue processing until everything is fully combined and mixture becomes smooth. Adjust peppermint and cocoa to taste.
- Transfer creamer to an airtight container. You can run it through a fine mesh strainer to ensure no bigger pieces of dates remain, but it shouldn’t be necessary with a high-speed blender or food processor. Store in fridge for up to a week. Creamer will thicken as it sits.
Notes
* You can play around with the milk quantities depending on how creamy you want your creamer. Use all coconut milk to make it extremely creamy, or all almond milk to make it lighter. If going with the latter, add 1/4 tsp. of xanthan gum to help thicken it up. ** You can add up to 1/2 tsp. of mint extract, depending on how much you want the mint flavour to shine through. Just be careful you don’t add too much, or you’ll end up with a creamer that tastes like toothpaste or mouthwash. Start with 1/4 tsp. and adjust from there.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
Looking for a healthy dairy-free snack to enjoy with your coffee? Try one of these!
Strawberry Banana Oat Bars
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Oatmeal Cookies
Banana Bread Mug Cake
Blueberry Almond Oat Bars
Grain Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Delicious! I didn’t have almond milk so I used my unsweetened vanilla coconut milk instead (double coconut milk) and it is so good. Since peppermint is such a strong flavor, it doesn’t take much to make your coffee taste great. Thanks for the recipe!
OMG so good! Just a note instead of soaking my dates I blended them with the warm water and didnt realize I had no coco powder. Didn’t matter still delish.
Oh perfect – I love peppermint but not a fan of crazy syrups and the idea of creamers but I can’t handle actual cream – thanks amanda!!!
I love this! I drink my coffee black and banned fun flavored creamers because of the ingredients; so I was so excited to find this recipe! Delicious! Dates are a huge staple in my kitchen for so many things. I used this creamer in my coffee and had Greek yogurt gingerbread pancakes this morning. It’s a Spoons breakfast, complete with snow falling outside 🙂
That sounds so lovely! Thanks so much for your great review, Shelly 🙂 I’m glad that you liked the creamer!
Nailed it. My favorite flavor.
After 8, coffee creamer style.
I’m not a regular coffee drinker but I have a feeling this would turn me into one! Holy deliciousness. I love that it’s made with dates for even more of a natural energy boost first thing in the morning too. Sounds so good!
Also, my mind is still blown that these pics are taken with a stock lens. I think that just goes to show that you are an amazing photographer!
Aww thanks girl 🙂 But I’ve seriously been thinking about upgrading, or switching to my 50mm, because I’m starting to find this one a bit limiting.
I love the peppermint chocolate combo. Toss in some white chocolate and I may jump through hoops, even those on fire.
Dates and coconut milk? GIRL. You are inventive and I love the idea of homemade creamer! For some reason, I always just assumed that it was one of those store bought things that you just picked up at the grocery store. Not sure why since it’s not to tricky of a combo of ingredients if it does have dairy. Love that you came up with a creative way to make it dairy-free
I made this creamer yesterday (minus the mint, after Thanksgiving here in the US, I’ll embrace all things mint) and it’s definitely addicting!!! So GOOD! I too am having difficulties stopping myself from just drinking it. It’s like a rich, decadent chocolate milk…hmm that might have potential. =) Thanks for the recipe
I’m so glad you liked it, Nikki! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
This looks really good! I have been on the hunt for homemade creamers as I am planning on making a lot of baked healthy homemade goodies for Christmas presents! My mom is in love with coffee, and while she hates peppermint, the idea of homemade creamer as a Christmas gift is a great idea!
Also how many recipes do you experiment within in a week? As a girl new to baking and recipe development I am super curious! Also what are your favorite healthy baking substitutes? 🙂
XO
Eee the recipe amount really depends on how many I plan on posting, and how successful my trials are. But I’d say anywhere from 3-6. And when it comes to baking subs, I love: oats, almond butter, maple syrup, dates, bananas, and coconut oil.
I’m trying really hard not to go overboard on mint and chocolate before December 1st but you just made it really, really difficult.
I’m a coffee drinker an also like peppermint on occasion in my drinks. I’d have to say my favorite coffee sugar shot is blackberry (don’t knock it till ya try it) and around the holidays I enjoy chai tea a lot more. Are you a gum chewer? I will only chew mint gum.
YES to mint gum! Every now and then I’ll get a craving for some bubble gum or watermelon flavoured gum, but my go-to is almost always spearmint.
I love peppermint in my coffee! I swear dates are like magic for cooking. They make everything taste good!
Sooo I like my coffee nonexistent. But you knew that 😉 I am a big fan of peppermint though, particularly with some chocolate thrown in there!
I have no idea how you keep managing to resist the caffeine siren song! I was sure you’d give in by now 😛
So, I’m usually not a fan at all of mint-flavored food, as it reminds me of toothpaste, but I could get behind this. sounds like a homemade peppermint mocha, and I am all about having Starbucks at home. 😉
I’m a black coffee with a splash of milk kind of girl, but I love that this is natural and sweetened with dates. Every now and then I get a hankering for something seasonal, so I think I’ll try this before hitting starbucks.
This looks incredible. And I love love love that it is sweetened with dates!!! My favorite way to sweeten things. 🙂
I have a partial can of coconut milk in the fridge right now…think this one needs to happen! ? Sounds like just the thing to add to my hot cocoa…I’ve been going through this phase where my homemade fat-free/dairy-free cocoa drink is just tasting a little too lean for me. I’m not feeling the comfort vibes quite so well as when I add cashew cream or some such to it. ? Or this.^^^
I hear ya, girl! It’s so nice to have that little bit of extra comfort. And our bodies need it now that it’s getting chilly.
Yum! I am always wondering what do do with those sad little candy canes by the way. They are adorable and I love them, but unlike when I was little I have no desire to eat them every day as dessert for the month of December.
I used to like them when I was younger too! But yeah… not so much anymore. You could always make them into chocolate bark 🙂
OH EM GEE! This is what has been the missing piece in my life!! Who needs coffee? Id rather drink it straight 😉
I have all of the ingredients except the peppermint part because as you know, I don’t like peppermint. Can I do it without peppermint and call it something else? lol I think it would still be good, I love the rest of the ingredient combination.
You can definitely do without the peppermint and just call it coffee creamer 😛 Or sub the mint with 2 or 3 times as much vanilla.
You’re the best for making those candy canes look spectacular 🙂 I still haven’t made coffee creamer with dates but now I just have to try – this looks too yummy and I’m excited for the holidays!
I love this! So excited to find this recipe this Saturday morning and wishing I had dates!! Have you ever substituted peppermint essential oil? Wondering if it would be too strong!?! It would give it even more health benefits though. Thanks so much! New to your blog and loving it.
I haven’t tried essential oil, Ashly, so I wouldn’t be able to say if it would be too strong. I would imagine it -might- work if you just used less? Definitely one of those things where you’d have to start out small and just keep taste testing.
Yes to absolutely everything about this! I can’t wait to make this every morning of December! Who even needs starbucks?