12 Best Double Cream Substitutes That You Can Try!

Double cream is one of the most versatile dairy products. It is one product that serves its purpose well for sweet and savory recipes. But what can be done if you are all out of this kitchen essential? In that case, I have some of the best double cream substitutes for you! 

Some of the best substitutes for double cream are heavy cream, coconut milk, Greek yogurt, light cream and butter, mascarpone, milk and cornstarch mix, soy cream, almond cream, and tofu and soy milk. 

Double cream, as the name suggests, is a creamy dairy product. As various types of creams are available in the market, people often confuse double cream with heavy cream. Although they are similar products, they have a few notable differences. 

In most cases, double cream tends to have a much higher fat content than heavy cream, reaching about 48% of milk fat. This makes double cream much thicker in consistency and also has a richer flavor. 

Double cream can be used as it is in recipes and can be whipped before use to make its texture lighter. Moreover, this product is handy in the kitchen, adding a creamy texture to sweet and savory food. 

This creamy delight adds the right amount of creamy volume to sauces, soups, and stews. Moreover, double cream also acts as a base and a side for several desserts. So, anyone may think cooking without this kitchen staple is practically impossible. 

Luckily, that is not the case at all! Several substitutes work equally well, both in terms of flavor and texture. So, whether you want a vegan substitute or are simply all out of double cream, here are some lovely options you can use instead! Happy reading! 

12 Best Double Cream Substitutes

Here is a list of all the lovely substitutes you can use instead of double cream. Along with the substitutes, I have also mentioned the substitution ratios and what recipe the substitute would work best for. So, let’s have a look! 

1. Heavy Cream

Heavy cream is the closest and the best substitute you could use instead of double cream. Unlike double cream, heavy cream has a fat milk content of about 36%. This is less as compared to double cream, but still very manageable. 

The best part is that despite the lower fat content, you won’t see any evident differences between the two creams. So they can work interchangeably in most recipes. 

Heavy cream is an excellent product for soups and sauces with a creamy texture. Moreover, heavy cream can also be used as a base for desserts and as a topping once whipped, exactly like double cream. You can follow a simple 1:1 ratio for substitution. 

2. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is a much thicker and fattier version of regular yogurt, which is precisely why it can serve as a good substitute for double cream in various recipes. However, do make sure not to go for Greek yogurt that has no fat content. 

Greek yogurt has the same properties as double cream, especially with a higher milk fat content. Its thick texture can work well in savory and sweet recipes to give the right amount of creaminess. 

Although there are better substitutes than Greek yogurt for double cream as a dessert topping, it will work very well as a base in desserts like panna cotta and mousse. However, remember that Greek yogurt is slightly sourer in flavor. 

You may have to incorporate just a little sugar to balance the flavor. It is essential, especially as this way, you can do a direct substitution in a 1:1 ratio. 

3. Light Cream And Butter

Double cream is essentially cream with a higher fat content. It may seem like rocket science, but it is effortless to make this cream at home as well. The simplest way to do so is by mixing light cream with butter. 

Once mixed, the butter will give the light cream the right amount of fat, providing a thicker consistency. This way, the cream will be a perfect substitute in sweet and savory recipes. 

An easy way would be to use light cream with a fat content between 18-25%. Blend this cream with equal parts of butter, giving it the right consistency. However, do make sure you do the whipping lightly, as overwhipping may split the cream. 

4. Mascarpone

It is a type of soft cheese, so it may sound odd to know that it can work as a substitute for double cream. But hear me out when I say it does! Although mascarpone may not serve as an excellent substitute for every recipe possible, there are somewhere it works wonders. 

Mascarpone has a much higher fat content than even double cream, coming close to a whopping 65%. The consistency of mascarpone is much thicker than that of double cream. But this can work as an advantage for many recipes. 

Mascarpone can work if you want a thicker base for your soups, sauces, or even dessert recipes. Moreover, mascarpone is an excellent substitute even in recipes where double cream is whipped and used as a spread. A simple 1:1 ratio of substitution will work perfectly fine. 

5. Creme Fraiche

Creme Fraiche is very similar to mascarpone in many ways, having a thick and spreadable consistency. It also has a slightly sour flavor, which works well in many recipes. 

In dessert recipes, creme fraiche can work wonders if you mix it with just a little sugar before adding it to the dessert. It is one substitute I would not recommend for savory recipes. 

It only works well with some of the other substitutes mentioned here. However, when looking for substitutes to use as a spread in place of double cream, creme fraiche is the way to go, following a 1:1 ratio of substitution. 

6. Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese, unlike double cream, has a solid, distinctive, and rich texture. It has little grains of cheese, which are very far apart from the liquid double cream. But there are ways to make it work as a substitute. 

Yes, despite the texture of cottage cheese, it can work wonderfully as a substitute for double cream. However, there are a few things that you will have to keep in mind with this one. Firstly, you must eliminate the lumps to get the right texture. 

An excellent way to do so is to blend the cottage cheese before using it in any recipe. You can also mix it with some low-fat milk if you want it to have a thinner texture. 

This substitute works much better in desserts than in savory recipes. However, you can also use it in delicious dishes in a 1:1 ratio of substitution if you get the rest of the flavors right. 

7. Milk And Cornstarch

Cornstarch, as we all know, is one of the best thickening agents out there. Cornstarch, when mixed with milk, gives it the thick consistency you see with double cream. Doing this is easy, as you can use a 1:1 ratio of substitution with the milk and add a teaspoon of cornflour for each cup. 

But some essential things need to be kept in mind. The first thing is that cornstarch alters the flavor. So, this substitute is always best used in recipes where the double cream ought to be heated at some point. 

This will cook the cornstarch and get rid of the chalky flavor. I would recommend something other than this as a substitute for recipes where double cream is used as a topping for desserts. 

8. Tofu and Soy Milk

Tofu, or silken tofu in particular, is similar to cottage cheese in many ways. For this substitute, I recommend going for silken tofu, as the other ones don’t have the desired crumbly texture that we would need. 

Like cottage cheese, silken tofu can be blended with soy milk, breaking down all the lumps. This will give you a smooth textured creamy concoction, very similar to that of double cream. 

The best part is that this substitute is also completely vegan! Moreover, unlike various vegan products, silken tofu has a neutral flavor. So, this substitute will work perfectly fine in sweet and savory recipes. 

As far as the substitution ratio goes, it will stay 1:1 here as well. You can first blend the tofu, then add soy milk according to the consistency needed. The final product you would get can be used directly as a substitute. 

9. Soy Milk And Olive Oil 

This is another vegan substitute for double cream. With this substitute, we are increasing the fat content in the soy milk to give it a consistency similar to that of double cream. 

Here, olive oil can work well as it will give the soy milk a thick consistency. The final mixture can be used as a substitute for double cream in a 1:1 ratio. To make the mixture, use one part of soy milk and mix it with half the amount of olive oil. 

Here, it is vital to know that the flavor will be very different from that of double cream. It is because there is no dairy here. However, that being said, the flavor combination can still very well work in sauces, soups, and stews. 

10. Almond Cream

This one is a little out there, but it can work as a substitute for double cream in some situations. Like the previous two substitutes, this one is also a great vegan alternative. 

However, almond cream cannot be used in savory recipes. Moreover, even in desserts, it will give them a thick and creamy texture. Other than that, as almonds tend to have a strong flavor, this substitute will impart its flavor to the dish. 

It is best to stick to desserts when using almond cream. Almond cream may also have a thinner consistency than double cream, but that can be fixed just by blending it a little. Once combined, use it as a substitute in a 1:1 ratio. 

11. Soy Cream

If I had to choose the best vegan substitute for double cream, then soy cream is the perfect match. As you may have guessed, soy cream is a thicker version of soy milk. It has a consistency very similar to that of double cream. 

Soy cream is thick and also has a neutral flavor. So, it can be added to any recipe as a substitute for double cream without worrying about the dish’s flavor getting altered. Here as well, a 1:1 ratio of substitution will work perfectly fine. 

12. Coconut Cream

Coconut cream, made from coconut milk, is another excellent vegan substitute for double cream. Coconut cream has a thick consistency and can be used in exact quantities as double cream in any recipe under the radar. 

The thing with coconut cream, however, is its intense flavor. Unlike some of the other substitutes mentioned above, coconut cream has a distinctive taste. So, it can work perfectly in savory and sweet recipes as long as you are okay with a lingering flavor of coconut. 

Short Recap Of Double Cream Substitutes

Here is a short recap of the best Double Cream substitutes based on the factors and outcomes you are looking for with your recipe. 

Best Double Cream Substitutes in Flavor and Texture:

1. Heavy Cream
2. Light Cream and Butter. 
3. Greek Yogurt

Best Double Cream Substitutes In Terms Of Availability:

1. Cottage Cheese
2. Heavy Cream
3. Greek Yogurt

Best Vegan Substitutes For Double Cream:

1. Soy Cream
2. Tofu and Soy Milk
3. Soy Milk and Olive Oil. 

How To Use Double Cream Substitutes

12 Best Double Cream Substitutes That You Can Try

Some of the best substitutes for double cream are heavy cream, coconut milk, Greek yogurt, light cream and butter, mascarpone, milk and cornstarch mix, soy cream, almond cream, and tofu and soy milk.

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Ingredients

  

• Heavy Cream
• Greek Yogurt
• Light Cream and Butter
• Mascarpone
• Creme Fraiche
• Cottage Cheese
• Milk and Cornstarch
• Tofu and Soy Milk
• Soy Milk and Olive Oil
• Almond Cream
• Soy Cream
• Coconut Cream

Instructions

 

• Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
• Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
• Use the substitute in the required amount and make the dish according to the recipe.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Conclusion

As we have come to the end of this article, I hope it has helped you find the best substitute for double cream in your recipe. There are indeed plenty of reserves that can be used in place of double cream. However, choosing the best replacement for your recipe is best based on factors such as flavor and consistency.

As long as you keep these factors in mind, you will surely be able to get the best outcome, even in terms of substitutes. So, let me know in the comments which replacement worked best for you and in which recipe. Happy cooking! 

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