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During my time as a barista at a local coffee shop, I became familiar with LOTS of specialty coffee drinks.
Espresso con panna.
Shot in the dark.
Americano.
Double-tall, skinny, half-caf caramel macchiato, extra hot, hold the whip cream, but add caramel drizzle…
…you get the idea.
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But one of my FAVORITE drinks to make didn’t even involve coffee.
It was called a “steamer,” and it was simply steamed milk sweetened with a flavored syrup. The two most popular flavors requested were almond and vanilla–> both of which are delicious. Granted, these were more often than not ordered for children… but I think it’s just because the adults didn’t know what they were missing!
In case you’re one of those adults, here’s my dairy-free twist on the traditional steamer. I recommend you try it ASAP.
The star of the show?
Homemade coconut milk.
Did you know you can make coconut milk at home just by blending organic shredded coconut with pure water? I use the same ratio I do for making almond milk–> 1 cup shredded coconut + 4 cups filtered water.
Blend until creamy, then strain through a nut milk bag or mesh strainer, discarding or saving the leftover coconut pulp for another use.
Store your milk in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week.
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Now that you’ve got your coconut milk ready, it’s time to make a steamer!
Creamy Coconut Steamer
serves 1
Ingredients:
1 cup coconut milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, or liquid stevia to taste
Directions:
Combine the coconut milk, vanilla and almond extracts, and sweetener in a saucepan over high heat.
Stir often until piping hot, then pour into a mug to serve!
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup , or 10 drops liquid stevia
Instructions
- Combine the coconut milk, vanilla and almond extracts in a saucepan over high heat. Stir constantly until piping hot, then pour into a mug and sweeten with liquid stevia, to taste.
- Serve warm, and enjoy!
Nutrition
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Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
How long does the coconut milk last in the fridge?
And can this coconut milk be used in recipes that call for canned coconut milk?
The coconut milk should last for about a week in the fridge. It won’t be nearly as thick or creamy as canned coconut milk, so I guess it depends on which recipe you want to use it in!
Thanks! Do you think if maybe i did a 1-1 ratio then it would be thicker like canned?
This sounds really good. Just curious, how does this coconut milk compare to So Delicious Unsweetened coconut milk? How do you determine the nutritional values (e.g. canned coconut milk is much different than the So Delicious). I often wonder the same thing with almondmilk, too, because it all depends on how much water you use. Thanks!
Wowzers!Sounds super delish!
this sounds really yummy!!! I tried making coconut milk like that once….can’t remember what I used it for….oh wait I tried to make yogurt using that….didn’t turn out thick enough thoug…still experimenting with that one….LOVE that bottle though!!
YUM! I’m (coco)nuts about coconuts – this is a must try! Thanks for sharing. 🙂 I wish Starbucks and other java houses would carry coconut and almond milks. Everyone I hit up only carries soy – bleh! Happy RAWgust! 😉
Holy yum! This sounds amazing. I’m a fellow barista who LOVES her coffee. I’m always excited when I can find a coffee shop or stand that uses rice or almond milk. Sometimes I’ll bring just enough almond milk for a latte to Starbucks and they’ll make a latte for me with it.
Have a good night! I’ll be trying this recipe soon.
I can’t wait to try this!
I used to love steamers when I was a barista! I also love making homemade coconut milk! I usually soak my coconut flakes in water in the fridge overnight first to soften it up and help it blend easier!
Thanks for the recipe! I love steamers!
Sounds delicious and I have everything to make it (which virtually never happens) sounds like a plan! Happy Sunday Everyone!