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Eggs & dairy · Milk & cream

Heavy cream

High-fat cream (about 35–48% fat) that whips into peaks and enriches sauces without curdling.

Also called: double cream, whipping cream, heavy whipping cream, malai

A kind of cream

84 recipes with it

What it is

Heavy or whipping cream in North America (around 36% fat) and double cream in Britain (around 48%) are the thick, rich creams for whipping and cooking. In South Asian cooking, malai, the thick skin and cream that forms on boiled milk, plays a similar role. Lower-fat single or light cream will not whip.

How it’s used

  • Whipped cream for cakes, pavlova and trifles
  • Cream sauces for pasta, chicken and mushrooms
  • Finishing curries such as butter chicken and korma
  • Ganache, panna cotta, ice cream and custards
  • Enriching mashed potatoes and soups

Characteristics

Taste
Rich, sweet and buttery.
Texture
Thick and pourable; airy when whipped.
When cooked
Whips best very cold; overwhipping turns it grainy and then into butter. It can be boiled and reduced without splitting, which is why it thickens pan sauces.
Sold as
fresh, liquid
Cooking uses
Usually eaten raw, Commonly cooked, Suitable for baking, Used for thickening

Storage

Refrigerated. Keep in the coldest part of the fridge and use within a few days of opening. It can be frozen for cooking, but thawed cream does not whip well.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Milk.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Contains milk (allergen).

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
340 kcal
Protein
2.84 g
Carbohydrate
2.84 g
Fat
36.08 g
Fibre
0 g
Sugars
2.92 g

USDA FoodData Central: Cream, fluid, heavy whipping.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Crème fraîche — Works in sauces and soups with a pleasant tang; does not whip to peaks.
  • Coconut cream — Chilled full-fat coconut cream whips and enriches curries for a dairy-free option; adds coconut flavour.
  • Evaporated milk — Lighter substitute in sauces and soups; will not whip like cream.

Related ingredients

Recipes with heavy cream

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