9 Heavy Cream Substitutes (What Works Best?)
Heavy cream is an amazing product to work with and can be used to enhance a lot of your favorite dishes. Whisk it up until it’s soft and fluffy like whipped cream, or just simply add it to your morning coffee; you can’t go wrong with either of these. In case you’re running low on ingredients, don’t worry because there are a lot of heavy cream substitutes that work just as well.
Here are 9 great substitutes for heavy cream.
1. Full Fat Milk and Butter
The combination of full fat milk and butter is one of the best heavy cream substitutes around because you probably already have these two ingredients sitting in your kitchen at any given moment. The finished product is delightfully rich and creamy and will thicken up nicely when mixed together.
Can I Use Full Fat Milk and Butter Instead of Heavy Cream?
Yes, definitely! Full fat milk and butter have a high fat content just like heavy cream and will add a lot of richness to your recipe. However, even though the fat content is quite high, it will not mimic the thick, milky texture of heavy cream because milk and butter simply will not combine into one perfectly homogenous mixture.
For best results, use this heavy cream substitute for cooking rather than baking. It’s phenomenal for sauces, dips, and soups, and can really transform an otherwise runny or milky recipe. For desserts, this combo of full fat milk and butter would need a bit more help in the form of a binder such as powdered sugar for example, to help stabilize the mixture (more on that later).
Full fat cow’s milk is a great source of protein and calcium. It contains nutrients such as vitamin B12, magnesium, iodine and more for energy production, proper thyroid function, and more. Full fat cow’s milk also contains protein, whey, and casein, which help with muscle repair and recovery, hormone production, and weight management.
Best for: cooking, soups, sauces, dips
How to Substitute Full Fat Milk and Butter for Heavy Cream
Combine 1/3 cup of melted butter with ¾ cup of full fat milk and blend together until smooth. Keep blending until there is barely any separation between the milk and melted butter.
Be sure to use full fat milk for this recipe because low-fat or non-fat milk will not yield the same results. Also, it’s important to use unsalted butter for this, especially if you’re baking sweet treats or desserts.
Substitute heavy cream for full fat milk with butter in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the full fat milk and butter mixture.
The recipe: Healthier Heavy Cream Substitute (Using on 2 Ingredients!)
2. Raw Cashew Nuts and Water
If you’re looking for a vegan, dairy-free heavy cream substitute, you can’t go wrong with raw cashew nuts and water. This combo yields a mixture that’s actually thick and oh so creamy—perfect for a wide variety of recipes. It also has a wonderfully nutty flavor that’s to die for.
Can I Use Raw Cashew Nuts and Water Instead of Heavy Cream?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, as far as heavy cream goes, if there was ever a perfect vegan counterpart, this mixture of raw cashew nuts and water would be it. It’s so thick, it can even serve as a thickener in certain recipes.
Definitely give this mixture a try in cooking and baking. In terms of whipping into peaks, it works decently well, although not to the same degree as heavy cream. You’ll need to refrigerate the blended raw cashew nuts and water first before whisking it with a handheld mixer to give it more volume and stiffness.
Cashew nuts are so good for you and are excellent sources of folate and tocopherols. These help protect against chronic non-communicable diseases and may even delay metabolic disorders. Cashew nuts have also been shown to contain heart healthy fatty acids that can help relieve high blood pressure, reduce total LDL cholesterol, and improve vascular function.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces, dips, smoothies, spreads
How to Substitute Raw Cashew Nuts and Water for Heavy Cream
Combine 1 cup of raw cashew nuts with 1 cup of water and blend them together until smooth. Make sure to soak the raw cashew nuts overnight before using. This helps hydrate the cashews and so that they blend out into a smooth pulp.
Keep blending until there are no visible lumps in the mixture.
Be sure to use just plain raw cashew nuts; nothing salted or flavored in any way. Also, use the freshest raw cashew nuts that you can find for a more enhanced flavor.
Substitute heavy cream for raw cashew nuts and water in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of raw cashew nuts and water mixture.
The recipe: Vegan Heavy Cream Substitute (High Protein, Dairy-Free)
3. Full Fat Milk and Cornstarch
Full fat milk and cornstarch may sound like a simple enough combination, but it’s one of the best heavy cream substitutes around for two reasons: it’s cream-based and it’s actually thick. The cornstarch thickens the full fat milk quite nicely even though the finished product isn’t quite as rich as heavy cream.
Can I Use Full Fat Milk and Cornstarch Instead of Heavy Cream?
Definitely! Full fat milk and cornstarch are excellent when mixed together, particularly in recipes that require boiling. This is because the heat only serves to thicken the mixture further, so you can actually get away with less of the milk and cornstarch mixture if you’ll be boiling or simmering your recipe for quite some time.
For smoothies, dips, and other recipes of that sort, full fat milk and cornstarch isn’t recommended because of the raw cornstarch, which may cause stomach upset in certain individuals.
Full fat cow’s milk has plenty of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iodine, protein, and more. Its supports thyroid function, muscle repair and recovery, hormone production, and even weight management.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces
How to Substitute Full Fat Milk and Cornstarch for Heavy Cream
Combine 1 cup of milk with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix the two together until there are no clumps. A good way to do this is to gradually add a small stream of milk to the cornstarch instead of mixing everything all at once.
Use plain, unsweetened full fat milk for best results.
Substitute heavy cream for full fat milk and cornstarch in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the full fat milk and cornstarch mixture.
4. Silken Tofu and Soy Milk
If you’re looking for a vegan or dairy-free option, this combination of silken tofu and soy milk is an easy heavy cream substitute that works well for many savory and sweet recipes. It’s silky smooth and creamy, just like heavy cream.
Can I Use Silken Tofu and Soy Milk Instead of Heavy Cream?
Yes, you can. In fact, silken tofu and soy milk together are deceptively creamy even though they’re both dairy-free and vegan-friendly. This combination has the added benefit of thickening anything it’s added to simply because silken tofu has a lot of volume when blended. It’s not a thickener per se like cornstarch, but it does the job well.
What’s great about silken tofu is that you can consume it straight out of the package. Unlike other heavy cream substitutes, it doesn’t require any cooking to be fully edible.
Tofu is made from soybeans, and is considered mild in flavor hence it’s versatility. It’s an excellent source of nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals that are essential for good health. Tofu has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect the body from oxidative stress and chronic diseases. Studies show that tofu and other soy-based products may help prevent certain types of cancer, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces, smoothies, dips
How to Substitute Silken Tofu and Soy Milk for Heavy Cream
Combine 1/2 cup of silken tofu with ½ cup of soy milk and blend together until smooth. Be sure to use silken tofu (as opposed to firm and very firm tofu) and plain, unsweetened soy milk for best results.
Substitute heavy cream for silken tofu and soy milk in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the silken tofu and soy milk mixture.
5. Full Fat Milk, Butter, and Powdered Sugar
As a follow up to the full fat milk and butter mixture, the addition of powdered sugar helps a ton when it comes to baking because powdered sugar can help stiffen or stabilize your batter. If you like using full fat milk and butter as a heavy cream substitute for cooking, then you’re going to love the simple addition of powdered sugar for baking.
Can I Use Full Fat Milk, Butter, and Powdered Sugar Instead of Heavy Cream?
Most definitely! For baking, this combination is the way to go especially if it’s a sweet recipe. Anything dessert related would be perfect for this heavy cream substitute. This would also be better for whipping because the powdered sugar helps to stiffen the mixture, which is why it’s used for meringue recipes.
For best results, be sure to use the best full fat milk, butter, and powdered sugar that you can find. Also, always use unsalted butter for this.
Consuming cow’s milk regularly offers a plethora of benefits thanks to its nutritional profile. It contains a good amount of vitamins and minerals, and it’s an excellent source of protein. Together, these are good for boosting overall health, in addition to aiding muscle recovery, muscle repair, hormone production, and weight management.
Best for: cooking, baking, soups, sauces, dips, whipping
How to Substitute Full Fat Milk, Butter, and Powdered Sugar for Heavy Cream
Combine 1/3 cup of melted butter with ¾ cup of full fat milk and blend them together until smooth. Keep blending until you can hardly see any separation between the two. Once it starts to look like creamy butter, add in ¾ tablespoon of powdered sugar.
Add in the powdered sugar with a sift, so that it’s evenly distributed throughout and won’t result in clumps.
Be sure to use full fat milk for this recipe because low-fat or non-fat milk will not yield the same result. Also, use unsalted butter so as not to change the flavor profile of the mixture.
Substitute heavy cream for full fat milk, butter, and powdered sugar in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the full fat milk, butter, and powdered sugar mixture.
6. Plain Greek yogurt and Full Fat Milk
Plain Greek yogurt and full fat milk is a popular heavy cream substitute because the flavor profile and texture are similar to heavy cream. The combination, however, contains less fat thanks to the plain Greek yogurt. This makes it great for cooking and baking, so long as you’re aware of the lower fat content and adjust the recipe accordingly.
Can I Use Plain Greek Yogurt and Full Fat Milk Instead of Heavy Cream?
You definitely can. Plain Greek yogurt and full fat milk share a lot of similarities with heavy cream. The mixture is thick, creamy, and is great with so many recipes. It has the added benefit of being edible straight out of the package, so it works for heat-free recipes as well.
Yogurt is a probiotic food that’s rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, zinc, vitamin D, and B vitamins. It’s associated with many positive health outcomes such as a stronger immune system, better weight management, and reduced risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces, smoothies, dips
How to Substitute Plain Greek Yogurt and Full Fat Milk for Heavy Cream
Combine 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt with ½ cup of full fat milk and blend together until smooth. For this recipe, use only plain Greek yogurt with minimal sweetener or added sugars. This is because unsweetened plain Greek yogurt is a bit sour on its own, and can result in a tangy version of heavy cream. The added sweetener would help with this.
Also, be sure to use full-fat milk to add to the overall fat content of the recipe.
Substitute heavy cream for plain Greek yogurt and full fat milk in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the plain Greek yogurt and full fat milk mixture.
7. Coconut Cream
Coconut cream is one of the best lactose-free, dairy-free and vegan-friendly heavy cream substitutes you’ll find anywhere. Straight off the bat, it already bears a very similar consistency to heavy cream without having to do anything to it; it’s just that good!
Can I Use Coconut Cream Instead of Heavy Cream?
You bet! Coconut cream is even thicker than heavy cream, so depending on the type of coconut cream you have, you may need to slightly dilute it to get the desired consistency. Coconut cream is not to be confused with coconut milk, as coconut cream contains more parts shredded/desiccated coconut per one part of water.
Unlike coconut milk which is milder in flavor, coconut cream does have a potent coconut flavor to it, so it will affect the overall recipe. Keep this in mind when using this heavy cream substitute.
Coconut is a saturated fat that’s associated with several health benefits such as improved cognitive function, improved lipid profile, lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and stroke, improved metabolic health, and more. Coconut also contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are more easily converted by the body into energy compared to other types of fatty acids.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces, smoothies, dips
How to Substitute Coconut Cream for Heavy Cream
Substitute heavy cream for coconut cream in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of coconut cream.
8. Cream Cheese
In terms of flavor and texture, one of the closest substitutes you can find to heavy cream is probably cream cheese. Now that cream cheese comes in whipped and regular variants, you now have two options to work when you’re cooking and baking.
Can I Use Cream Cheese Instead of Heavy Cream?
You can definitely use cream cheese instead of heavy cream. Cream cheese is arguably even thicker and heavier than heavy cream, but you can whip it slightly so that it’s lighter and airier.
Cream cheese also has a slight tang to it, which can marry nicely with recipes that require heavy cream. If you need to take some of the tanginess out of the recipe, simply add a pinch of sugar to offset it.
Dairy products such as cream cheese are high in fat, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and in some cases, protein as well. Cream cheese however, is a dairy product that does not typically contain a lot of protein so it’s not as ‘complete’ as, say, full fat cow’s milk. It may also be high in sodium and saturated fat so definitely keep this in mind in terms of your overall daily macros as well as the composition of the recipe.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces, dips, soups, casseroles
How to Substitute Cream Cheese for Heavy Cream
Substitute heavy cream for cream cheese in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of cream cheese.
9. Sour Cream
Sour cream is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you’re trying to find a heavy cream substitute, but it gets the job done. Sure it has a bit more tanginess to it compared to heavy cream, but it has a similar richness and creaminess to it that you can definitely work with.
Can I Use Sour Cream Instead of Heavy Cream?
Yes, sour cream would make an excellent substitute for heavy cream. Sour cream may be less thick compared to heavy cream, but it still delivers a good amount of richness and creaminess to any dish, albeit with a hint of tang.
Similar to cream cheese, sour cream is another dairy product that’s high in fat, calcium, potassium, phosphorus. It’s not the most nutritious heavy cream substitute out there, but it certainly gets the job done and may have some potential benefits for bone health as well.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces, dips, soups, casseroles
How to Substitute Sour Cream for Heavy Cream
Substitute heavy cream for sour cream in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of sour cream.
(You may also like: Egg Substitutes)
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