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Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream

Does your recipe call for heavy cream, but you don’t have any on hand? Don’t worry—you may already have a great substitute in your kitchen.

Whether you’re trying to avoid a trip to the grocery store, reduce calories, save money, or need a dairy-free alternative, there are plenty of ingredients that can replace heavy cream in many recipes. Some substitutes work better in soups and sauces, while others are ideal for baking or desserts.

Before choosing a replacement, it’s helpful to know what heavy cream does in a recipe. Heavy cream contains at least 36% milk fat, which gives it a rich flavor, creamy texture, and the ability to whip into stiff peaks. While some substitutes can closely mimic these qualities, others work best only in cooking or baking.

Here are some of the best heavy cream substitutes to keep in mind.

Evaporated Milk

Heavy cream is often used to add richness and creaminess to recipes, but it’s also high in fat and calories. Evaporated milk is an excellent lighter substitute for many cooked dishes.

Evaporated milk is made by removing about 60% of the water from regular milk, creating a concentrated, creamy product that adds body without as much fat. It’s especially useful in soups, sauces, casseroles, and creamy pasta dishes.

Best for: Cooking, soups, sauces, casseroles

Substitution: Replace heavy cream with an equal amount of evaporated milk (1:1).

Milk and Butter

One of the most popular heavy cream substitutes is a combination of milk and butter. The butter adds fat while the milk provides the liquid needed to closely mimic heavy cream.

For one cup of heavy cream, combine:

• ¾ cup whole milk
• ¼ cup melted butter

Whisk until well combined before adding it to your recipe.

This substitute works well in baking and cooking but won’t whip into whipped cream.

Best for: Baking, sauces, casseroles

Half-and-Half

Half-and-half is made from equal parts milk and cream and contains about 10–18% milk fat compared to heavy cream’s minimum of 36%.

For soups, sauces, and many cooked recipes, you can substitute half-and-half in equal amounts. If you need a richer substitute for baking, combine:

• 7/8 cup half-and-half
• 1/8 cup melted butter

This creates a mixture that’s closer to the fat content of heavy cream.

Best for: Soups, sauces, baking

Milk and Cornstarch

If your recipe simply needs thickening rather than extra richness, milk and cornstarch are a great option.

Mix together:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Whisk until smooth before adding it to your recipe. The cornstarch thickens the milk, creating a consistency similar to heavy cream.

This substitute works well in gravies, sauces, and some baked goods but isn’t suitable for whipping.

Best for: Sauces, soups, gravies

Greek Yogurt and Milk

Greek yogurt offers a creamy texture while adding extra protein and reducing fat.

Blend together:

• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup whole milk

This mixture provides richness while maintaining a lighter nutritional profile. It works especially well in baked goods, creamy soups, and casseroles.

Avoid using it in recipes that require boiling, as yogurt can sometimes curdle under high heat.

Best for: Baking, soups, casseroles

Soy Milk and Olive Oil

Need a dairy-free option? Soy milk and olive oil create a surprisingly creamy substitute.

Combine:

• ⅔ cup unsweetened soy milk
• ⅓ cup olive oil

The olive oil replaces the fat found in heavy cream, while soy milk provides the liquid.

This substitute works best in baking and cooking but won’t whip.

Best for: Dairy-free baking and cooking

Coconut Cream

Coconut cream is one of the best dairy-free alternatives to heavy cream.

It has a naturally rich consistency and works beautifully in curries, soups, desserts, frostings, and whipped toppings. Keep in mind that it adds a mild coconut flavor, so it’s best used in recipes where that flavor complements the dish.

For whipped toppings, chill a can of full-fat coconut cream overnight before whipping.

Substitution: Replace heavy cream with coconut cream in equal amounts.

Best for: Dairy-free desserts, curries, soups

Cream Cheese

Cream cheese creates an incredibly rich texture and works especially well in creamy sauces, dips, cheesecakes, and frostings.

Because it’s much thicker than heavy cream, you’ll typically need to thin it slightly with a little milk before adding it to recipes.

For one cup of heavy cream, combine:

• ½ cup softened cream cheese
• ½ cup milk

Blend until smooth.

Best for: Cheesecakes, sauces, dips, frostings

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Can You Whip Heavy Cream Substitutes?

One important thing to remember is that most heavy cream substitutes cannot be whipped into stiff peaks like traditional heavy cream.

If your recipe calls for whipped cream, your best alternatives are:

• Chilled full-fat coconut cream
• Store-bought non-dairy whipping cream
• Real heavy whipping cream

For soups, sauces, casseroles, and most baked goods, however, the substitutes above work wonderfully.

Quick Comparison

Running out of heavy cream doesn’t have to ruin dinner or dessert. Whether you’re looking for a healthier option, a dairy-free alternative, or simply want to avoid another trip to the store, there’s likely a substitute already in your refrigerator or pantry.

The best choice depends on your recipe. Milk and butter closely mimic heavy cream in baking, evaporated milk is excellent for soups and sauces, and coconut cream is perfect for dairy-free cooking. Experiment with different substitutes to find the one that works best for your favorite recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best substitute for heavy cream?

Milk mixed with butter is one of the closest substitutes because it mimics the fat content of heavy cream and works well in most baked goods and cooked recipes.

Can I use milk instead of heavy cream?

Regular milk can replace heavy cream in some recipes, but the finished dish will be thinner and less rich. Adding butter or cornstarch helps improve the texture.

Can I substitute half-and-half for heavy cream?

Yes. Half-and-half works well in soups and sauces. For baking, adding a small amount of melted butter creates a richer substitute that’s closer to heavy cream.

Which heavy cream substitute is best for baking?

Milk and butter, Greek yogurt mixed with milk, and half-and-half with butter are all excellent options for baked goods.

What is the best dairy-free substitute for heavy cream?

Coconut cream is one of the most popular dairy-free alternatives because of its rich consistency. Unsweetened soy milk combined with olive oil is another great option for baking and cooking.

Can any heavy cream substitute be whipped?

Most cannot. Chilled full-fat coconut cream is one of the few substitutes that can be whipped into a topping similar to whipped cream, although it will have a slight coconut flavor.