Heavy cream is the wonderfully fatty stuff—up to 40% fat, to be precise—that rises to the top of fresh milk. A staple of the dairy section, this product is often labeled “heavy whipping cream.” You likely see it every time you grab for a gallon of milk, but it’s one of those ingredients you buy only when a recipe specifically calls for it.
But what do you do when you don’t have real cream on hand and there’s no time to make a grocery run? Make your own cream substitute! The good news is there’s no shortage of ways to add fat to a recipe to make a quick and easy alternative. Here’s what to swap in—depending on what you’re cooking—and how to do it right.
Editor’s note: While you can replace heavy cream with ease in many recipes, you’ll see more consistent results with using alternatives in dishes like mashed potatoes, soups and sauces. Baking recipes, like cake and cookies, might take some trial and error to find the right texture and consistency.
1. Milk + Butter
Best All-Purpose Heavy Cream Substitute
Since butter is made of the fat removed from milk, you can make your own heavy cream
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