9 Best Non-Dairy Sugar-Free Creamers (2024)
There are now several excellent dairy-free and unsweetened coffee creamers on the market. This article shares the best non-dairy sugar-free creamers so you can buy the best choice. All of the creamers are made with no dairy, no added sugars, and wholesome ingredients when you can’t have milk or dairy cream.
How to Use Creamers
Think outside the box (mug?) and find lots of reasons to buy and use vegan creamers. Besides using in a regular cup of coffee, you can use these vegan coffee creamers to make your favorite barista drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos.
They are also the perfect complement to a bowl of hot oats or used to prepare overnight oats (see my recipe for Overnight Protein Oats).
Why Dairy-Free?
Allergies and intolerances are a big reason people turn to dairy alternatives. There are many views on how animals are treated and how dairy farming affects the planet, so some people also choose to avoid dairy for ethical reasons.
Consuming dairy also has health concerns as well. Dairy is one of the top allergens and can cause issues for many people. See my full article on the health reasons to go dairy-free.
The good news is that we’ve come a long way since it was almost impossible to find a decent tasting non-dairy creamer! Most people think of nuts as the main alternative, but even those with nut allergies now have oat and pea options.
Type of Non-Dairy Creamers
Most of us prefer liquid creamers as opposed to powders. It’s the easiest way to froth milk for a latte, for example. Because it’s ready to use, you can simply pour and go. These will also be the creamiest types, as you aren’t mixing with water.
If you work outside the home and don’t have access to a fridge, you may look into powdered options that you can store in your desk drawer. This gives you a convenience way to add creamer to your coffee when you are away from home. It would also be easier to pack on vacation if you want to have your favorite options on hand.
The benefit to most of these is that even several of the liquid options are shelf-stable before opening. So you can certainly travel with them as long as you have a way to refrigerate them at your end destination.
It’s worth noting that actual creamers and varieties called “barista” are more likely to give the desired result in drinks. For example, almond milk on its own is very thin, but creamer versions will be thicker and more similar to a traditional coffee creamer. Especially if you are looking for foamy lattes, you will want to select the right milk for the job.
Don’t miss my article on the best organic coffee brands or my article with the Best Plant-Based Substitutes for Heavy Cream. And, if you can tolerate dairy but don’t want added sugars, see my related article on the best sugar-free creamers.
Best Non-Dairy Creamers
Without further ado, here are my picks for the best vegan coffee creamers that are all dairy-free, plant-based, and made without added sugars.
If you like a sweetened coffee, feel free to add your choice of sweetener. Or, you can buy sweetened versions of most of these non-dairy creamers. I’ve included links to purchase online, but you can find most of these in your local grocery store as well.
Enjoy!
1. Califia Unsweetened Better Half Coffee Creamer
This Califia Farms Better Half vegan creamer is the one most similar to dairy-based half and half. Mixing almond and coconut means the coconut flavor won’t be as strong and it also help cut the calories.
Being unsweetened and unflavored, it is a great choice to use in savory options like sauces. My husband loves it and that is saying a lot because he is very picky.
It has a neutral flavor and the coconut cream makes it so delicious and creamy. This is our top pick for the best non-dairy coffee creamer.
I also love it because it’s free from cane sugar, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and other artificial ingredients.
2. Nutpods Oat French Vanilla Unsweetened
Many people reach for oat creamers because they use less water in production than almonds.
This one is a natural vanilla flavor, which can be a great option when switching from sweetened products. Vanilla will give a sweeter flavor with zero sugar. This is perfect to use in baked goods as well.
See my recipe for homemade oat milk creamer if you want to try making it at home instead.
3. SOWN Organic Oat Creamer Unsweetened
Another oat option, this vegan creamer from SOWN comes in a quart container.
If you use a lot of creamer for baking, you’ll want to get a larger, more economical option like this one. It is made from whole oats to get the best texture in the final product.
Additionally, this option is organic which means the oats were grown without pesticides. This one is also amazing in iced coffee!
4. Laird Superfood Creamer Unsweetened
This unsweetened powder by surfer Laird Hamilton is a blend of coconut milk powder and coconut oil, which will give a really rich natural flavor.
Try using this to make a really rich mug of my healthy hot cocoa on a cold winter’s day.
5. Califia Unsweetened Almond Milk Barista Blend
This barista version of Califia Almond Milk will give the best results for espresso-type drinks. Whether you are making your own latte art or just giving a quick whisk, you can really get some air into the milk.
Unsweetened almond milk means you can easily add extracts and other natural flavors to get exactly the drink you are looking for. This is because almond milk has such a neutral flavor.
The barista blend of this Califia almond milk means that it is thicker than regular almond milk which tends to be quite thin. I also like that this brand is free from carrageenan (it does contain gellan gum).
6. Druids Grove Organic Soy Milk Powder
Soy milk can be an acquired taste for some. This vegan coffee creamer is very creamy, and soy naturally has more protein in it than its other plant-based counterparts. This means that it can add more thickness to your coffee drinks than other dairy-free options like almond milk.
Powdered milk is also great for adding to smoothies as you can use just enough water to blend your fruit and add a bit of powder for a creamy taste without too many calories or dairy products.
7. Rising Tide Elevate Plant-Based Creamer
This milk-free creamer option contains MCT oil and coconut oil powders. You can achieve a wonderful coffee drink close to butter coffee but without the dairy.
This one is perfect for an active lifestyle because it doesn’t require refrigeration once opened. It’s also blended with “superfoods” including lion’s mane mushroom powder and acacia powder which adds a bit of fiber.
8. Milkadamia Macadamia Milk Unsweetened Latte De Barista
Made from raw macadamia nuts, this may be the best choice if you are your own barista!
It is creamy and rich and froths just like dairy. Because the nuts are raw you retain all the health benefits, and you don’t have a roasted taste to overtake your coffee.
Try this milk in my Matcha Coffee recipe!
If you don’t want to buy the boxed version, try my recipe for Homemade Macadamia Milk.
9. Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Coconut Milk Powder
This organic powdered coconut milk will be great in hot cocoa. I also love to use it to prepare a bowl of oatmeal.
Milk powder is a great pantry staple to have on hand to be prepared at all times. I like to bring along a little baggie of it when I travel. This powder can satisfy a creamy craving without any added sugar or dairy.
Don’t Miss These Coffee Resources!
Conclusions
Non-dairy milk alternatives have come a long way in recent years. No matter if you have allergies, intolerances, or ethical concerns, you can find a product that is right for you. No longer is there just soy and almond milk, but we now have oat milk and gourmet options like macadamia nut milks. Remember to pick the right format for each application, from baking to smoothies to coffee.
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
Note: this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for recommendations related to your individual situation.
I accidentally got the SOWN Organic Oat Creamer in the Sweet and Creamy when I wanted the unsweetened. It might be a good idea to use the picture for the unsweetened kind.
done! Thanks for the suggestion.
Is it possible to have an allergy to milk and cheese and butter and mistake it for IBS ?
Yes absolutely! A functional medicine doctor can also help rule out a sensitivity or allergy to whey or casein, or both.