The 10 Best Non-dairy Substitutes for Heavy Cream

Searching for a non-dairy heavy cream alternative that won’t skimp on flavor or texture? Below are the 10 best non-dairy substitutes for heavy cream from homemade cashew cream to silken tofu. Adopting a vegan diet or sticking to dairy-free and ditching the dairy products – it doesn’t have to be difficult! Check out the substitutes below and find out how to make them yourself or where to find them in stores and online.

Table of contents for The 10 Best Non-dairy Substitutes for Heavy Cream:

Cashew Cream
Coconut Cream
Silk Whipping Cream Alternative
Ripple Dairy-Free Half & Half
Silken Tofu
Oat Milk
Soy Milk
Macadamia Milk
Trader Joes Vegan Heavy Whipping Cream
Califia Farms Heavy Whip
FAQ’s

1. Cashew Cream

Firstly is vegan Cashew cream, it is a simple vegan substitute for heavy-cream or sour cream. This is one of the easiest alternatives to make yourself! It does not require any special equipment besides a blender (no nut bags!) and it is very budget friendly to make at home. Try this recipe on how to make your own cashew cream at home. This is a savory recipe but easily make it sweet.

Cashew cream is made from soaking cashews and blending them with water until smooth and creamy. I like to sweeten cashew cream with dates and add a touch of cinnamon or vanilla extract – this makes a delicious dairy-free coffee creamer or milk, if thinned down more. When cashews are soaked and blended they leave behind a very little amount of pulp unlike homemade almond or oat milk. Adjust liquid to make your cashew cream thicker or thinner.

2. Coconut Cream

Secondly, vegan coconut cream is a higher fat, thicker version of coconut milk. This thick substance is perfect for smoothie, blended drinks, or desserts. Coconut cream can be found in many grocery stores or ordered online – I like the Trader Joes brand as it does not contain any gums or other additives.

Coconut is a 1:1 ratio to heavy cream. The only downside to using coconut cream is the distinctive coconut flavor, this is best used in sweet dishes like vegan chocolate mouse or vegan ice cream.

3. Silk Dairy-Free Heavy Whipping Cream Alternative

Thirdly, Silk makes a great dairy-free alternative that measures the same as heavy cream, in equal parts. It is made with filtered water, coconut oil, and faba bean protein. This product can be found in most grocery stores and is a quick substitute to keep on hand. It is great in coffee, pastas, sauces, and can even be used to make a vegan dairy-free whipped cream, it creates stiff peaks just like the classic! Plus this is fairly inexpensive compared to other brands.

4. Ripple Brand Dairy-Free Half & Half

Ripple also makes a great dairy-free half & half that measures the same as traditional half & half. They have a refrigerated product and a shelf stable product. Made with water, sunflower oil, and pea protein user report this tastes exactly like classic half & half.

This can be used to make creamy pasta alla vodka, lattes at home, or creamy soups! Ripple dairy-free half and half can be found in most grocery stores or ordered online. Keep this in the fridge for any occasion, it’s a great substitute!

5. Silken Tofu

Silken tofu is another great vegan option in so many different recipes. Tofu can be blended into tofu cream that can be substituted as a 1:1 ratio to heavy cream. When tofu is blended with water or non-dairy milk it creates a smooth, creamy texture that is a significant source of protein. Tofu will not whip but can replace heavy cream in sauces or soups. Tofu has no real flavor allowing it to take of the flavor of whatever you put it in.

6. Oat Milk

Oat milk is one of the most common non-dairy milk alternatives, coming in sweetened and unsweetened varieties it can be used for many different recipes. Here is a simple recipe on how to make your own oat milk!

Oat milk can be mixed with a few tablespoons of cornstarch to create a thicker consistency that mimics heavy cream. Use oat milk in soups, baked goods, frosting, sauce, or pasta dishes. Oat milk has a 1:1 ratio to heavy cream.

7. Soy Milk

Soy milk is a great milk substitute option and available in many grocery stores, several brands make soy milk like Silk, Pacific Foods, and Full Circle Market . Start by soaking soy beans, boiling them, and then filtering. Soy milk usually contains water, oil, and protein.

Soy milk is thinner than heavy cream but has a similar taste that won’t over power dishes. Thicken by combining with extra virgin olive oil, this is best in savory dishes. Soy milk is also a great vegan alternative for cream in coffee, cereal, and soups as it has a mild flavor.

8. Macadamia Milk

Macadamia nut milk is another popular plant-based milk alternative. Made by soaking macadamia nuts in water than blending in a high-speed blender with water, salt, and any other add-ins. You will need a nut bag when making homemade macadamia milk as the mixture needs to strain to remove any impurities or pulp.

Find Macadamia nut milk in grocery stores or online, it is often times shelf stable. This is a great heavy cream substitute for lattes, cereal, smoothies, or baked goods! Macadamia nut milk wont whip like heavy cream but it is a 1:1 ratio for other recipes. The nutty taste may altar the flavor in savory recipes, so this is best as a substitute in sweet recipes.

9. Trader Joes Vegan Heavy Whipping Cream Alternative

Trader Joes has a great (and affordable) heavy whipping cream alternative that is dairy free, gluten free, and lactose free! What more could you need? Made with a mix of vegetable oil, starch, and proteins this alternative for heavy cream has the same rich and creamy consistency.

Even better, this product whips up exactly like heavy whipping cream with a hand mixer making it perfect for whipped cream in chocolate mousse, no-churn ice creams, or as a topping! Use this in a 1:1 ratio for heavy whipping cream.

10. Califia Farms Heavy Whip

Lastly, Califia Farms sells another wonderful dupe for heavy whipping cream as it has the same consistency of heavy cream. This plant-based heavy whipping cream is perfect for cooking, baking, and dessert-making. Gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, kosher, and free of carrageenan this checks all the boxes and it does in whip into a light and fluffy whipped cream. Substitute this 1:1 to heavy cream.

FAQs:

Is there a heavy cream alternative that whips like traditional heavy whipping cream?

From the list above, the best substitutes are the Silk Non-Dairy Heavy Whipping Cream Alternative or the Califia Farms Heavy Whip. They can both swap 1:1 for heavy cream and both whip up to a light and fluffy whipped cream consistency.

Which non-dairy cream substitute is easiest to make?

Looking for a homemade non-dairy substitute, cashew cream is the easiest to make at home as it does not require a nut bag or any special equipment. Homemade cashew cream, does not whip, but it turns into a delightfully thick and creamy liquid that transforms coffee, sauces, and soups. Make this sweet or savory based on the ingredients you add.