15 Best Heavy Cream Substitutes
If you’re looking for a heavy cream substitute, you're in luck as there’s no shortage of options to fit your needs. Whether you’re avoiding dairy due to allergies, following a specific diet or simply ran out of heavy cream mid-recipe, there are plenty of alternatives that can replicate its texture and rich flavor.
From plant-based swaps to creative ingredient combinations, these heavy cream substitutes are versatile enough to work in everything from savory sauces to indulgent desserts. No matter the dish, you’ll find a heavy cream substitute that ensures your cooking stays delicious and satisfying.
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What Is Heavy Cream?
Many milk products are homogenized, meaning that the fat droplets in the liquid are thoroughly emulsified so they don’t separate from the thinner substance. When milk isn’t homogenized, these droplets separate and rise to the top of the container to form a fatty layer. This thick layer is known as heavy cream.
The fat content allowed in certain dairy products is regulated by the FDA. To officially earn the label "heavy cream," a product must contain not less than 36% fat, according to the FDA guidelines. This strict standard ensures consistency in quality and texture across products.
Purpose of Heavy Cream in Cooking and Baking
Heavy cream is the perfect addition to savory cooked dishes. It brings a creamy dimension to soups and stews and thickens up rich sauces. It’s great for adding a luscious texture to these simmering recipes as its high-fat content keeps it from curdling.
The thickness of heavy cream also makes it perfect for baking. It's a decadent addition to everything from pies to cheesecake. Plus, it whips up to a nice firm texture, making it ideal for decorating those baked goods.
15 Heavy Cream Substitutes
1. Coconut Milk
If you’re looking for a vegan heavy cream substitute, this is your perfect go-to. Coconut milk has a high-fat content that mimics that of heavy cream. It’s delightful in baking recipes, but don’t let its sweet profile fool you. It can be equally tasty in savory dishes like Alfredo sauces and Thai curries. Just make sure you’re using a full-fat version and not a reduced-fat variety.
How To Make and Use It: To make this substitute for heavy cream, simply swap coconut milk for the heavy cream in recipes cup for cup.
2. Greek Yogurt and Milk Mixture
Greek yogurt mixed with whole milk is a nutritious and versatile replacement for heavy cream. It’s high in protein, making it a healthy addition that can boost the nutritional value of your recipes. While it’s thicker than heavy cream, adding milk thins it out to achieve a similar consistency.
This combination works well in soups, sauces and cold recipes like salad dressings. However, it’s not the ideal heavy cream substitute for whipping or baking, as it lacks the fat content needed for those purposes.
How To Make and Use It: To thin Greek yogurt to the consistency of heavy cream, add equal parts of regular milk. Use the mixture in a 1:1 ratio as a heavy cream substitute.
3. Half-and-Half and Butter Combo
Can you use half-and-half instead of heavy cream? Yes, half-and-half combined with melted butter is a simple and effective heavy cream substitute in most recipes. Half-and-half only has about a 10% fat content according to WebMD. So, mixing in the butter increases that level closer to heavy cream, mimicking the high-fat content that gives dairy cream its unique taste and texture.
How To Make and Use It: Mix 3/4 cup of half-and-half with 1/4 cup melted butter to make this heavy cream substitute. Make sure to incorporate it into your recipe quickly before the butter can solidify.
4. Milk and Butter
Can you use milk instead of heavy cream? On its own, milk isn’t a perfect match for heavy cream due to its lower fat content. However, if you don’t have half-and-half, regular milk combined with melted butter is another simple heavy cream substitute.
Whole milk, with a fat content of around 3.5%, works best for this alternative. Adding butter increases the fat content, mimicking the richness of heavy cream. However, this mixture isn’t suitable for whipping.
How To Make and Use It: Mix 3/4 cup of whole milk with 1/4 cup of melted butter for every cup of heavy cream. Whisk well to combine this alternative for heavy cream and use immediately in your recipe to avoid the butter solidifying.
5. Plant-Based Milk and Oil
Luckily, you can make a vegan heavy cream substitute with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Grab your favorite plant-based milk and go-to cooking or baking 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. You can use this heavy cream substitute in both cooking and baking recipes, but keep in mind it won't replicate the taste of the heavy cream and won’t whip well.
How To Make and Use It: To create a cup of this dairy-free heavy cream substitute, mix 2/3 cup of plant-based milk with 1/3 cup of your chosen oil.
6. Milk and Cornstarch
The point of heavy cream is often to thicken up recipes, and few kitchen staples can do that better than cornstarch — so for a low-fat, low-calorie heavy cream substitute, this mix is a practical option, especially for thickening stews, soups and sauces. Cornstarch is flavorless and effectively adds body to dishes without altering their taste. This heavy cream substitute is best suited for cooking and is not ideal for baking or whipping, as it may affect texture.
How To Make and Use It: To replace 1 cup of heavy cream, whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into 1 cup of milk until smooth. If the recipe is cooked, add the heavy cream substitute directly and simmer for at least one minute to activate the thickening power. For recipes that won’t be heated, cook the mixture first: heat it in a small saucepan until it thickens to a heavy cream-like consistency, then chill before using.
7. Sour Cream
Sour cream is a simple and convenient heavy cream substitute in many savory recipes. With a fat content of around 20%, it can add richness and a tangy flavor to soups, stews and sauces. It’s also a great way to use up that lingering tub in the fridge. However, sour cream isn’t suitable for whipping on its own, and its tangy taste may not work well in all recipes.
How To Make and Use It: Swap sour cream for heavy cream in a 1:1 ratio. For soups or hot dishes, add sour cream at the end of cooking to prevent curdling.
8. Coconut Cream
It can be tough to find a perfect heavy whipping cream substitute, especially one that’s vegan. Fortunately, you can use coconut cream to make homemade whipped cream and any other rich and fluffy recipes. With its high-fat content, it provides the rich and fluffy texture needed for many recipes that initially called for heavy cream. The key is to emulate the heavy cream separation process.
You can purchase pre-made coconut cream or make it at home from a can of full-fat coconut milk. Set the can out and allow the coconut cream to separate from the rest of the liquid. Then, scoop the fattiest part off and use it as your heavy cream substitute. While this ingredient mimics heavy cream’s properties, keep in mind that it will add a subtle coconut flavor to your dish, making it best suited for desserts or recipes where this flavor complements the dish.
How To Make and Use It: You can use coconut cream as a heavy whipping cream substitute, cup for cup.
9. Evaporated Milk
Evavoparted milk is made simply by removing some of the water content from regular milk, resulting in a thicker and creamier consistency. It’s also a great lower-calorie heavy cream substitute for those watching their fat intake with around 330 calories per cup compared to heavy cream’s approximately 800 calories per cup. Plus, it’s readily available and can easily be swapped in for cooking and baking recipes.
Do note that this heavy cream substitute won’t whip well and may not provide the same richness or thickness as heavy cream.
How To Make and Use It: Simply swap the evaporated milk with heavy cream in recipes in equal amounts.
10. Non-Dairy Milk and Arrowroot
Arrowroot is an awesome natural thickener that can be super helpful in recipes. When combined with vegan milk, it can be the perfect dairy-free heavy cream substitute. You can also tailor it to any allergies and select the best plant-based milk for your needs. This dairy-free heavy cream substitute works well for thickening soups, sauces and other dishes.
How To Make and Use It: To make this, stir 2 tablespoons of arrowroot into a cup of your favorite non-dairy milk and immediately add it to your recipes.
11. Cashew Cream
Blending cashews is a super popular way to create creamy textures in plant-based dishes. Their natural richness and healthy fats make them an excellent non-dairy heavy cream substitute, adding both creaminess and a nutrient boost to your recipes. Are cashews good for you? Yes! They are a great source of healthy fats and nutrients. This versatile option works well in a variety of savory and sweet dishes.
How To Make and Use It: Soak 3/4 cup of cashews in water for a few hours. Then, blend them with 1/4 cup of water to a smooth purée to make a cup of heavy cream alternative.
12. Cottage Cheese and Milk
You may not think of cottage cheese as an ideal ingredient in soups and sauces. However, it can add a perfect thickness to these recipes. Cottage cheese, one of the healthiest cheeses made from the curds of cow’s milk, is a protein-rich and nutrient-dense substitute for heavy cream. When blended, it can mimic the smooth, creamy texture of heavy cream.
Keep in mind that this heavy cream substitute option has a distinct, cheesy flavor, so it’s best suited for recipes where this flavor complements the dish. For a lower-sodium option, choose a low-sodium variety or adjust the salt in your recipe.
How To Make and Use It: Blend equal parts cottage cheese and milk until smooth, removing all lumps. Use this mixture in a 1:1 ratio as a heavy cream substitute in your recipe.
13. Silken Tofu
Silken tofu can be blended into a great vegan heavy cream substitute while adding a little extra protein to your dish. This texture of tofu is perfect for puréeing into anything from sauces to quiches and desserts. Its creamy texture results in the ideal heavy cream substitute that’s also dairy-free.
How To Make and Use It: Purée the tofu in a blender, adding non-dairy milk, plant-based milk or water until it reaches the desired consistency. Use this mixture in a 1:1 ratio as a heavy cream substitute.
14. Cream Cheese
If you’re wondering: “What can I substitute for heavy cream?”, cream cheese might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s actually a versatile option for thickening soups, sauces and frostings.
Made from milk and cream, this fresh cheese has a rich, tangy flavor and thick texture that works well in recipes where its distinctive taste complements the dish. However, it’s not suitable for recipes that require whipping.
How To Make and Use It: Use cream cheese in a 1:1 heavy cream substitute in your recipe. If cream cheese isn’t available, mascarpone can be used as an alternative.
15. Heavy Cream Powder
Also known as dehydrated sweet cream powder, heavy cream powder is a convenient, shelf-stable heavy cream substitute for those who frequently cook with heavy cream but prefer not to keep it stocked in the fridge. This versatile option can be added directly to baking recipes or reconstituted with water for use in other dishes.
How To Make and Use It: To reconstitute, mix the heavy cream powder with water according to the package instructions to achieve the desired cream consistency. Use the reconstituted cream in a 1:1 ratio as a fresh heavy cream substitute.
If you come across a must-make recipe that calls for heavy cream, don’t worry, there are plenty of options out there. Whether you are looking for a dairy-free version, one with less fat or simply don’t have a container on hand, one of these subs can make an excellent stand-in. Each is readily available and will give you the creamy and decadent results you’re looking for in your next dish.
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