When you’re making a yummy and delectable dessert, heavy cream often is one essential ingredient. It makes any dish creamier and rich.
But then there are times when you’ve run out of heavy cream at home or maybe you have dietary preferences that require you to use alternatives.
Well, the good part is that there are quite a few heavy cream alternatives you can use to substitute them in your recipes. Check them out below!
1. Silken Tofu
Silken tofu is not a commonly known substitute for heavy cream, but it is a great alternative for heavy cream. It is soft tofu, which basically has a smooth, custard-like texture. It is also a dairy-free and vegan alternative to heavy cream.
To substitute silken tofu with heavy cream, firstly make sure it is soft and creamy in consistency and only then use it. You can give it a blend in the blender if need be to get the desired consistency.
You will need to substitute 1 cup of heavy cream with 1 cup of silken tofu in your recipe. Blend 8 oz of silken tofu with ¼ cup of plant milk until smooth.
Best for: soups, sauces, pastas and more!
2. Canned Coconut Cream
To substitute heavy cream for a vegan alternative, coconut cream works best. You just need to substitute it the ratio of 1:1. So if your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, simply use 1 cup of canned coconut cream.
Note: Kindly note that coconut cream is not the same as coconut milk. Therefore, it is suggested that you use canned coconut cream.
Best for: desserts, whipping.
3. Milk and Butter
Milk and butter are one of the easiest heavy cream substitutes you can use and these two ingredients are almost always available in one’s pantry.
You can substitute ¼ cup of melted butter mixed with ¾ cup of milk, for every 1 cup of heavy cream. To make whipping cream recipe, read here – Part 1 – Baking Basics – Best Dairy and Cream products You Can Make At Home
Best for: cooking and baking.
4. Light Cream and Whole Milk
You can substitute the heavy cream with light cream and whole milk. This adds some creaminess in your recipe while cutting down extra calories. You can simply use half and half. To substitute heavy cream in your recipe you can use half a cup of light cream and half a cup of whole milk.
Note: Light cream has a lesser fat content and may not produce the same final results as when the dish/item was made with heavy cream.
5. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is one of the most commonly used substitute for heavy cream. Greek Yogurt can be easily made at home. Use a cheesecloth and add all the homemade yogurt to it. Let it strain all the whey for few hours until you are left with thick yogurt that can be used as a heavy cream substitute. READ MORE – EASIEST WAY TO MAKE GREEK YOGURT AT HOME
Note that Greek yogurt has a tangy flavor, so be mindful when you use it as a substitute for heavy cream in your recipes.
There are three ways you can substitute Greek yogurt with heavy cream in a recipe –
1. You can use the 1:1 ratio, 1 cup heavy cream for 1 cup Greek yogurt. 2. You can use ½ cup Greek yogurt + ½ cup of milk mixed, as a substitute for 1 cup of heavy cream. 3. you can use ½ cup of Greek yogurt + ½ cup of milk and 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, mixed, as a substitute for 1 cup of heavy cream.
6. Cashew cream
Soak 1 cup of cashew for 2 hours or overnight. In a high-powered blender, combine the soaked cashews with 1 cup of non-dairy milk or water and blend on high until smooth and creamy. Cashew cream is our go-to as a base for our vegan cheese sauces.