How to Make Faux Bailey's Irish Cream and Other Delicious Recipes Using Non-Dairy Creamer.

As a former food writer and recipe developer, tinkering with recipes is something I just naturally do when I see a new recipe or product.

For example, barbecue. My husband is from North Carolina, and I lived in Easley, South Carolina, and Raleigh, North Carolina for several years. So I had to learn to make a good barbecue sauce and coleslaw. After reading several recipes, I came up with my own versions which, I'm proud to say, a former fire chief in High Point, North Carolina adopted: Easy Barbecue Sauce Made With Grape Jelly

When the flavored coffee creamers hit the market shelves, my recipe-inventing gene kicked in. I looked around the kitchen and in the pantry and the liquor cabinet, and came up with a few goodies.

It's just common sense, really. What do you pour over your oatmeal? Over your strawberries? What can you substitute non-dairy creamer for in place of heavy cream? Have you ever tried non-dairy creamer in a smoothie? Have you ever added spices to your creamer? Say pumpkin pie spice. Add some almond flavoring to your creamer, you'll love it. There are tons of flavorings on the store shelves you can add to non-dairy creamer. Almond, hazelnut, mint...Oh! How about a Faux Grasshopper made with non-dairy creamer, mint flavor, and whiskey. You get my drift. Experiment!

Let me know what you think!

FAUX BAILEY'S IRISH CREAM

I love, love, love Bailey's Irish Cream. But it is so expensive! You won't believe how just adding a little Irish Whiskey to non-dairy coffee creamer makes it taste exactly, and I mean exactly, like the original. Of course, don't go getting the idea of replacing the Irish Cream in your Bailey's bottle with this because it has to be refrigerated!

After I discovered non-dairy coffee creamer, especially the flavored creamers, I went a little crazy...

HOMEMADE NON-DAIRY COFFEE CREAMER

Just in case you don't have any.

1 cup hot water

1 cup powdered non-dairy coffee creamer

1 cup of cold water

Flavoring of your choice

Combine hot water and powdered non-dairy creamer until smooth. Stir in cold water. Add flavoring of your choice if you used unflavored powdered non-dairy creamer.

Refrigerate.

CREAMY OATMEAL WITH RAISINS AND CREAM

This is so delicious. Sprinkle with some cinnamon and you will be in heaven.

1 cup water

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup raisins

2 tablespoons non-dairy coffee creamer

Microwave oatmeal and water for 2 minutes. Stir in raisins. Top with creamer. 1 serving.

CARAMEL SAUCE FOR ICE CREAM

So easy, it's ridiculous.

1 cup vanilla-flavored sugar-free non-dairy coffee creamer

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup granulated white sugar

4 Tablespoons unsalted butter

Combine sugars in a heavy saucepan and stir over medium-high heat until melted. Stir in butter and creamer and bring to a boil. Remove from heat.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Makes a dozen truffles

1/2 cup vanilla-flavored non-dairy coffee creamer

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate baking chips, melted

Confectioners sugar

Combine creamer and melted chocolate. Chill until firm. Roll into balls. Dust with confectioners sugar.