The Best Heavy Cream Substitutes

Heavy cream is an ingredient used to make all kinds of flavorful foods. You can use it to prepare ice cream, homemade Alfredo sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, and so much more. When added to a recipe, it tends to make the food creamier and more flavorful. Whether you’re preparing a savory dish or something sweet, it’s convenient to have heavy cream in the fridge. 

So, what if you run out? If you need something to make and you’re out of heavy cream, you might not feel like rushing to the grocery store. Luckily, there are several ingredients you can use as heavy cream substitutes. Check out this list of the best replacements to use when a recipe calls for heavy cream. In case you missed this post, 5 Easy Baking Powder Substitutes.

You may want to invest in a Non-Electric Hand Beater in case we lose power.

The Best Heavy Cream Substitutes

Whole Milk and Butter

One of the easiest and best substitutes to use when you don’t have heavy cream is a blend of whole milk with butter. You’ll need to grab a stick of butter and melt it by heating it in the microwave. Once you’ve melted the butter, add ¼ cup of it to a mixing bowl. Add ¾ cup of the whole milk into the bowl with the butter and mix the ingredients until blended. If you don’t have whole milk and plan to use low-fat or fat-free dairy, you’ll need to add a pinch of flour to thicken the consistency before using it.

You can use traditional milk or lactose-free milk, depending on which one you have available in the fridge. If you’re trying to create a heavy cream substitute or a sweet dish, such as baked goods that you’re preparing, you can add a bit of powdered sugar to the milk and butter mixture. It will give the mix an added touch of sweetness, while leaving it with the perfect consistency to enhance the taste and texture of your baked goods. If you’re going to try this, add a pinch of powdered sugar at a time. You can always add more of it if you need to.

Cottage Cheese and Whole Milk

Do you have cottage cheese and milk in the fridge? If these staple ingredients are available, you’ve got yourself a convenient substitute for heavy cream. Add ½ cup of cottage cheese to a large mixing bowl, then add ½ cup of whole milk to the bowl with the cottage cheese. You’ll need to whisk it well enough for several minutes to eliminate any lumps. It should take about three minutes to mix it well enough to get the mixture as smooth as possible.

If you’re struggling to get rid of some of the lumps, it’s OK to add a tablespoon of water to the mixture. It can help break those cottage cheese curds down a bit, making it easier for you to reach the right consistency with your combination. Once you have a smooth texture, you can add the mixture to different recipes, including pasta dishes and baked goods. If you have an immersion blender, use it! The immersion blender makes blending those lumps as easy as it gets. You can get it done within a minute or less with the right tools.

Half-and-Half with Butter

If you run out of milk but have some half-and-half on hand, you can combine it with butter to create a heavy cream alternative. Suppose you’re preparing a sauce for pasta or a homemade soup. In that case, you can add half-and-half to the recipe without adding any extra butter, especially since most soup and pasta sauce recipes call for salted or unsalted butter.

When your recipe calls for a cup of heavy cream, add ⅞ of a cup of half-and-half to a bowl. Then, melt your butter and add ⅛ cup of it to the bowl with the half-and-half. Mix well, and you’ll have the perfect substitute for heavy cream that will work great in both savory and sweet recipes.

Full-Fat Coconut Cream

Looking for a vegan-friendly heavy cream substitute for multiple recipes? If so, full-fat coconut cream is an excellent choice. It’s not the right choice for every single recipe calling for heavy creams, such as those with a more savory taste, but it’s great to use when you’re preparing sweet treats. You can buy it at the store or prepare it at home using full-fat coconut cream.

You’d place a can of coconut cream in the fridge, allow it to sit there for a minimum of 12 hours, and then use it in your recipe. It’s that simple. The coconut cream can easily enhance the texture and flavor of some of your favorite desserts. I had to order it online because my small town doesn’t carry it. I like that it’s shelf-stable. Full-Fat Coconut Cream

Evaporated Milk

If you have a can or two of evaporated milk, consider using it as a heavy cream alternative. The measurements are the same, meaning a ½ cup of evaporated milk is equivalent to a ½ cup of heavy cream. While the ingredient doesn’t whip nearly as well as heavy cream, making it less than a perfect choice for preparing whipped cream, it has the same thicker consistency. The thick consistency will come in handy when you’re preparing different types of cakes, pies, and baked goods.

Greek Yogurt With Whole or Low-Fat Milk

Substitute the heavy cream with a combination of Greek yogurt and whole or low-fat milk. If you’re going to use this combo, you can add equal parts of each ingredient into a bowl before mixing them and adding them to your recipe. It won’t work well for any recipes you’d need to whip, so don’t use this if you’re trying to make a homemade whipped topping for ice cream or cake. However, it is a great substitute to use when preparing pasta sauces and various soups.

Heavy Cream Substitutes

Print

Heavy Cream Substitutes

If you need HEAVY CREAM try these substitutes!

Cuisine American

Author Linda Loosli

Instructions

Whole Milk & Butter

• You'll need to grab a stick of butter and melt it by heating it in the microwave. Once you've melted the butter, add ¼ cup of it to a mixing bowl. Add ¾ cups of the whole milk into the bowl with the butter and mix the ingredients until blended. If you don't have whole milk and you're planning on using low-fat or fat-free milk, you'll need to add a pinch of flour to thicken the consistency before you use it.

Cottage Cheese & Whole Milk

• You'll add a ½ cup of cottage cheese into a large mixing bowl and then add a ½ cup of whole milk into the bowl with the cheese. You're going to need to whisk it well enough for several minutes to get rid of any lumps. It should take about three minutes to mix it well enough to get the mixture as smooth as possible.

Half-in-Half with Butter

• When your recipe calls for a cup of heavy cream, add ⅞ of a cup of half-and-half to a bowl and then melt your butter and add ⅛ cup of it to the bowl with the half-and-half. Mix well, and you'll have the perfect substitute for heavy cream that will work great in both savory and sweet recipes.

Full-Fat Coconut Cream

• You can buy it at the store or prepare it at home using full-fat coconut cream. You'd place a can of coconut cream in the fridge, allow it to sit there for a minimum of 12 hours, and then use it in your recipe. It's that simple. The coconut cream can easily enhance the texture and flavor of some of your favorite desserts.

Evaporated Milk

• The measurements are the same, meaning a ½ cup of evaporated milk is equivalent to a ½ cup of heavy cream. While the ingredient doesn't whip nearly as good as heavy cream, making it less than a perfect choice for preparing whipped cream, it has the same thicker consistency. The thick consistency will come in handy when you're preparing different types of cakes, pies, and baked goods.

Greek Yogurt With Whole or Low-Fat Milk

• Substitute the heavy cream with a combination of Greek yogurt and whole or low-fat milk. If you're going to use this combo, you can add equal parts of each ingredient into a bowl before mixing them and adding them to your recipe. It won't work well for any recipes you'd need to whip, so don't use this if you're trying to make a homemade whipped topping for ice cream or cake.

Final Word

Heavy cream is the perfect ingredient to add to various dishes, but you have options if you don’t have it available when you need it. These are some of the best ingredients to use as substitutes for heavy cream when you’re preparing different meals. Be sure to choose the most suitable alternative for the specific type of dish you’re preparing to ensure that it turns out great. If you’re aware of other quality heavy cream substitutes please let me know so I can pass the information on to my readers, we all really appreciate new ideas. May God bless this world, Linda.

The post The Best Heavy Cream Substitutes appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

from Food Storage Moms