How to Make Heavy Cream at Home: 15 Easy Substitutions (2024)

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Co-authored byJanice TiepermanReviewed byOllie George Cigliano

Last Updated: April 14, 2023Fact Checked

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Unsalted Butter and Whole Milk

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1. 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 ³⁄₄c (180mL) 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. Keep in mind that this combo doesn’t whip well, but it’ll work for pretty much any other recipe.^[1]

   • Works well with: All recipes
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No
   • Tip: Only have margarine on hand? No problem—just mix ³⁄₄c (180mL) of milk with ¹⁄₄c (59mL) of melted margarine for a quick and easy substitute.^[2]

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Unsalted Butter and Half-and-Half

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1. Use butter and half-and-half as a substitute for whipped cream recipes. For whipped cream dishes, combine melted butter and half-and-half at a 1:7 ratio. So, if your recipe asks for 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream, mix ¹⁄₈c (30mL) of melted butter with ⁷⁄₈c (210mL) of half-and-half. ^[3]

   • Works well with: All recipes
   • Good for whipped cream: Yes
   • Vegan: No

Greek Yogurt and Milk

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1. An equal mixture of Greek yogurt and milk helps thicken soups and sauces. If your recipe calls for ¹/₂ cup (188.5 mL) of heavy cream, mix ¹⁄₄c (59mL) of Greek yogurt and ¹⁄₄c (59mL) of milk together and add them to the recipe. Keep in mind that this combo doesn’t whip, so it’s not a good option for dishes that need whipped cream.^[4]

   • Works well with: Soups, sauces, and certain baked goods
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No

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Half and Half

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1. 

   See Also

   The 5 Best Vegan Substitutes for Heavy Cream - Pacific FoodsHomemade Alfredo Sauce Without Heavy CreamUse These Heavy Cream Substitutes to Save Your Holiday CookingHeavy Cream vs. Heavy Whipping Cream: What's the Difference?

   Substitute half-and-half for heavy cream in any non-whipped cream recipes. Since half-and-half is already 50% heavy cream, it’s a pretty good alternative to the real deal—just use 1c (240mL) of half-and-half for every 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream listed in the recipe.^[5] Half-and-half is an especially great substitute for homemade ice cream.^[6]

   • Works well with: All dishes (except whipped cream)
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No

Coconut Cream

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1. Create a variety of vegan-friendly dishes with coconut cream. Add 1c (240mL) of coconut cream for every 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream required in your recipe—just note that it might add some coconut flavor to the final dish.^[7]

   • Works well with: All recipes
   • Good for whipped cream: Yes
   • Vegan: Yes

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Sour Cream

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1. Replace heavy cream with sour cream at a 1-to-1 ratio. If your recipe asks for ¹⁄₂c (120mL) of heavy cream, add ¹⁄₂c (120mL) of sour cream instead. Just make sure that the dish is completely cooked before you add anything, since sour cream sometimes curdles in warm temperatures.^[8]

   • Works well with: Desserts
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No

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1. Give some tangy flair to your desserts with crème fraîche. Add crème fraîche to your dishes at a 1:1 ratio with heavy cream. So, ¹⁄₃c (79mL) of heavy cream would equal ¹⁄₃c (79mL) of crème fraîche, 2UStbsp (30mL) of heavy cream would equal 2UStbsp (30mL) of crème fraîche, and so on. It has a slightly sour taste to it, so consider the flavor profile of your dish before adding any to your recipes.^[9]

   • Works well with: Most recipes (especially puddings)
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No

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Evaporated Milk

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1. 

   Grab some evaporated milk for non-whipped cream recipes. Add the same amount of evaporated milk as heavy cream listed in your recipe, whether that’s 1 cup (237 mL), ¹/₄ cup (59 mL), or 1 tbsp (15 mL).^[10] If you’d like to make your dish a little healthier, pick up a can of evaporated skim milk instead.^[11]

   • Works well with: Baked goods, non-whipped cream dishes
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No

Mascarpone Cheese

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1. Replace heavy cream with mascarpone for sweet treats. Add the same amount of mascarpone as heavy cream that’s listed in your recipe. Some people even like to use mascarpone as a tasty topping for their desserts.^[12]

   • Works well with: Sweet dishes
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No

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Cream Cheese

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1. Cream cheese adds valuable thickness to frostings and sauces. Mix in the same amount of cream cheese as heavy cream that’s listed in the recipe; although it’s not a good substitute for whipped cream, cream cheese is a good thickener for many savory dishes and sweets. It can be on the tangy side, though, so it might not be a great fit for all of your recipes.^[13]

   • Works well with: Sauce, soup, and frosting
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No

Low-fat Unsalted Cottage Cheese and Low-fat Yogurt

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1. 

   Low-fat cottage cheese and yogurt offer a heart-healthy alternative to heavy cream. For every 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream listed in your recipe, measure out ¹⁄₂c (120mL) of low-fat, unsalted cottage cheese as well as ¹⁄₂c (120mL) of low-fat yogurt. If you don’t have low-fat yogurt on hand, use ¹⁄₂c (120mL) of skim milk instead.^[14]

   • Works well with: Sauces and soups^[15]
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No

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Cornstarch and Milk

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1. A milk-cornstarch combo helps thicken sauces and stews. If your recipe calls for 1c (240mL) of heavy cream, set aside 1c (240mL) of milk instead. Then, stir 2 tbsp (15 g) of cornstarch into the milk. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and stir it on the stove until it thickens and is around 203°F (95°C).^[16]

   • Works well with: Sauces and stews (not baked goods)
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: No

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1. 

   Thicken savory dishes with puréed tofu. Grab 1 cup (248 g) of firm or extra-firm silken tofu for every cup (237 mL) of heavy cream that the recipe requires. Purée the tofu in a blender until it’s a smooth consistency before adding it to your sauce or soup dish.^[17]

   • Works well with: Soups and sauces
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: Yes

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Plant Milk and Oil

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1. 

   See Also

   5 Milk Substitutes for Baking: Dairy & Non-Dairy

   Any 2-to-1 mixture of plant milk and oil can replace heavy cream. Grab the plant milk of your choice (like oat milk, cashew milk, almond milk, or soy milk), along with a flavorless oil (like vegetable oil). For every cup (237 mL) of heavy cream the recipe lists, use ²⁄₃c (160mL) of plant milk and ¹⁄₃c (79mL) of oil.^[18]

   • Works well with: All recipes (except for whipped cream)
   • Good for whipped cream: No
   • Vegan: Yes

Heavy Cream Powder

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1. 

   A little water transforms this powder into recipe-ready heavy cream. Use the same amount of powder as heavy cream listed in the recipe—all you have to do is stir some water into the heavy cream powder to turn it back into cream.^[19] Before you get started, check the package for the exact ratio of water to powder that you need.

   • Works well with: All recipes
   • Good for whipped cream: Yes
   • Vegan: No

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