No Heavy Cream? No Problem: These 10 Substitutes Will Work in Any Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of heavy cream in a recipe? ›

What Do Vegans Use Instead of Heavy Cream? Fortunately, nearly any plant-based milk can be made into a heavy cream substitute. Nut milks, including hemp milk, oat milk, coconut milk and soy milk can all be used as the base for a heavy cream substitute with the addition of the right fats.

If you have butter and milk (whole milk or even half-and-half work best), you can make your own heavy cream substitute. To make 1 cup of heavy cream, melt 1/4 cup of butter and slowly whisk in 3/4 cup milk. This works for most baking or cooking recipes that require heavy cream, but it will not whisk into stiff peaks.

These three ingredients can be used in place of heavy cream with a one-to-one substitution with just a few caveats. Sour cream will add tanginess to your dish, and if you use it for soups or other hot dishes, it's best to add it in at the end to avoid curdling.

Condensed milk is evaporated milk that has been sweetened with sugar. Evaporated milk can be used in place of heavy cream in most recipes, whereas condensed milk is best reserved for desserts.

Silk® Dairy-Free Heavy Whipping Cream Alternative.

Whole milk and light cream are the two components of half-and-half, so it's not that far off from the real deal. Use half-and-half as a 1:1 substitute for heavy cream. It can work nearly as well for bringing creamy texture and flavor to sauces, soups and stews, mashed potatoes, quiches, and casseroles.

Substitutes for Heavy Cream in Savory Dishes

Half and half and buttermilk are great options here, adding more body to soups, stews, and sauces. Whole milk will often do the trick, though you might need to introduce another thickening agent, such as flour or cornstarch, to get the consistency you're looking for.

Use a 1-to-3 ratio of butter and whole milk in your recipe. For every 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream your recipe calls for, use ¹/₄ cup (57 g) of butter and a ³⁄₄ c (180 mL) of milk. Simply place the butter on your counter and wait for it to become room temperature before stirring it into the whole milk with a whisk.

How to make heavy cream with 2 percent milk? ›

Unfortunately, you can't directly turn 2% milk into heavy whipping cream. Heavy cream has a much higher fat content (usually around 36-40%) compared to the approximately 2% fat content in 2% milk. You'd need to find heavy cream or a higher-fat content substitute for whipping purposes.

The main difference between the two is their fat content. Heavy cream has slightly more fat than whipping cream. Otherwise, they are nutritionally very similar. You can use them interchangeably in recipes without affecting the taste, although they may lead to different consistencies.

A nondairy milk (such as soy or almond) and a neutral oil (like vegetable or canola) can replicate heavy cream in certain recipes—namely, sauces and soups, but also some baked goods.

A common ratio used is mixing half a cup of water with half a cup of heavy cream, which yields a liquid similar in texture to milk. This mixture can be used seamlessly in most recipes that call for milk, providing a satisfactory alternative without compromising the outcome of the dish.

Sour cream has a high enough fat content—about 20%—to make it a good substitute for heavy cream in some savory recipes, such as soups or chili. However, while some chefs swear that sour cream is a key ingredient for a killer whipped cream, it generally can't be used on it's own to make whipped cream.

You want to use dairy with a decent amount of fat — like heavy cream or half-and-half — because it gives the sauce its richness and smooth texture, so it is best not to substitute milk. Just before serving, you'll stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and salt and pepper.