Updated on September 8th, 2023
From Italian-American desserts, sauces, explicit cakes, and all-American mashed potatoes to French recipes and Indian chicken tikka masala, there’s a reason why heavy cream is so popular in kitchens around the world.
Cream Nutrition Facts
Despite being a regular staple for cooks and chefs, you may still fall into a scenario whereby you don’t have any heavy cream at hand, or maybe you are simply lactose intolerant.
What do you do? Give up on the recipe? Hell no! Some excellent lactose-free substitutes can be used for your benefit.
Please continue reading to know more about heavy cream, its usefulness, plus favorite ways to use it in the kitchen, as well as excellent (lactose-free) heavy cream substitutes.
What is Heavy Cream
Heavy cream is a creamy, rich dairy product that adds richness and creaminess to recipes and is commonly sold at major grocery stores.
Notably, if fresh milk has not been homogenized, the cream that forms on top – is heavy cream.
Homogenizing milk is turning fat in milk into tiny droplets that stay floating in the liquid. Please do not confuse it with pasteurizing milk, a heat process that destroys any potentially harmful bacteria in milk.
Heavy cream contains roughly 38% fat, giving it a substantially thicker mouthfeel than conventional milk. The Food and Drug Administration regulates heavy cream. According to the rules, heavy cream can include 36% to 40% fat, with the balance of the liquid being milk.
Heavy cream with 36 % fat is the only option in most supermarket stores, while restaurants have 40% fat.
Notably, whipped cream, ice cream, and creamy soups can all be made with heavy cream.
Heavy Cream Uses in Recipes
Heavy cream has a beautiful quality about it. It can be whipped into a semi-solid structure that holds its shape for piping or used to raise a mousse for added lightness.
You can also use it to decorate a cake or it in an ice cream maker. Moreover, if you have trouble making a soup or sauce, adding fat is usually always the best approach to getting a good result.
Heavy cream keeps for a long time in the fridge, so keep plenty on hand at all times. See some fabulous recipes you can use heavy cream in:
- Whipping Cream Pound Cake
- Pies
- Skillet Creamy French Mustard Chicken
- Sauces
- Sweet Corn Blueberries Muffins
- Spinach and Feta Fritata
- Frozen French Toast Sticks
- Fast and Fancy Lemon Biscuits
- Slow-Cooked Scrambled Eggs
- Blueberry Cheesecake Breakfast Bake
- Spanakopita Stuffed Shells
- Turkey Swedish Meatballs
- Tomato Tortelleni Soup
- Creamy Zucchini Fettuccine
- Chicken and Biscuit Casserole
Heavy Cream Lactose-Free Substitutes
There are some lactose-free and healthy alternatives to heavy cream that have been highlighted you’re your benefit. They may lend a rich, creamy texture to savory and sweet meals.
Check them out:
Cashew Cream
Cashew cream is the classic lactose-free substitute. It’s a creamy, silky smooth cream made from cashews, but it may not taste anything like typical cashews. Notably, it can be used in a variety of dairy-free replacements.
Cashew cream is a versatile ingredient used in sweet and savory recipes.
You can decide to make your cashew cream:
- Soak up 1 cup of raw cashews in water for 2 hours.
- Drain the cashews, then combine them with ¾ cup of filtered water and a pinch of salt.
- Blend the combination until smooth.
- Please put it in the fridge in an airtight container to thicken the cream.
- Chill the cashew cream before lightly whisking it with a handheld mixer or blender.
Cashew cream can be used as a vegan substitute for whipped cream on desserts. Cashew cream can also thicken creamy soups and tomato sauces instead of heavy cream.
Soy Milk and Olive Oil
You can combine soy milk andolive oil for a lactose-free substitute for heavy cream.
Olive oil adds fat to soy milk, providing a richness and effect similar to heavy cream.
To appropriately utilize this lactose-free item in a recipe that calls for heavy cream. For example, you should combine 2/3 cup of soy milk with 1/3 cup of olive oil to achieve the flavor and consistency of 1 cup of heavy cream in your recipe.
Notably, this substitution works best for adding tenderness and flavor to cooking and baking, but it should not be used in whipping recipes.
Soy Milk and Silken Tofu
Silken tofu has a softer texture and may easily be blended into a high-protein and lactose-free alternative to heavy cream.
Like regular tofu, silken tofu is prepared from condensed soy milk solidified into white blocks.
Though it is easier to get a smooth texture by blending it with soy milk, combine equal parts silken tofu and soy milk in a food processor and blend vigorously until the mixture reaches a smooth and thick consistency.
You can use the combination to thicken your favorite recipes, such as soups or sauces, instead of an equal amount of heavy cream.
Since it can be whipped like heavy cream, you may make a homemade lactose-free whipped topping for desserts by adding a sprinkling of sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there a Difference Between Heavy Cream and Whipping Cream?
Heavy and whipping cream are nearly identical, except the fat content differs somewhat. Notably, the fat content of whipping cream ranges from 30% to 36%, while heavy cream has roughly 38%. Both whip up to a whipped cream that can be used to top pumpkin pie, hot cocoa, and so on. But whipping cream deflates more quickly – it’s the fat that helps it hold its shape.
Is it possible to make your heavy cream?
Heavy cream is surprisingly simple to make. You can combine 2/3 cup of whole milk and 1/3 cup of melted butter to make 1 cup heavy cream. However, if you don’t have any milk on hand, you can use 1/6 cup of butter for 7/8 cup of half-and-half.
How can you make lactose-free cream thicker?
To thicken a gravy or sauce, you can combine some cornflour with a bit of cold cream and cook gently until thickened. The thickened combination should then be stirred till it forms a cream. Your result will be nice and thick.
Conclusion
Heavy cream (lactose-free) substitutes are available for those unable to find – or simply unwilling to -some heavy cream. Heavy cream can be substituted to reduce saturated fat and calories in a meal without compromising flavor or texture.
An olive oil and soy milk combo, cashew cream, and silken tofu plus soy milk combo are all excellent alternatives to heavy cream, with the latter one working well as a substitute for whipping cream.
Though you need to make an effort to identify an appropriate alternative for the meal you are making.
