Rich & Creamy Dairy-Free Cashew Coffee Creamer

An uber-creamy, rich, and not weird-tasting vegan and dairy-free coffee creamer? Sign me up! Okay, so I’ve been signed up for awhile now.

I’ve been on the Cashew Coffee Creamer wagon for nearly 5 years and still love just as much as I did when I drank my first cuppa all transformed into creamy goodness with cashew creamer.

If you’ve recently had to give up traditional creamers made with dairy, you might be feeling the same pain I felt when I first had to give up dairy. It’s tough, I know!

But no worries, friend, because this Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer is here to save the day.

Why do I love this dairy-free coffee creamer?

• Homemade cashew milk coffee creamer is sooooo rich and creamy – the closest thing I’ve found to half-and-half so far.
• Cashews already have a touch of natural sweetness, so no additional sweetener is needed.
• It’s so (so!) easy to make – you don’t even need to strain it.
• It’s about as whole-foods as it gets – no weird chemicals or unpronounceable ingredients.
• It’s rich and creamy and utterly divine in coffee. Wait – did I already say it’s rich and creamy? But seriously. It is!
• It’s equally delicious in hot coffee or iced coffee. It’s an all-around, super versatile creamer! Total VIP.

Ready to try it for yourself?

How to Make Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer

(Honestly, though, it’s so easy, it barely warrants a tutorial!)

Step 1: Soak your cashews

Start with raw, unsalted, whole cashews. Place them in a large jar or heat-safe bowl and pour about 2 cups of boiling water over the top, making sure all of those bad boys are submerged. Let soak for 20 minutes. You’re good to go! Alternatively, you can soak them using the long method. Simply use room temperature water and let them sit at room temperature for 4-6 hours until soft. If you plan to let them soak for longer, place them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Step 2: Blend it on up

Drain and rinse the soaked cashews and add them to the pitcher of a blender along with 1 cup water, some vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. And puree! Whip those nuts into submission. If this is your first time, you might look at the soaked cashews floating in the water and be all … Huh?! How will this become milk? But keep on blending, because soon – in about a minute – you’ll have milky, creamy goodness. Promise. But please be sure to blend for the full minute! This will help prevent gritty coffee creamer.

Step 3: Enjoy your rich and creamy Cashew Coffee Creamer!

That’s it! You’re done! Add a splash to a cup of coffee and you’re a happy camper.

How to Store Your Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer

You’ll want to keep your Cashew Milk Coffee Creamer in an airtight container in the fridge. Shake it before using it as it may separate a bit as it sits. Your cashew creamer should last a good 5-6 days – make some on Sunday to enjoy creamy coffee goodness all week long.

Prep: 25 mins

Total: 25 mins

Rich & Creamy Dairy-Free Cashew Coffee Creamer

4.67 from 12 votes

This simple and easy dairy-free coffee creamer is exceptionally rich and luxurious – the closest thing I’ve found to half-and-half so far.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup cashews (raw and unsalted)
• 1 cup water (up to 2 cups, depending on the consistency you prefer; plus additional water for soaking)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
• pinch salt (optional)

Instructions

• Place cashews in large jar or bowl. Cover with about 2 cups of boiling water, making sure all of the cashews are submerged. Let soak for 20 minutes. Pour cashews and liquid into a fine-mesh strainer to strain the soaking liquid. Rinse.
• Drain the water and discard. Place drained cashews in the pitcher of a blender. Add 1 cup of water, vanilla if using, and salt if using. Blend until completely smooth, about 1 minute, adding more water a couple of tablespoons at a time if needed to get it moving. Add additional water, up to another 1/2 to 1 cup or so, until it's the creamer is consistency you like. I go for a rich and creamy, half-and-half-ish thickness. But also know that your cashew creamer will thicken in the fridge.
• Use in coffee just as you would any other creamer. Keeps refrigerated in an airtight container for about 5 days. It might separate in the fridge; simply shake before pouring.

Notes

Recipe update (1/29/2020): I've updated this recipe to use more cashews (1 cup instead of 1/2 cup) and to start out with a bit less water than before. I found that the 1/2 cup of cashews didn't make enough creamer for me to make it worthwhile. And for the water, it's always better to start out with less - you can always add more, but you can't take it away! I also updated the soaking method; instead of the longer soaking method, I've defaulted to the fast (boiling water/20 minute) method. I find that's the one I use most often and figure that might be the preference for readers as well.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 41kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 11mg, Sugar: 1g