Whipped cream is made from a high-fat portion of milk. It is creamy yet light. Whipped cream usually contains about 30 – 35 % fat. When the milk is set aside, a fat layer forms on top of it. It is further used to make whipped cream, half and half, heavy cream, and other dairy items. The 30-35% fat gives the topping a low weight and airy texture.
But whipped cream may not be a perfect topping for cakes like ganache as the peaks may not be stable. If you prefer a plant-based diet or are allergic to dairy products, you might need a whipped cream substitute.
If you wonder what the best substitutes for whipped cream are, I have answers for you. Some of the best-whipped cream substitutes are coconut milk, regular cream, a mix of flour, milk, and cornstarch, and silken tofu pureed with soy milk and butter and milk.
Before we get on to the substitutes, let us explore whipped cream.
What's In The Post
Quick Peek: Whipped Cream
The following sections tell you what whipped cream is its flavor, texture, uses, and health benefits.
What Is Whipped Cream?
Whipped cream is liquid heavy cream that has been whipped with a whisk or mixer until it is light and fluffy. It’s frequently sweetened, usually with white sugar and flavored with vanilla. Chantilly cream is another name for whipped cream.
Whipped cream is also available in many flavors. Various flavors like coffee, orange zest, chocolate, etc., are added when making flavored whipped cream. It is quite high in calories, with 400 calories in each half cup.
Describing Whipped Cream: Flavor and Texture
Whipped cream basically has a rich, creamy flavor and texture. This is the best thing about whipped cream – it lacks a particular flavor, due to which it is a versatile ingredient that can be easily added to cakes and desserts.
That said, sweetened whipped cream is also available, which comprises added sugar. It is also sometimes flavored with vanilla.
You need no details on whipped cream and its texture. Whipped cream’s airy, bubbly texture makes it a delightful ingredient in baking recipes. The fat in the milk is whipped or beaten until light and foamy texture is formed – a characteristic of whipped cream.
Uses of Whipped Cream
The most well-known use of whipped cream is for toppings in desserts and drinks, of course! It is used as a topping in pies, cakes, salads, ice creams, cupcakes, puddings, scones, and mousse.
The magical touch of whipped cream can enrich your drinks like no other. Whipped cream can be a tasty addition to milkshakes, espresso, hot chocolates, caffe lattes, iced coffee drinks, and many other coffee cocktails.
Whipped Cream On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope
When we look through the wellness telescope, whipped cream doesn’t boast many nutrients. Even then, being a dairy product, it does contain tiny amounts of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and D.
But, on a bigger scale, whipped cream has to be whipped for its terrific calorie load. It is high in fat content – a cup of heavy cream can effortlessly contribute 800 calories to your diet. *whoa!*
So, the considerable benefit of whipped cream is its ability to make our recipes super creamy and flavorful. That said, a moderate intake of whipped cream can mean no harm and is a delightful, tasty experience!
Why Should We Substitute Whipped Cream?
Whipped cream is not the healthiest ingredient as it is high in calories. If you are looking for a low-fat ingredient for your dish, you might want to reconsider using whipped cream.
Whipped cream is also a dairy product, so it’s unsuitable for anyone with a dairy-free/ plant-based diet. Intriguingly, if you are lactose intolerant, you might not need an alternative, as whipped cream or just heavy cream is low in lactose.
The most common and basic reason must be that you are simply out of whipped cream. Whipped cream can easily expire as it is made of milk, so its availability in your pantry might not have high stats. So, many a time, you can be out of freshly whipped cream.
It may not have made your grocery list because it isn’t used so often. Worry not because we have listed below the best substitutes of whipped cream that do not contain dairy and are suitable in all fields.
13 Best Whipped Cream Substitutes
Now that the intel about whipped cream is over, let’s see its substitutes. The thirteen best-whipped cream substitutes are discussed below:
1. Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is a dairy-free and vegan substitute for whipping cream. It has just the perfect amount of fat to whisk up smoothly. You can get the perfect peaks using canned coconut milk.
You need to chill it overnight and then whip it with a mixer. The ideal sweeteners for coconut milk are sifted powdered sugar and stevia. They don’t weigh the coconut milk down.
In terms of nutrition, coconut milk is comparable to whipping cream, but it imparts a coconut taste to your meal. According to the USDA, 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of coconut milk contains 30 calories, 0.3 grams of protein, 3.2 grams of fat, and 0.4 grams of carbohydrates.
Coconut milk has nutritional qualities that are quite similar to whipping cream making it an ideal substitute for whipped cream.
Here is a delicious chicken recipe that you can make with coconut milk, coconut chicken. Do give it a try!
2. Regular Cream
Regular cream is the next best whipped cream substitute. Regular cream, also known as light cream, primarily differs from whipped cream with respect to the fat content. Whipped cream, which is basically heavy cream, is replete with fat, contributing to its unique whipped texture.
Regular or light cream may not whip as such as whipped cream, but it renders creaminess to your recipes, making it a good substitute for whipped cream.
Care for a tip? Chill your regular cream before whipping, and you shall get a close substitute for whipped cream.
Other than desserts, regular or light cream also works great in soups. Here is the recipe for rich and creamy butternut squash soup.
3. Flour, Milk, And Cornstarch
The next whipped cream substitute on our list is something you have to do on your own. Blend a cup of almond milk, rice milk, or non-fat milk with two teaspoons of cornstarch and a teaspoon of flour. This works as a good thickener to your recipes.
The mix of milk, cornstarch, and flavor is a good replacement for whipped cream in recipes that do not involve baking because it can’t be whipped and can interfere with the texture of other ingredients.
4. Silken Tofu Pureed With Soy Milk
Whipped cream, made with silken tofu, soy milk, sugar, and vanilla extract, is another vegan and dairy-free alternative to the traditional whipped cream. This whipped cream substitute is lower in fat than dairy whipping cream, but higher in carbohydrates, thanks to tofu’s high protein and low-fat content.
To make this whipped cream, puree 1 pound silken tofu, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 cup sugar until smooth in a blender or food processor. Gradually add the soy milk to the machine while it’s running until it’s light and fluffy. Place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
5. Butter And Milk
Butter and milk work great in place of whipped cream. This choice has no fewer calories or fat than whipping cream. Still, it will suffice if you require whipping cream for baking or cooking.
Using an electric mixer, combine 1/3 cup softened butter and 3/4 cup milk until the required consistency is achieved to replace whipped cream.
6. Yogurt
Bacterial fermentation of milk gives you yogurt, our protein-rich whipped cream substitute on the list. Yogurt has a tangy flavor with a thick consistency and rigid texture. A fluffy, moist texture to your cakes or desserts is guaranteed if yogurt is added.
You can easily surmise that yogurt will not aerate like whipping cream. But if you are willing to ignore these slight textural differences, plain, thick yogurt can work as a good alternative for whipped cream in sauces and savory dishes.
You can add milk to yogurt for a thin texture resembling that of heavy cream for better results.
Ever heard of yogurt pudding? Here’s the recipe for baked yogurt pudding for you to try.
7. Coconut Cream
Coconut cream is a vegan, lactose-free whipped cream alternative for whipped cream among our substitutes. Heavy coconut cream, made from coconut milk, can be whipped into soft peaks and not large peaks like whipped cream.
Coconut cream has a light fat content and a creamy flavor that renders moisture and texture to your recipes, making it a considerable alternative for whipped cream. Did I miss something?
The coconut flavor, of course! Coconut cream undoubtedly will have a coconut flavor. Unless you aren’t looking for coconut-flavored recipes, use some extracts to dominate the coconut flavor. Here’s the recipe to make coconut cream at home.
8. Dry Milk, Lemon Juice, And Vanilla Extract
Whipped cream can also be made with dry (powdered) milk. It’s a great non-fat and easy-to-make substitute to whipped cream. You only need to follow a few easy steps involving dry milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
Add 1/2 cup cold water, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a large mixing basin. Sprinkle 1/2 cup non-fat dry milk over the water and beat for 4 minutes. Or you can also beat until it’s stiff using an electric mixer or beater.
Then, whisk 1/4 cup granulated sugar until it dissolves. This mix of dry milk, lemon juice and vanilla extract will give you a great substitute for whipped cream.
Keep a tip in mind. Before using, chill the whipped topping for at least 30 minutes. Powdered milk is dairy. Thus, this substitute is not suitable for plant-based diets or for people who are allergic to dairy.
9. Chilled Evaporated Milk And Lemon Juice
As an alternative to whipping cream, you can use evaporated milk mixed with lemon juice. Simply combine 1 teaspoon lemon juice with 1 can of cold evaporated milk.
If you whip it up with an electric mixer, evaporated chilled milk and lemon juice will whip up nicely and serve as a sufficient substitute.
10. Banana, Egg Whites, And Sugar
Banana, egg whites, and sugar act as a great low-fat, dairy-free vegetarian substitute to whipped cream.
Simply whip two large, ripe bananas with two egg whites and 3 tablespoons of sugar until frothy. Be careful not to overbeat, and stop after you’ve achieved the proper consistency.
11. Crème Fraiche
Creme fraiche is French for fresh cream. It is simply heavy cream that is soured using bacterial culture. That is why creme fraiche is also known as cultured cream. It has a nutty, tangy flavor and a consistency similar to yogurt or mayonnaise.
Crème fraiche is known to have higher fat content and thick consistency than whipped cream making it one of the least considered substitutes for whipped cream. But, it cannot be whipped.
You can try beating crème fraiche with some regular milk or cream for an even consistency and use it as a whipped cream substitute in sauces and stews.
You can also add crème fraiche to scrambled eggs. Out of crème fraiche? Here is a list of crème fraiche substitutes that you can try.
12. Cream Cheese
A blend of milk and cream gives you cream cheese. Cream cheese has a milky and shiny look, a smooth texture, and a play of sweet and tangy flavors. It gives a rich, dense flavor to baking recipes.
Cream cheese has a thick consistency making it a worthy whipped cream substitute in frostings and dips. As with the case of creme fraiche, you can beat cream cheese with regular milk for a thin consistency before using it in recipes.
13. Mascarpone
Coming from Italy, mascarpone is a cheese variety prepared by separating the whey after curdling milk with an acid. It has a sweet, buttery flavor with subtle hints of acidic notes as well.
Though it may not aerate like whipped cream, mascarpone can surely render sweet, acidic flavor and lightness to your recipes, making it a considerable whipped cream substitute. You can thin it by adding some milk before use.
Short Recap
The following points will help you remember the details on whipped cream substitutes easily:
Best Whipped Cream Substitutes In Terms Of Flavor
- Regular cream
- A blend of flour
- Milk
- Cornstarch
- Chilled evaporated milk
- Lemon juice
Best Whipped Cream Substitutes In Terms Of Texture
- Coconut milk
- Silken tofu pureed with soy milk
- Regular cream
How To Substitute Whipped Cream In Different Recipes
Whipped Cream Substitutes
Ingredients
- Coconut Milk
- Regular Cream
- Flour, Milk, And Cornstarch
- Silken Tofu Pureed With Soy Milk
- Butter And Milk
- Yogurt
- Coconut Cream
- Dry Milk, Lemon Juice, And Vanilla Extract
- Chilled Evaporated Milk And Lemon Juice
- Banana, Egg Whites, And Sugar
- Crème Fraiche
- Cream Cheese
- Mascarpone
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 proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Conclusion
There are many options to pick from when you need a whipped cream substitute. The reason could be because you don’t have any whipped cream on hand, or you want to go dairy-free.
Regardless of the reason, you may need to do some experimentation to figure out what works best for your recipe and taste buds.
People with lactose intolerance can use whipped cream at their discretion because it is very low in lactose. To mimic the same frothy volume produced by full-fat dairy, the ideal replacements for whipping cream are those with high-fat content.
You may need to explore a little to see which options work best for different recipes, but there are plenty for you to choose.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Is whipping cream the same as heavy cream?
Although whipping cream is made from heavy cream, it is not the same as heavy cream due to the difference in fat content.
Can I use milk instead of heavy cream?
Milk can be mixed with melted butter and can be used instead of heavy cream.
Can I substitute whipping cream for heavy cream?
Heavy cream can be used to substitute for whipping cream but you can expect your recipes to be thicker in consistency or texture since heavy cream has a thick texture.
