Vegan Heavy Cream Substitute: What It Is and How to Choose the Best One
Eating more plant-based meals doesn’t have to mean leaving behind your most indulgent dairy-based favorites. Heavy cream, for example, comes in plant-based versions, and making your own heavy cream alternative is super easy with the right equipment. Our guide to vegan heavy cream substitutes outlines why you might like them, when they’re best for, whether to make your own, and how to choose the best one.
Who are heavy cream substitutes for?
You may be drawn to heavy cream substitutes if you’re:
- Plant-based: Heavy cream substitutes are completely free of dairy and animal products, making them great for plant-based eating.
- Lactose intolerant: Since plant-based heavy cream substitutes don’t contain milk, they don’t contain lactose either.
- Allergic to dairy: As a dairy-free product, plant-based heavy cream is completely safe for you to enjoy.
- Flexitarians: When you’re cooking more fully plant-based recipes, using plant-based heavy cream in place of the dairy version is a small but meaningful swap.
When do you use a heavy cream substitute?
From holiday meals to sweet treats and your morning brew, there’s no shortage of times to use a plant-based heavy cream substitute.
Thanksgiving dinner
Ditch the dairy heavy cream in your favorite mashed potatoes recipe for the plant-based option. Do the same with your green bean casserole and creamed corn recipes. For dessert, gently pile plant-based heavy cream onto an especially indulgent twist on a classic whipped cream topping. (And while you’re at it, replace the butter in your pie crust with plant-based butter.)
Baking and desserts
Plant-based heavy cream is handy for baking and desserts beyond just Thanksgiving. That means pies, of course, but also cookies, cheesecake, and so much more. It’s also a great fit for homemade ice cream recipes! Sub the milk in your recipe with a blend of plant-based milk and plant-based heavy cream for an extra indulgent dessert.
Coffee and tea
As its name suggests, heavy cream is kind of an unbeatable pick as a coffee creamer. The same holds true for plant-based heavy cream, so try it in place of the dairy version with your morning coffee or tea. It’s just as heavenly in an afternoon cup of decaf or an evening sip of chamomile tea.
Savory dishes
When you’re working with a soup recipe that calls for dairy milk (or canned coconut milk, which is plant-based as is), plant-based heavy cream is also an option. It makes for a more decadent meal whether you’re cooking something Indian-inspired or putting a plant-based spin on the ever-present “marry me chicken” trend.
Make your own vs. store-bought vegan heavy cream
Heavy cream is arguably the easiest dairy product to make your own plant-based version of right in your kitchen. Recipes for plant-based heavy cream typically call for just two or three ingredients, occasionally reaching four ingredients. In many cases, the ingredients are accessible and you’ll have plenty of leftovers to use in other recipes.
Nevertheless, you may prefer store-bought plant-based heavy cream if you’re a beginner in the kitchen or simply seeking maximum convenience. Though not at all difficult, homemade heavy-cream recipes aren’t exactly a starting point if you’re a newer home chef.
On the other hand, if you’re well-versed in home cooking but you don’t have a hand mixer or stand mixer, you’ll likely need to stick with store-bought options. That’s because almost all recipes for making your own plant-based heavy cream call for whipping the ingredients. In some cases, you can use a blender instead, but doing so risks adding so much air that it thins out your heavy cream. And a thin heavy cream isn’t really all that heavy.
What’s in vegan heavy cream?
Most homemade vegan heavy cream substitutes are made of cashews, water, and salt. Store-bought versions may be nut-based, coconut-based, or soy-based, and may also include additional stabilizers and preservatives.
Vegan heavy cream vs. vegan whipping cream
Vegan heavy cream doesn’t necessarily whip into whipped cream like dairy heavy cream does. Only vegan products specifically labeled as whipping cream do that. If you want to whip vegan heavy cream, look for “whipping cream” labels in the grocery store or for a recipe specifically for whipping cream.
How to choose the best vegan heavy cream substitute
1. What’s my budget, and how much time do I have?
When you’re looking to save money, making your own heavy cream is the most cost-effective choice. If you’ve got enough money that saving time matters more, buy your plant-based heavy cream from the grocery store.
2. Do I feel up to the task of making my own plant-based heavy cream?
Trust your gut here. If you’re concerned about your heavy cream substitute turning out alright, choose store-bought. If you know you have what it takes to make your own heavy cream — or, better yet, if you’re excited to make it yourself — go the homemade route.
3. Do I have the equipment for making my own heavy cream?
A hand mixer or stand mixer is best, but you might not have either if you don’t bake very often. You can use a blender instead, but it may lead to a thinner consistency. In any case, if you’re not confident your kitchen equipment is appropriate for a DIY plant-based heavy cream, get the packaged version at the grocery store.
4. What allergies do I need to avoid?
Heavy cream recipes that call for cashew or almond milk (or whole nuts) are a non-starter if you’re allergic to nuts. The good news is that you can easily make heavy cream from coconut milk or find coconut-based versions at the grocery store. In most cases, plant-based heavy cream is soy- and gluten-free too.
5. How comfortable am I with processed foods?
A small amount of processing goes into the plant-based heavy cream sold at grocery stores to ensure texture, flavor, and stability similar to the dairy version. You might thus see ingredients on the packaging that you aren’t familiar with, whereas homemade versions involve no such ingredients. If any level of processing is a no for you, make your own heavy cream.
6. What’s the recipe or product’s reputation?
Any heavy cream recipe or store-bought product should work for the same culinary purposes, so it’s just a question of how much other people like it. Browse internet forums, ask your plant-based friends, and read or watch content from people who focus on plant-based eating. They’ll give you a stronger sense of which heavy cream options have which flavors and textures, making your decision all the easier.
How to swap regular heavy cream for vegan heavy cream
Simply use vegan heavy cream substitutes as a 1:1 replacement for regular heavy cream. There are no special adjustments you need to make to use vegan heavy cream.
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