Dairy

Vegan substitute for Heavy cream

Key facts

Replaces
Heavy cream
Category
Dairy
Options here
4 tested swaps
Easiest swap
Full-fat coconut cream — 1:1

Options, ratios and best uses

Full-fat coconut cream

1:1

Chill the tin overnight and scoop the solid layer.

Best for: curries, whipped topping

Cashew cream

1:1

1 cup soaked cashews to 3/4 cup water.

Best for: pasta sauces, soups

Soy whipping cream

1:1

Whip cold; holds shape for hours.

Best for: piping, desserts

Silken tofu blend

1:1

Blend until glass-smooth to avoid graininess.

Best for: quiche fillings, mousse

Tips

  • Add lemon juice for a crème fraîche tang
  • Thicken with a cornflour slurry, not reduction
  • Season more than you would dairy cream

Avoid

  • Boiling cashew cream hard — it splits
  • Using sweetened coconut cream in savoury dishes

Questions people ask

Does coconut cream taste coconutty in curry?

Yes, and in most curries that is welcome. Use cashew cream for Italian sauces.

Can plant cream be whipped?

Dedicated soy or coconut whipping creams whip well; standard plant milks do not.

Related swaps

Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link back.

A substitution is not a nutrition guarantee

Choose a replacement for the job the original ingredient performs: binding, aeration, thickening, fat or flavour. A mushroom can imitate a patty's shape while providing much less protein; a nut cream can mimic dairy texture without its calcium or B12 fortification. Check the actual product and the rest of the meal.

Ratios are starting points unless a complete recipe has been tested with that exact replacement. Brand formulation, water content and cooking method change the result. Try a small batch for important bakes, and check soy, nuts, sesame and wheat allergens even when a product is labelled vegan.

Keep exploring

Pages connected to this one across swaps, ingredients, nutrients and meals.

Ingredients

Nutrients

Meals