The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream For Sweet or Savory Recipes (2024)

  • How to Cook
  • Substitutions

Whether your recipe calls for heavy cream, whipping cream, or half-and-half, our Test Kitchen has an easy substitute that won't change the flavor.

By

Karla Walsh

The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream For Sweet or Savory Recipes (1)

Karla Walsh

Karla Walsh began her career at FITNESS magazine in 2010. Since, she's worked at a wide variety of publications full-time, including BHG.com, Recipe.com and as a cross-brand social media specialist. From search engine optimization to features for print to video strategy, she has a diverse background in all things magazines. At the start of 2019, Karla chose to pursue full-time freelance writing and has contributed to more than 3 dozen brands.

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and

Sarah Martens

The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream For Sweet or Savory Recipes (2)

Sarah Martens

Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for more than 10 years.

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Updated on May 20, 2024

Fact checked by

Marcus Reeves

The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream For Sweet or Savory Recipes (3)

Fact checked byMarcus Reeves

Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

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No cream? Don't worry; you can continue with that recipe you've been looking forward to—just use these substitutes for heavy cream. They perform nearly identically to classic cream. We're sharing subs that work in both sweet and savory applications. We have some additional ideas and healthy substitutes for heavy cream if you—or anyone you'll be serving—have dietary restrictions.

What Is Heavy Cream, Exactly?

Heavy cream is the high-fat portion of cow's milk that rises to the top, which is a result of its fat content. From there, the cream is skimmed off to create low-fat and fat-free milk. For whole milk, the cream is mixed right in. Once skimmed and separated from the lower-fat milk, the decadent heavy cream has about 36% to 40% milk fat. If you're wondering what to substitute for heavy cream to fit a lactose-free or vegan lifestyle, or you simply realize you've run out halfway through a recipe, here are some substitutions.

12 Popular Dairy-Free and Plant-Based Milk Alternatives, Explained

The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream For Sweet or Savory Recipes (4)

The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream for Savory Recipes

Consider the options below as one-for-one substitutes for heavy cream in savory options like creamy soups, sauces, or fluffy mashed potatoes.

  • Evaporated milk works well as a substitute for heavy cream in sauces or soups calling for whole milk. In the making of evaporated milk, regular cow's milk is pressure-cooked until it sheds about half of its water content, making it thicker in consistency. For a healthy substitute, try evaporated skim milk. This will slash calories and eliminate nearly all of the saturated fat you'd find in heavy cream.
  • Light cream has a fat content of around 20% (compared to heavy cream's 36% to 40%). There's not quite enough fat to create a foamy, fluffy texture, so using light cream as a substitute for heavy cream doesn't work well in recipes that require whipping.
  • Half-and-half. Can you substitute half-and-half for heavy cream? Absolutely. The name does a great job of explaining what this is: half cream and half milk, with about 10% to 12% fat.
  • Whole milk is the creamiest cow's milk, but with between 3% to 4% fat, it's much lighter than heavy cream and all the other swaps mentioned so far.
  • Heavy cream powder is a lifesaver if you can't visit the supermarket often or need a shelf-stable pantry staple. Heavy cream powder is made with sweet cream solids, and once you reconstitute it, this works A-OK in savory soups and sauces.

The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream For Sweet or Savory Recipes (5)

The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream for Sweet Recipes

Besides the whipped dessert topping (with a two-for-one trade mentioned below), these substitutes for heavy cream can be used one-for-one in sweet recipes.

  • Whipped dessert topping is the best semi-homemade substitute for whipping cream. It's perfect for icebox cakes and pies and other no-bake treats or (not surprisingly) as a dessert topping. For 1 cup whipping cream called for in your dessert recipe, substitute 2 cups whipped dessert topping, such as Cool Whip.
  • Milk and butter. For 1 cup of a heavy cream substitute, melt ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, then allow it to cool to room temperature. Whisk with ¾ cup whole milk and use in any sweet application that doesn't require whipping.
  • Mascarpone Cheese is about 44% fat and is like a sweeter cousin to sour cream and crème fraîche. Try it as a dessert topping, or mix it with whipping cream and sugar in a whipped mascarpone recipe.
  • Crème Fraîche is a slightly tangy cultured cream with around 30% fat. Try it in pudding and other non-whipped heavy cream recipes.

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The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream For Sweet or Savory Recipes (6)

The Best Non-Dairy Substitutes for Heavy Cream

Consider these ingredients a one-for-one alternative if you need a dairy-free substitute for heavy cream.

  • Plant-based milk and oil. Stir together ⅔ cup soy or rice milk and ⅓ cup oil for a non-dairy substitute for casseroles or soups. This is a lighter calorie and fat substitute in pasta sauces, like white or tomato cream.
  • Tofu. Puree firm or extra-firm silken tofu to make a substitute for thickening sauces and soups.
  • Coconut cream or coconut milk. Coconut cream (not cream of coconut, which is sweetened) is a perfect heavy whipping cream substitute, while coconut milk is fantastic in more savory applications.

Now that you're well-versed in all of the best substitutes for heavy cream, you can adjust accordingly based on your dietary needs, pantry storage, and recipe flavor.

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The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream For Sweet or Savory Recipes (2024)

FAQs

The Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream For Sweet or Savory Recipes? ›

Light cream

Heavier than half-and-half, but lighter than heavy cream, with an 18–30 percent fat content. Still too lean to whip, but good for enriching soups and mashed vegetables, and can be used for sauces.

What is the best substitute for heavy cream? ›

The 10 Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream
  • Milk and butter.
  • Soy milk and olive oil.
  • Milk and cornstarch.
  • Half-and-half.
  • Tofu and soy.
  • Yogurt and milk.
  • Evaporated milk.
  • Cottage cheese and milk.

What can you substitute for sweet cream in a recipe? ›

Regardless of what you're making, the following are the best heavy cream substitutes for cooking, baking, or whipping into dessert.
  1. Half-and-half + butter. ...
  2. Milk + butter. ...
  3. Coconut cream. ...
  4. Milk + cornstarch. ...
  5. Greek yogurt + milk. ...
  6. Alt milk + oil. ...
  7. Heavy cream powder.
May 25, 2022

Can I use light cream instead of heavy cream for pasta sauce? ›

Light cream

Heavier than half-and-half, but lighter than heavy cream, with an 18–30 percent fat content. Still too lean to whip, but good for enriching soups and mashed vegetables, and can be used for sauces.

Can I use sour cream instead of heavy cream? ›

Sour Cream, Crème Fraîche, or Mascarpone

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.

Can I use almond milk instead of heavy cream? ›

Plant-Based Milk and Oil

Soy, oat or almond all work — just make sure they are unsweetened for savory recipes. As far as oil goes, you can use sunflower, canola or even avocado if that's your favorite. The trick here is using the oil to add fat to the plant-based milk to help it emulate heavy cream.

Can I use oat milk instead of heavy cream? ›

Can I Use Oat Milk Instead of Heavy Cream? Some full-fat oat milk is nearly heavy enough to substitute for heavy cream, but it will still need a little boost. To turn oat milk into a workable substitute for heavy cream, add cornstarch, vegan butter, tofu or olive oil.

Can I use evaporated milk instead of heavy cream? ›

Evaporated milk is an ideal heavy cream substitute in recipes that use heavy cream as a liquid. It won't whip well, but it's a great way to add moisture to baked goods. Substitute an equal amount of evaporated milk for heavy cream. Best for: baking.

Can I use Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream? ›

Mix together equal parts milk and Greek yogurt to substitute for heavy cream in sauces and savory recipes. Protein-rich Greek yogurt will add richness and texture without as much fat as heavy cream—but heads up: it's not ideal for baking.

Can I use condensed milk instead of heavy cream? ›

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.

Can I use coconut milk instead of heavy cream? ›

Versatile coconut milk can add creamy texture to soups, rich flavor to sauces and is the perfect substitute for heavy cream in any of your favorite savory dishes and desserts.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in cinnamon rolls? ›

If you find that you don't have a carton of heavy cream in the fridge, milk—especially whole milk—is a good alternative. The substitution might not give as rich of a flavor or make the cinnamon rolls rise as much, but it'll still leave you with a tasty breakfast treat.

Can I use sour milk instead of heavy cream? ›

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.

How do you make your own heavy cream? ›

To make homemade heavy whipping cream, melt 1/3 cup of unsalted butter. Let it cool slightly, then blend it with 2/3 cup of whole milk on high for 1-2 minutes until well combined. Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes before using. This creates a substitute with a similar fat content to heavy whipping cream.

What is the same as heavy cream? ›

Heavy cream's closest dairy equivalent is whipping cream, followed by half-and-half, both of which have similar creaminess and flavor but with fewer calories and lower fat content.

Can I make heavy cream with milk and butter? ›

Here's how. Melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter (that's 4 tablespoons or half a stick) and let it cool to room temperature. Then, whisk it together with 3/4 cup whole milk. This mixture is equivalent to 1 cup of heavy cream and can be used in almost any recipe that calls for heavy cream.

Is evaporated milk and heavy cream the same thing? ›

Evaporated milk, with its lower fat content and thinner consistency, provides a lighter alternative for dishes where richness is desired without overwhelming heaviness. Heavy cream, with its higher fat content and creamy consistency, lends itself perfectly to indulgent desserts, creamy sauces, and decadent soups.

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