Sweet cream is a dairy product used to flavor coffee drinks and other beverages. It provides a sweet, creamy taste without being overpowering. Many coffee shops offer sweet cream as an alternative to sugary syrups and sweeteners. But is there a sugar-free version of sweet cream for people looking to reduce their sugar intake? This article will explore what sweet cream is, whether sugar-free varieties exist, and some tips for adding sweetness without sugar.
What is Sweet Cream?
Sweet cream, also known as sweetened condensed milk, is made by adding sugar to pasteurized milk. The mixture is heated until some of the water content evaporates, leaving behind a thick, sweet cream. Traditional sweet cream contains approximately 12-16% sugar. The sugar helps preserve the shelf life of the cream while also providing its characteristic sweet taste.
Sweet cream has a creamy, smooth mouthfeel and sweetens drinks without overpowering other flavors. It’s commonly used in:
- Coffee drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos
- Tea drinks like chai tea lattes
- Hot chocolate
- Some smoothies and milkshakes
The sweetness level can be customized based on personal preference. Many coffee shops will allow you to request the number of pumps of sweet cream added to your drink.
Nutrition Facts
The nutrition facts for sweet cream vary slightly between brands, but a 2 tablespoon serving (28g) contains approximately:
- Calories: 45
- Total fat: 2.5g
- Saturated fat: 1.5g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Sugar: 4g
- Protein: 1g
As you can see, a significant portion of the calories and carbohydrates come from added sugar. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar intake to no more than 25g per day for women and 36g per day for men. Just a couple tablespoons of traditional sweet cream make up almost 20% of the recommended daily added sugar intake.
Is There Sugar-Free Sweet Cream?
So is there a way to get the delicious taste and texture of sweet cream without all that added sugar? Let’s look at some options on the market.
Low-Sugar Sweet Cream
Some dairy brands have developed sweet cream products with about half the sugar content of traditional sweet cream. For example, Nestle’s NESCAFÉ Sweet Cream Coffee Creamer contains 7g of sugar per 2 tablespoon serving compared to 12-16g in regular sweet cream.
The lower sugar content means fewer calories and carbohydrates too. But at 35 calories and 7g of sugar for just 2 tablespoons, it may still be too high in added sugar for some people.
No-Sugar-Added Sweet Cream
There are a few sweet cream products on the market that are labeled as “no sugar added.” This means no sugar is added during processing, but the cream still contains naturally occurring sugars from the milk.
For example, Nestle Creamers No Sugar Added Sweet Cream Flavor has 0g added sugar per serving. But it still contains 3g of carbohydrates and sugars that come directly from the milk.
Other no sugar added varieties include:
- Nutpods Unsweetened Sweet Cream
- Califia Farms Better Half Sweet Creamer
- So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Sweet Coconut Creamer
While these have little to no added sugar, the small amount of natural milk sugar may still be more than some people want in their coffee or tea.
Unsweetened Non-Dairy Creamers
To get truly sugar-free sweet cream, the best option is to use an unsweetened non-dairy creamer. Brands like Nutpods, Califia Farms, and So Delicious make dairy-free creamers from almond milk, coconut milk, oats, etc.
With no dairy, these contain 0g sugar per serving – no naturally occurring milk sugars or added sweeteners. Plain unsweetened varieties include:
- Nutpods Original Almond & Coconut Creamer
- Califia Farms Unsweetened Better Half
- So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Coconut Creamer
You can add these to coffee, tea, etc. and control the sweetness yourself. Keep reading for tips on adding sweetness without sugar.
Adding Sweetness Without Sugar
When using unsweetened creamers or milk, you can customize the sweetness level yourself. Here are some healthy ideas for naturally sweetening your beverages without added sugar:
Vanilla Extract
Pure vanilla extract adds a sweet, aromatic vanilla flavor. Add a few drops per cup of coffee. The sweetness is subtle, so you may want to combine vanilla with other sugar-free flavorings.
Cinnamon
A dash of cinnamon can help improve the sweetness perception, even without added sugar. It pairs especially nicely with vanilla. Add a pinch of cinnamon or make a vanilla cinnamon blend.
Sweet Spices
Warming spices like cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice have hints of natural sweetness. Create your own sugar-free “pumpkin spice” blend with these spices.
Sugar-Free Syrups
Companies like Torani, Monin, DaVinci, and Skinny Mixes make sugar free syrup flavors. Popular options are caramel, vanilla, hazelnut, and English toffee. Use sparingly as they are still highly processed.
Natural Sweeteners
Small amounts of lower glycemic sweeteners like maple syrup or honey can provide sweetness without significant sugar impact. However, use minimally.
Fruit Juice
A splash of 100% fruit juice adds natural sweetness. Lemon, orange, pomegranate, and tart cherry juices work well.
Extracts
Almond, lemon, orange, and peppermint extracts can enhance perception of sweetness. Use just a few drops per serving.
Recipes for Sugar-Free Sweet Cream
Here are some recipe ideas for making your own sugar-free sweet cream at home:
Basic Sugar-Free Sweet Cream
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Unsweetened non-dairy creamer | 2 tablespoons |
| Vanilla extract | 1/4 teaspoon |
| Cinnamon | Dash |
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Add to coffee, tea, etc as desired.
Sugar-Free Hazelnut Sweet Cream
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Unsweetened non-dairy creamer | 2 tablespoons |
| Hazelnut extract | 1/4 teaspoon |
| Vanilla extract | 1/8 teaspoon |
| Cinnamon | Pinch |
Mix ingredients together until smooth and frothy. Enjoy in any coffee or tea beverage.
Spiced Sugar-Free Sweet Cream
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Unsweetened almond milk | 2 tablespoons |
| Vanilla extract | 1/4 teaspoon |
| Cinnamon | Pinch |
| Nutmeg | Pinch |
| Cardamom | Small pinch |
Whisk together all ingredients. Froth milk lightly with a milk frother if desired. Sprinkle the spiced creamer into coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc.
Buying Sugar-Free Sweet Cream
If you don’t want to make your own, look for these brands of sugar-free, dairy-free creamers at grocery stores, coffee shops, or online:
- Nutpods Original Almond & Coconut Creamer
- Califia Farms Unsweetened Better Half
- So Delicious Dairy Free Original Coconut Creamer
- Chobani Coffee Creamer in Plain
- OWYN Original Creamer
Check the nutrition labels and aim for 0g sugar per serving. Many barista blends made for foaming milk work well.
You can also find sugar-free sweet creamer sticks and packets from brands like Nutpods and Coffee Booster to take on-the-go.
Is Sugar-Free as Good?
Ditching the sugar means sacrificing some sweetness, but you gain health benefits. Sugar-free sweet cream:
- Contains no added sugar – better for diabetes, weight management, etc.
- Is lower in calories and carbs
- Won’t spike blood sugar levels
- Provides a creamy, smooth texture
- Lets you control sweetness to your taste
While not as sweet, sugar-free varieties offer a delicious way to cut back on added sugars. Customize the sweetness to your liking by experimenting with spices, extracts, and zero-calorie sweeteners like stevia drops.
Potential Drawbacks
There are a few potential downsides to note about sugar-free sweet cream:
- May have an aftertaste – Some artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes like stevia can leave an unpleasant aftertaste. Look for creamers sweetened with monk fruit extract to avoid this.
- Less sweet – Without added sugar, sugar-free creamers simply won’t taste as sweet. Combining flavors can help increase sweetness perception.
- May be more expensive – Specialty sugar-free creamers sometimes cost a little more than regular sweet cream.
- Contains preservatives – To maintain shelf life without sugar, most store-bought sugar-free creamers contain preservatives.
These drawbacks are relatively minor. The benefits of reducing sugar intake likely outweigh the downsides for most people.
Healthier Alternatives to Sweet Cream
In addition to sugar-free sweet cream, here are some other healthy choices to flavor coffee drinks:
Plain Milk
Milk adds creaminess without extra sugar. Opt for unsweetened almond, coconut, oat, or 2% dairy milk.
Nut Milk Creamers
Dairy-free creamers give a rich mouthfeel. Look for unsweetened almond, coconut, cashew, and oat creamers.
Low-Fat Milk
1% or non-fat dairy milk provides protein without the fat.
Whipped Topping
Sugar-free whipped topping can mimic sweet cream. Brands like Reddi-wip now offer sugar-free options.
Foamed Milk
Using a milk frother aerates milk into a light, foamy cream. Sweeten with your own sugar-free flavors.
Conclusion
While traditional sweet cream is high in added sugar, there are many ways to get the creamy sweet flavor without all the sugar. Opt for no-sugar-added or unsweetened creamers and customize the sweetness yourself. Or make your own healthy sugar-free creamer at home.
With some experimenting to find your perfect sweet balance, you can still enjoy your coffee or tea with a sweet creamer – minus the sugar overload. Small swaps like sugar-free sweet cream allow you to savor your favorite drinks guilt-free.
