Vegan Substitute For Heavy Cream And How To Make Each One

Do you purposely miss out on delicious, mouth-watering desserts, fruit bowls, coffee, and soups because you’re a vegan? Heavy cream, which is a common ingredient of the abovementioned treats,  seems like a fantasy for vegans. But wait, did you know a vegan substitute for heavy cream exists? Being vegan doesn’t deprive you of tantalizing joys if you know the proper substitutes or how to make vegan-friendly heavy cream. Let’s dive in before your tastebuds send you AWOL.

What Is A Vegan Substitute For Heavy Cream?

A vegan substitute for heavy cream requires a plant-based product that meets vegan standards. You need a product similar with anti-cruelty in mind and from Mother Nature’s earth. PETA lists plant-based dairy products as safe alternatives for vegans (11). 

Secondly, the FDA requires heavy cream to contain no less than 36% milk fats (2). You can’t substitute heavy cream with vegan-friendly dairy replacements if you don’t consider the fat content required to make the delicious substitute.

FDA also requires a 30-35% milk fat content for whipping cream (2). So, adjusting your fat content to substitute whipping cream for a vegan-friendly option is important. Either way, you can use plant-based milk products with the right fat content to make a substitute. 

Vegan Heavy Cream Substitutes

Let’s discover which plant-based milk products make the best alternatives to heavy cream to ensure you don’t skip a tasty beat. In addition, you’ll find tips on which dishes work with each substitute and a recipe to make them. 

Plant-Based Vegan Alternatives To Heavy Cream

Often, you forget how many excellent plant-based products are available to you as a vegan. So, let’s refresh your memory by showing you the top vegan substitutes for heavy cream. Each replacement is a vegan-friendly choice to ensure your diet remains plant-based. 

Almond Butter, Milk, And Yogurt

PETA recommends almond milk or yogurt as an option for vegans  (11). Almond milk has a milder taste to use in savory dishes and soups. Good vegan options add fat content and get the right consistency, including cornstarch, plant-based oils, and vegan-friendly butter. 

Almond Milk Heavy Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup of almond milk
• ⅓ cup of vegan butter
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional for sweetness)

Instructions:

1. Blend the almond milk on high for 60 seconds.
2. Melt the butter before adding it to the blender for another 30 seconds.
3. Add the vanilla extract before blending for another 60 seconds.

This recipe is courtesy of PETA.

Read More: Healthy High Calorie Vegan Foods For Weight Gain

Cashew Milk, Cream, Or Yogurt

Italy’s Department of Industrial Agriculture confirmed that all homemade and commercial cashew products are vegan-friendly (3). Cashew milk and cream are excellent substitutes and work with savory or sweet tastes. Also, they mix well with vegan butter, silken tofu, or water. 

Cashew Milk Heavy Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cashew milk
• 1 cup plain silken tofu
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar (optional for sweetness)

Instructions:

1. Blend the cashew milk and tofu on high for 90 seconds.
2. Add the agave nectar before blending for another 60 seconds.

This recipe is courtesy of IFT.

Dairy-Free Blueberry Yogurt

Always look for vegan-certified yogurt labels to ensure they don’t contain animal byproducts. However, PETA assures you that vegan yogurt exists (4). Adding blueberries makes it ideal for desserts. Meanwhile, you can use yogurt as is or mix it with plant-based milk.

Blueberry Yogurt Heavy Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of dairy-free blueberry yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of agave nectar (optional for sweeter cream)

Instructions:

1. Blend the agave nectar and yogurt in a mixing bowl.
2. Whisk the ingredients until you get the desired consistency.

This recipe is courtesy of PETA.

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Hemp Milk

Dr. Vinod Katiboina suggests hemp milk as a vegan substitute for heavy cream and dairy products (6). However, hemp milk has an ultra-mild taste and blends better with silken tofu or cornstarch. The result will taste divine over savory dishes and in soups.  

Hemp Milk Heavy Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of hemp milk
• 2 x 3 tablespoons of cornstarch

Instructions:

1. Place the hemp milk in a mixing bowl.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
3. Then, whisk well.
4. Add another 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
5. Whisk it well again.
6. Add the last 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
7. Keep whisking until you achieve the desired consistency.

This recipe is courtesy of Medicine Net.

Oat Milk Or Heavy Oat Milk

Grain-based replacements also work well. Amanda Barrel from Medical News Today recommends oat or heavy oat milk as a vegan replacement (8). Oat milk blends beautifully with silken tofu, plant-based oils, and vegan butter. It’s delicious in sweet or savory dishes. 

Oat Milk Heavy Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cups of heavy oat milk
• ⅓ cup of organic olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup (optional for sweetness)

Instructions:

1. Place the oil and milk in a blender.
2. Blend it on high speed for 90 seconds.
3. Add the maple syrup before blending for 30 seconds.

This recipe is courtesy of Medical News Today.

Read More: Banana Bread Recipe (No Sugar): 6 Tasty Options, Including A Vegan Recipe

Onion Cream

PETA recommends onion cream for vegans replacing heavy cream (13). Onions are plant-based alternatives; blending them with plant-based oils is simple. However, onion cream isn’t a sweet treat. Use it in soups and delectable sauces. 

Onion Heavy Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 raw onions
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• Juice from 1 lemon
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Keep the onions whole and unpeeled as you drizzle them with olive oil.
2. Bake the drizzled onions for an hour at 400°F.
3. Remove the skin once the onions cool.
4. Blend the onions, salt, and lemon on high for two minutes.

This recipe is courtesy of PETA.

Soy Milk

Jessica Caporuscio from Medical News Today suggests using soy milk as a vegan replacement for dairy products (1). It blends well with silken tofu, plant-based oils, and vegan butter. However, the bland taste is better for savory dishes. 

Soy Milk Heavy Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup of soy milk
• ⅓ cup of olive oil

Instructions:

1. Place both ingredients in a blender.
2. Blend on a high speed for 90 seconds or until smooth.

This recipe is courtesy of Medical News Today.

Vegan Cream Cheese

PETA confirms that vegan cream cheese is a suitable and tasty alternative to the non-vegan choice (11). It works in savory and some sweet, fruity dishes. Vegan cheeses are rising, while vegan cream cheese works alone or mixes well with plant-based milk replacements. 

Vegan Cream Cheese Heavy Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup vegan cream cheese
• ¼ cup of coconut milk

Instructions:

1. Put both ingredients on high speed in a blender for 90 seconds.
2. Add more coconut milk if you desire a runnier consistency.
3. Add more vegan cream cheese for a thicker consistency.

This recipe is courtesy of PETA.

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White Bean Butter Or Cream

Stephanie Watson from WebMD reminds you that all legumes and beans are naturally vegan (12). So, vegans often make recipes with white beans to substitute butter or cream. White beans blend well with water or plant-based oils. It works well in savory dishes.

White Bean Butter Heavy Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of blanched white beans
• ¼ cup of water

Instructions:

1. Place both ingredients on high speed in a blender for 90 seconds.
2. Add more water if the consistency isn’t smooth enough.

This recipe is courtesy of Nourish by WebMD.

Best Vegan Substitute For Heavy Cream: Coconut Products!

Coconut cream, milk, yogurt, or evaporated milk works because they’re all plant-based. Coconut milk is one of PETA’s favorite vegan substitutes (9). Meanwhile, coconut milk comes in various products that simplify making heavy cream. 

For example, coconut cream could get a thicker consistency starting with a high-fat content (15). Alternatively, use cornstarch, plant-based oil, or manual whipping to thicken coconut milk enough to replace heavy cream. It’s a sweet treat but also works well in soups. 

How To Make A Vegan Substitute For Heavy Cream With Coconut Milk?

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coconut milk (high-fat content)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions:

1. Combine the two in a blender, and blend at a fast speed for 30 seconds.
2. Finish thickening the heavy cream substitute with a hand whisk.

This recipe is courtesy of Health Line.

Tastiest One-Step Vegan Whipped Cream Recipe With Coconut Cream

Fortunately, coconut cream is the top alternative for another reason. You can whip a can of high-fat coconut cream to add to baked foods, recipes, or desserts. Registered dietician Rachael Ajmera says one half-cup serving of coconut cream has 20 grams of fat (15). 

Bonus Recipes To Add For Vegan Cream Substitutes

The plant-based heavy cream replacements are tantalizing. Still, you might desire a savory dish with pasta or whipping cream to top a yummy dessert. In that case, let’s look at two more recipes to substitute ingredients with vegan options. 

Bonus: Vegan Substitute For Pasta

Vegan heavy cream tastes delicious with pasta. However, you don’t want egg-saturated store pasta. You can buy vegan-certified pasta or look for a replacement. 

Louisa Richards from Medical News Today reviewed plant-based pasta replacements to recommend these (7): 

• Butter squash or eggplant instead of lasagna sheets
• Julienne carrots or spaghetti squash to replace spaghetti
• Shirataki or Kelp noodles as low-carb alternatives to most noodles
• Zucchini noodles to eat less egg-based noodles

Bonus 2: How To Add Vegan Heavy Cream To Recipes?

You know which vegan replacements for heavy cream work in savory or sweet dishes. However, you can use vegan heavy cream in many ways. 

Ariane Lang from Healthline inspires various sweet and savory uses for vegan heavy cream (5): 

• Alfredo and other delectable sauces
• Baked foods (without egg)
• Coffee or tea
• Creamy mac and cheese (substituting the macaroni, of course)
• Salad dressings for fruit or savory salads
• Scalloped or creamy potatoes
• Tangy soups like tomato
• Vegan chocolate mousse

Only your imagination limits vegan heavy cream in savory or sweet dishes. 

FAQs

Is There A Vegan Heavy Cream?

Yes, some heavy creams in stores are suitable for vegans. However, make sure they have a vegan-certified label. For example, the international V-Label is a safe choice (14). Alternatively, look for the Vegan Society’s stamp of approval (10). 

Is It Easy To Learn How To Make Vegan Heavy Cream?

PETA lists nut and plant-based dairy replacements to substitute heavy cream (11). Then, the FDA requires heavy cream to contain 36% milk fats (2). Adding plant-based or vegetable oils or vegan-friendly butter would increase the fat content.   

What Is A Vegan Whipped Cream?

The FDA requires that whipping cream must contain 30-35% milk fat (2). Adding any vegan heavy cream substitute like coconut milk to cornstarch would work to have a lower fat content. The whipping cream doesn’t have the same fat or consistency as heavy cream. 

The Bottom Line

Vegan alternatives for heavy or whipping cream exist. Many plant-based products support or enhance substitutes for heavy or whipping cream. So, allow your imagination to run wild. Pick your favorite to match your desired dish nicely, and start cooking a vegan storm.