I don't drink coffee. (weird? I know.) My parents don't drink coffee. My grandparents never drank coffee. My husband didn't drink coffee until a few years ago. So having coffee creamer around in the fridge is a newer thing for me. Turns out, it's one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen.
five tips for using coffee creamer:
1. french toast: This was the first new use I found for coffee creamer. One morning we were out of milk and I had promised the kids french toast for breakfast. I knew I'd have a mutiny on my hands if I didn't find a substitute. Instead of mixing your eggs with milk, vanilla, cinnamon, etc., it's SO MUCH EASIER (and fun) to use creamer! Our favorite flavors are hazelnut, vanilla, and eggnog.
2. buttercream frosting: One time I was making a white chocolate buttercream and after adding the melted chocolate, decided to put in some creamer instead of the milk/vanilla combo. The added depth of flavor was great! When trying to get a certain flavor, I've found it's hard to get frosting the right consistency when you're adding a variety of liquids (juice, extracts, etc). Flavored creamer eliminates this difficulty and provides a multitude of options. I'm thinking Vanilla Caramel, Chocolate Almond Biscotti, or Peppermint Mocha would all be amazing. (you do have to be careful with this method because I used french vanilla one time and it was just too strong, but with half milk I think it would have been perfect.)
3. peaches and cream(er): Have you spied those fresh, seasonal peaches at your local fruit stand or farmer's market? I love me some juicy sliced peaches. My grandma used to sugar them and pour some milk in a bowl for peaches and cream. If you slice and sugar first, and let the peaches sit in the fridge, you'll get a nice syrup. Add your choice of creamer (amaretto, anyone?) and a cool summer dessert or breakfast is yours to enjoy!
4. oatmeal: Do you like to add a little milk to hot oatmeal if it's too thick or to cool it down? Using coffee creamer instead is a great way to do that while adding some sweetness and flavor. I like to make special types of oatmeal but my kids don't agree on what is good, so using different creamers in plain oatmeal makes sure everyone gets what they enjoy. How about Butter Pecan? Or the new Girl Scout cookie flavors look awesome. (samoa flavored oatmeal? sign me up!)
5. homemade ice cream: I haven't tried this one yet, but intend to very soon. If you'd like to check out a recipe using an ice cream maker, Cupcakes and Crinoline made a White Chocolate Mocha Strawberry version that looks amazing. No ice cream maker? No worries. Mom on Time Out created an Almond Joy Ice Cream that I can't wait to sample! Either of these recipes would also be easy starting points for any combination you can dream up.
So, coffee creamer. Who knew you could do so much with it? It's still great for flavoring coffee, hot chocolate, and even tea but do you -or will you- use it in another way too?
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