When plain coffee needs help, this Buttery Toffee Coffee Mix fixes it fast. It stirs into hot water for a creamy, caramel-toffee style mug that lands somewhere between coffee and hot cocoa, which is not a bad place to be on a cold morning.
Combine all of the ingredients together and blend well until. Generally when preparing this recipe we create a mason jar bullet.
The dry mix keeps the prep simple, travels well in a jar, and makes an easy homemade gift. You only need 3 tablespoons per mug, so one batch stretches farther than it looks.
What You’ll Need
- 1/2 cup instant coffee
- 1 cup instant non-fat dry milk powder
- 1/2 cup powdered coffee creamer
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup store-bought butterscotch flavored instant pudding mix
- 1 teaspoon dry fat-free butter flakes, such as Butter Buds (optional)
- Pinch salt
The pudding mix gives the drink its thicker, almost hot-chocolate texture, while the brown sugar and butterscotch lean hard into that buttery toffee flavor. The optional butter flakes bump up the buttery note if you want it a little richer.
How to Make Buttery Toffee Coffee Mix
- Measure the instant coffee, dry milk powder, powdered coffee creamer, brown sugar, butterscotch instant pudding mix, butter flakes if using, and a pinch of salt into a bowl, blender jar, or food processor.
- Blend or stir the mixture until it is evenly combined and no pockets of brown sugar remain.
- Transfer the finished mix to a clean jar or vacuum-seal bag.
- Label the container with the serving directions: stir 3 tablespoons of mix into 3/4 cup boiling water.
- To serve, add 3 tablespoons of the dry mix to a mug, pour in 3/4 cup boiling water, stir well, and enjoy.
If you’re blending, use short bursts so the powder stays powder instead of turning your counter into a light dusting of regret. A fork works too, but you’ll need to break up the brown sugar well.
This batch makes about 2 1/2 cups of dry mix, which is roughly 40 servings at 3 tablespoons each.
If you like homemade flavored coffee mixes, you might also want to try Dry Toffee Coffee Mix or Toffee Coffee Mocha Mix.
Helpful Tips
- Break up lumps early: Brown sugar and dry milk both like to clump. Crush any stubborn bits before storing the mix.
- Stir in stages: Add a splash of hot water first to make a smooth paste, then top off the mug with the rest of the water if you want the smoothest cup.
- Use a dry container: Even a little moisture in the jar can shorten the life of the mix and cause caking.
- Adjust the strength: For a bolder cup, use a rounded 3 tablespoons. For a lighter cup, back it down to 2 1/2 tablespoons.
Easy Variations
- Mocha version: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder to the batch for a chocolate-toffee spin.
- Sweeter gift mix: Add a tablespoon or two of powdered sugar if you want it closer to a café-style flavored cappuccino mix.
- Salted toffee flavor: Increase the salt very slightly, just a tiny pinch more, to sharpen the caramel notes.
- Creamier mug: Prepare it with hot milk instead of water when you want a richer drink. Not exactly frugal, but nobody asked the coffee for budgeting advice.
For more flavor ideas, Homemade Dairy & Non-Dairy Coffee Creamers in 25 Flavors is a handy place to steal inspiration.
Storage and Shelf Life
Store the dry mix in an airtight jar or vacuum-sealed bag in a cool, dry cupboard away from heat and steam. Because this blend includes instant nonfat dry milk, a conservative shelf-life estimate is about 3 months after mixing for best quality once the dry milk package has been opened. Keep moisture out of the container and use a dry spoon every time.
If you make a prepared mug and have leftovers, refrigerate them promptly and use them within 3 to 4 days. That follows standard leftover guidance from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Discard the dry mix if it develops a stale smell, visible moisture, hard clumps that do not break apart, or any off flavor. Dry mixes are supposed to be convenient, not suspicious.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve it with butter cookies, shortbread, or biscotti.
- Spoon the mix into small jars for holiday baskets or teacher gifts.
- Set out a jar beside the coffee pot for an easy flavored-coffee option.
- Top a hot mug with whipped cream and a light dusting of toffee bits if you’re feeling fancy.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Buttery Toffee Coffee Mix
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Instant coffee |
$5.98 |
1/2 C. |
$1.19 |
|
Instant non-fat dry milk powder |
$9.28 |
1 C. |
$0.87 |
|
Powdered coffee creamer |
$2.78 |
1/2 C. |
$0.21 |
|
Brown sugar |
$2.24 |
1/2 C. |
$0.27 |
|
Butterscotch flavored instant pudding mix |
$0.78 |
1/4 C. |
$0.32 |
|
Dry fat-free butter flakes |
$2.98 |
1 t. |
$0.03 |
|
Salt |
$0.62 |
Pinch |
$0.01 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$2.90 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.07 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Instant Coffee, 8 oz
- Instant Nonfat Dry Milk, 25.6 oz
- Powdered Coffee Creamer, 35.3 oz
- Light Brown Sugar, 32 oz
- Butterscotch Instant Pudding Mix, 3.4 oz
- Butter Flavor Granules, 2.5 oz
- Iodized Salt, 26 oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Buttery Toffee Coffee Mix
Absolutely. The butter flakes are optional, so the mix still works without them. You’ll keep the caramel-toffee flavor from the brown sugar and butterscotch pudding mix, but the finish will taste a little less buttery and a bit more like sweet toffee coffee.
That thicker texture comes from the instant pudding mix and dry milk powder. They add body as the hot water hits them, so the drink lands closer to hot cocoa than plain brewed coffee.
Start with a completely dry jar and use a dry spoon every time you scoop. If your brown sugar is lumpy, break it up before mixing so you don’t store little moisture pockets that turn the whole batch into one stubborn brick.
You can, and it makes a richer mug. Since the mix already contains dry milk and creamer, hot milk will give you a heavier, more dessert-like drink, so some people prefer using half milk and half water instead of going all in.
Use a two-step stir. Mix the 3 tablespoons of powder with just a splash of boiling water first to make a smooth paste, then stir in the rest of the 3/4 cup water. That keeps the dry milk and pudding from floating around in little pale islands.
Yes, just double every ingredient exactly and whisk or blend it very thoroughly. Large batches need extra mixing because the brown sugar and pudding mix settle into pockets fast, and nobody wants one jar to taste great while the next tastes like sweet drywall.
An airtight glass jar or a vacuum-sealed bag works best. Both keep humidity out, which matters because dry milk powder and pudding mix pull in moisture quickly and lose their free-flowing texture first.
You can, but the flavor changes. Brown sugar brings molasses notes that help create that buttery toffee taste, while white sugar makes the drink sweeter but flatter, so it loses some of its caramel depth.
This one pairs well with simple cookies, shortbread, biscotti, or lightly sweet breakfast breads. The drink is already creamy and sweet, so mild baked goods balance it better than a frosted pastry that tries to steal the whole show.
You’ll get about 2 1/2 cups of dry mix, which works out to roughly 40 servings. That estimate uses the stated serving size of 3 tablespoons per mug, so it’s a practical count if you scoop level spoonfuls instead of heroic ones.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Buttery Toffee Coffee Mix
Buttery Toffee Coffee Mix
Ingredients
- ½ cup instant coffee
- 1 cup instant non-fat dry milk powder
- ½ cup powdered coffee creamer
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butterscotch flavored instant pudding mix
- 1 teaspoon dry fat-free butter flakes optional
- Pinch salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Combine the instant coffee, dry milk powder, powdered coffee creamer, brown sugar, butterscotch instant pudding mix, optional butter flakes, and salt in a mixing bowl, blender jar, or food processor.
- Blend, whisk, or stir until the ingredients are evenly combined and the brown sugar is broken up.
- Transfer the mix to a clean airtight jar or vacuum-seal bag.
- To serve, stir 3 tablespoons of the dry mix into 3/4 cup boiling water until smooth.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Prep time is an estimate based on measuring, blending, and packaging the mix.
Estimated cost is based on current online ingredient prices and will vary by store, brand, and location.
For best quality, store the dry mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place and use within about 3 months.
This one looks delicious, thank you!
Can this be made without the instant coffee and just add it to a cup of coffee?
Yes, you could, but I’d try it with less, maybe 1 tablespoon at a time until you get the flavor consistency correct.