Foodies across the world have put forward as many as eight or nine vegan substitutes for dairy-based heavy cream. Our focus is on working with the five we’ve identified here that reliably combine the best consistency with the best flavor.
In the dairy world, heavy creams come in a range of flavors, including heavy whipping cream on the sweet end of the continuum and sour cream on the savory end. To keep this simple, we’ll note whether the vegan substitute for heavy cream works better in savory or sweet recipes.
While you can sweeten any plant-based beverage enough to make a sweet heavy cream out of it, we’re going to point you toward only your tastiest, most recipe-friendly options.
To make almond milk or any other nut milk into a heavy cream substitute, always start with the version with the highest fat content you can find. Dairy-based heavy cream has a butterfat content of 36% or more, so to make any “milk” into cream, you usually add fat.
In the “How to Make It” section below, we’re going to use the same steps to turn each of these three nut milks into heavy cream.
As with any of these heavy cream substitutes, if the consistency isn’t perfect, experiment. These proportions will get you close, but only you will know if it’s the consistency you’re looking for.
This is the outlier in the bunch. While you can use boxed or carton coconut milk for this, you can also use canned coconut milk. The key to watch for here is the fat content. The fat content of coconut milk should be roughly that of a dairy-based heavy cream. So, when a recipe calls for heavy cream, you just make a one-to-one substitution.
In our table above, we have coconut milk listed as sweet rather than sweet/savory. That’s because coconut is naturally sweet. It can, however, be used to add a sweet undertaste to some savory dishes, notably curries.
It’s important to note that this is also the only plant-based heavy cream substitute that can be whipped into a whipped topping. Just refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, add a small amount of sugar, agave, maple syrup, or vanilla extract, and whip as you would a dairy-based heavy cream. If the mixture isn’t holding together the way you’d like it to, add a pinch of cream of tartar (which is vegan and almost flavorless) to help the consistency.
Hemp milk has a very neutral flavor, so it’s one of our top picks for a savory heavy cream substitute.
NOTE: Using cornstarch as a thickener is going to give you less of a heavy cream consistency because it contains very little fat. If heartiness is what you’re looking for, hemp thickened with cornstarch is not your best heavy cream substitution.
Both of these methods will result in a heavy cream texture but add very little flavor. For that reason, it’s not a great substitute for sour cream. If you’re looking specifically for a sour cream substitute, use the hemp milk/plain silken tofu method and add some white miso (a little at a time) to taste.
Oat milk gains in popularity every year, so it’s the plant-based milk you’re most likely to already have on hand if you accidentally find yourself needing heavy cream but not having any. For best results, use a full-fat variety, and unless you’re using it in a sweet recipe, be sure it’s unsweetened.
NOTE: For a savory recipe, consider flavored silken tofu and no sweeteners.
It’s no surprise that the granddaddy of plant-based milk works great as the base for a heavy cream substitute. In a pinch, you could use soy milk in a sweet recipe, but we highly recommend using it for your savory recipes.
If you absolutely need to use soy milk to make a heavy cream for use in a sweet recipe, add sugar, agave, maple syrup, or vanilla extract to taste. If you’re making a substitute for sour cream, the Soy Milk/Silken Tofu combination is a good start. Just add small amounts of white miso to taste.
Fortunately, nearly any plant-based milk can be made into a heavy cream substitute. Nut milks, including hemp milk, oat milk, coconut milk, and soy milk can all be used as the base for a heavy cream substitute with the addition of the right fats. (See full instructions above for specifics.)
By far the closest substitute for heavy cream in the vegan world is coconut milk in a can. There are several varieties to choose from. Look for the one with the highest fat, but don’t fret if you can’t find anything labeled “full fat.” They are all rich in fats.
No milk can replace heavy cream without the addition of a thickener, ideally a fat of some kind. To make a heavy cream substitute with almond milk, we recommend adding soaked nuts or vegan butter, or plain silken tofu to get the right texture. Add sweeteners as desired to replicate the taste in sweet recipes.
Some full-fat oat milk is nearly heavy enough to substitute for heavy cream, but it will still need a little boost. To turn oat milk into a workable substitute for heavy cream, add cornstarch, vegan butter, tofu or olive oil. (See full instructions above for specifics.)
We have a large selection of delectably sweet and savory vegan recipes. But since you now know how to make vegan heavy cream substitutes, you may just want to start with your all-time favorite creamy main dish. You know, the one you thought you had to leave behind to go vegan!