7 Best Heavy Cream Substitutes

When a recipe calls for heavy cream, it's bound to turn out rich and luxurious. Whether it's a savory egg dish, like Ree Drummond’s sausage & kale quiche, or something sweet, like her homemade vanilla ice cream, heavy cream makes it silky and delicious. But what happens if you don't have any heavy cream on hand? Swapping the rich stuff for whole milk won't always cut it: Heavy cream has 10 times the fat of whole milk, so it makes dishes much silkier and creamier. But don't worry: These heavy cream substitutes will work in a pinch!

Unless you add a decadent splash of heavy cream to your daily coffee, you probably don't always have a carton on hand. You can technically freeze heavy cream, but it may separate as it thaws—and it's very hard to make whipped cream from thawed frozen heavy cream. (Though if you’re one of those unicorns who plans ahead, note that whipped cream freezes and thaws well.)

But fear not: Depending on what you're making, there are heavy cream substitutes galore—including ones for vegans and a few that are even shelf-stable. So when the craving strikes for Ree’s fettuccine alfredo or strawberries & cream scones, you’ll be ready, whether there’s a carton waiting in the fridge or not.