Many popular recipe ingredients have simple, homemade substitutes. If your recipe calls for heavy cream and you don't have it, don't worry. You can make a replacement heavy cream with a few simple ingredients in minutes!
Ingredients
- 213 ml whole milk
- 67 grams butter
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Heavy Cream
Step 1. Melt the butter
Start with frozen butter that has been melted at room temperature. There are several ways to melt butter. Here are some ways to consider:
- Melt on the stove. Put the butter in the pan and turn on the stove over low heat. Butter will melt at a temperature of 28-36 degrees Celsius, which is the same as room temperature in hot weather. Keep an eye on the butter and remove it from the stove when of the butter has melted. Use a spoon or spatula to spread the butter on the bottom of the pan as it melts.
- Melt in the microwave. Cut the butter into small pieces and place in a microwave-safe container for 10 seconds until melted.
Step 2. Pour the melted butter into the milk
In a medium bowl, mix 67 grams of butter (melted) and 213 ml of whole milk. Be sure to allow the butter to cool before pouring it into the bowl of milk.
If you prefer low-fat milk, you will need to add 1 tablespoon of flour to thicken the cream
Step 3. Whisk all ingredients
Beat with an electric mixer, hand whisk, fork or spoon. Beat for a few minutes until the cream is thick and foamy.
Note, this homemade heavy cream won't be whipped into whipped cream like packaged heavy cream
Step 4. Save the heavy cream (optional)
Place heavy cream in a sealed container, refrigerate, and store for 1-2 days.
Step 5. Use a homemade heavy cream
You can immediately use this homemade heavy cream for baked goods, soups, and savory sauces.
Method 2 of 2: Trying Different Variations of Ingredients
Step 1. Try using skim milk and corn starch
If you only drink skim milk, you can still use this milk as a substitute for heavy cream. In this case, use 236 ml of milk and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch or unflavored gelatin to thicken the mixture. Using an egg beater, beat all the ingredients for 3-4 minutes until they start to thicken.
Step 2. Try using tofu and soy milk
If you're looking for a low-fat or vegetarian substitute for heavy cream, try mixing tofu with unflavored soy milk until it's creamy.
This replacement cream is a healthy alternative to heavy cream
Step 3. Try cottage cheese and milk
Cottage cheese and nonfat powdered milk can be mixed in equal proportions to make a low-calorie heavy cream substitute. Beat all these ingredients until there are no lumps in the mixture.
If you don't have powdered milk for this recipe, you can use skim milk
Step 4. Try evaporated milk (fresh milk with some of the moisture removed) and vanilla extract
Cool the evaporated milk and add vanilla extract for added flavour.
This mixture is great for soup recipes that call for heavy cream
Step 5. Try Greek yogurt and milk
Greek yogurt is thicker than regular yogurt and can be used instead of heavy cream while reducing fat in recipes. Note that if baking cakes or breads that require heavy cream, you will need to use half yogurt and half whole milk to preserve the flavor of the fat.
- In recipes like cheesecake where texture is important, you will need to use half heavy cream and half greek yogurt to reduce the fat in the recipe.
- Yogurt will turn sour if heated too quickly. Use low heat if making a gravy with greek yogurt.
- You can even make your own Greek yogurt by wrapping 472 ml of plain milk yogurt in gauze. Let the liquid drip for a few hours and all that's left is 236 ml of thick yogurt.
Step 6. Try half-and-half milk and butter
For every 236 ml of heavy cream in the recipe, use a substitute for butter and half-and-half milk. Melt 36 grams of butter and let it cool. Make sure the butter doesn't solidify during the cooling process. Place 188 ml of half-and-half milk in a bowl and mix with the cooled melted butter until well combined.
Step 7. Try low-fat cream cheese
Low-fat cream cheese provides the same consistency while lowering the calories and fat in the recipe.
- If a recipe calls for 236 ml of heavy cream, use only 112 grams of cream cheese.
- Cream cheese has a slightly sour taste. Do not use in recipes that require a heavy cream sweetness.
