Want to make vegan ice cream but don’t know the vegan substitutes for heavy cream? Don’t worry! I am here to rescue you. I have mentioned the 12 best vegan substitutes for heavy cream in this article.
Heavy cream is smooth and creamy and can be widely used in sauces, baking goods, and desserts. Instead of heavy cream, you can use vegan or dairy-free options.
Some of the best vegan heavy cream substitutes are coconut milk, cashew milk, soy milk, almond milk, vegan cream cheese, dairy-free yogurt, and many more.
In this article, you will get to know about different vegan alternatives for heavy cream and how much you can use. For your ease, I have also talked about the various combinations of products that can together be used as replacements for heavy cream.
Let’s check out the lineup of vegan substitutes for heavy cream.
12 Best Vegan Substitutes For Heavy Cream
Individual Substitutes
Let’s know about the substitutes that can be used directly without making any addition.
1. Coconut Milk/Coconut Cream
What else is better to replace heavy cream with the goodness of coconut? You can easily substitute heavy cream with coconut cream or coconut milk. Coconut cream has high-fat content. Thus, it recreates an extraordinarily creamy and velvety texture.
Coconut milk is a good alternative for heavy cream in desserts as well as soups. You can easily get a bottle of coconut milk from your nearby market. It can be used in a ratio of 1:1.
The downside of coconut cream is its distinctive flavor that may come through in the end dish.
Moreover, if you are not a lover of coconut cream, then this is not for you. But don’t worry, keep reading to learn more options that suit your tastes.
2. Dairy Free Yogurt
Another replacement for heavy cream is dairy-free yogurt. Make sure you use plain and unsweetened yogurt. You can use vegan yogurt for soups, curries, and pasta sauces.
The thick texture of the yogurt is quite helpful in enhancing the creaminess of sauces. Dairy-free yogurt is quite a healthy substitute for heavy cream as it has less fat content.
If you are adding this to savory dishes, do not forget to use unsweetened yogurt. To substitute heavy cream, you can use it in a 1:1 ratio. You can also use silk’s unsweetened soy yogurt.
3. Cashew Cream
Cashew cream is another good alternative to heavy cream. This cream has a perfect texture and richness because of the presence of natural oils available in the cashew nuts. The substitution ratio of heavy cream to cashew cream is 1:1.
You can easily prepare this from the comfort of your home. All you need to do is soak raw cashews in boiling hot water and blend them. Add 1 cup of cashews with 1 ¼ cup of water to get a perfect blend.
It might not be the best to take in air as whipping cream does, but cashew cream is a perfect substitute for making soups, purees, sauces, baked goods, and beverages.
4. Vegan Cream Cheese
Looking for another replacement for heavy cream? You can swap heavy cream with vegan cream cheese.
This vegan cream cheese is enriched with fat content. Thus, it is a good replacement. You can replace heavy cream with vegan cream cheese in desserts. It will help recreate the silky smooth texture without overpowering the flavor.
This might not be the best substitute as it has limited use, but it can be counted as a substitute, nevertheless.
5. Soy Milk
Soy milk is also one of the best substitutes for heavy cream. This is an entirely plant-based substitute and consists of a lower quantity of fats as compared to heavy cream.
In addition, soy milk is an excellent alternative if you want something protein-rich. You can use it in beverages, pasta sauces, and baked goods.
Soy milk has a thinner consistency. It is prepared with blanched soybeans that have been put together with water and then get strained. While using soy milk as a substitute for heavy cream, you need to follow the 1:1 ratio.
Whenever you are planning to substitute heavy cream soy milk, make sure you choose an unsweetened one. Choosing a sweetened version will certainly alter the flavor of the recipe.
6. Almond milk
Well, another potential substitute for heavy cream is unsweetened almond milk. This is an entirely vegan option; you can directly derive it from almonds. You can observe a faintly nutty flavor in almond milk.
It can easily be added to most dishes without boosting sugar and calorie content. The calorie content of this replacement is quite low. In addition to this, it is the best option for making smoothies and cereals. You can use it in a ratio of 1:1.
Almond milk is best to be used for baking purposes, as it has neutral flavors. The fat content is quite low in almond milk, so you may not get a similar creaminess.
But you can get a thick cream by adding one tablespoon of lemon juice to every cup of almond milk.
7. Cashew Milk
Another nut milk that is a perfect substitute for heavy cream is cashew milk. It has a rich and smooth consistency and thus is perfect to be added for preparing sauces, soups, and smoothies. You can get a perfect creamy texture.
It is much creamier than any other nut milk and has a similar consistency to cow’s milk. Cashew milk generally has low calories and protein. You can use it in a ratio of 1:1.
But on the other hand, it has more fat content as compared to other plant-based milk. It is best to add it while preparing smoothies and oatmeal.
8. Oat Milk
Are you the one who counts their calories? Then, this is the perfect substitute for you. It is the best option if you are looking for substitutes to prepare coffees or lattes. It can be used in a ratio of 1:1.
Oat milk generally has a low-fat content. Thus you might not be able to get the perfect consistency. On the contrary, oatmeal’s quantity of protein and fiber is much higher.
9. Hemp Milk
You can use hemp milk as a replacement for heavy cream. This milk is quite popular for its nutty flavors and sweet taste. You can get hemp milk from the seeds of the hemp plant.
This replacement is a rich source of fat and protein. Thus you can use it for baking purposes. Combining this milk with acidic food, like lemon juice, acts as a leavening agent.
You can use hemp milk with heavy milk in a ratio of 1:1. Nevertheless, you may find its nutty taste more intense. This intense flavor can be used to add on the nutty flavors. This milk can be used in oatmeal or cereal.
Combination Substitutes
Here are the substitutes that work well when they are combined with another product.
10. Silken Tofu + Plant-Based Milk
Another best substitute for heavy cream is silken tofu. It just blends and gives a perfectly smooth, lovely texture comparable to heavy cream. It is best to be used for vegan cooking as well as baking.
Adding plant-based milk, such as soy milk, to tofu makes it a perfect substitute. You just need to blend 8 oz of tofu with one-fourth of plant-based milk.
Blend the mixture well until you get a smooth texture. You can use it for making soups, pasta, and more!
11. Dairy Free Butter + Plant-based Milk
As I already mentioned, the various options for plant-based milk. If you are not a lover of plant-based milk and want to use some combo, you can add dairy-free butter.
You must add 1 tablespoon of vegan butter for every half of the cup of plant-based milk. Make sure you use warm milk so that the butter melts smoothly and you have a smooth texture.
Thus, you can have a great substitute for heavy cream with the goodness of butter. Dairy-free milk adds to the fat content of plant-based milk. You can use almond milk or any other plant-based milk.
12. Plant Milk + Cornstarch
Still looking for another option? Here it is! If you are an admirer of thick soups and sauces, then you can use this combo. At the same time, while heating, cornstarch develops thick consistency.
Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of plant milk well and form a slurry. Then, add this slurry to dairy-free milk. You can substitute this mixture with heavy cream in a 1:1 ratio.
Short Recap Of The Vegan Substitutes For Heavy Cream
Okay! Okay! I got it; it is quite a whole bunch of substitutes. Let me help you to recall all the substitutes for a quick look.
Flavors: Cashew cream and coconut milk are the best substitutes in terms of flavors.
Texture: Dairy-free yogurt and soy milk have a similar creamy texture to heavy cream.
Availability: Soy milk, almond milk, dairy-free butter, dairy-free yogurt, and oat milk are easily available substitutes for heavy cream.
How To Use Vegan Substitutes For Heavy Cream In A Recipe
12 Best Vegan Substitutes For Heavy Cream You Can Try!
Ingredients
- Coconut Milk/Coconut Cream
- Dairy Free Yogurt
- Cashew Cream
- Vegan Cream Cheese
- Soy Milk
- Almond milk
- Cashew Milk
- Oat Milk
- Hemp Milk
- Silken Tofu + Plant-Based Milk
- Dairy Free Butter + Plant-based Milk
- Plant Milk + Cornstarch
Instructions
- Go through all substitutes and determine which one fits the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred alternative.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and move ahead to make the dish according to the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can we use to replace heavy cream in sauces?
Cashew milk, cashew cream, and soy milk can be used instead of heavy cream in sauces.
Can we use coconut milk instead of heavy cream?
Yes, you can use coconut milk instead of heavy cream. You can also use coconut cream.
What are the vegan substitutes for heavy cream?
Soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, dairy-free butter, dairy-free yogurt, and oat milk are vegan substitutes for heavy cream.
Conclusion
Well, this is all about the vegan substitutes for heavy cream. You can find some of them in your kitchen, while others you can get from a nearby store.
Each substitute is unique and has a creamy texture. I hope you find your needed vegan substitute for heavy cream. See you next time, and till then, keep reading.
