Hey there. viewers! Craving a delicious bowl of strawberries and cream? Or maybe a creamy
fruit salad? But the problem is no matter how hard you convince yourself fruits and
strawberries are good for you, it’s the heavy cream that wrecks your healthy eating habits.
What if you could substitute heavy cream with something healthier without sacrificing the taste?
In today’s video, we’ll be talking about healthy substitutes for heavy cream
you can easily whip up. Why is coconut cream the best plant-based cream?
How good is cashew cream for you? How can you turn Greek yogurt into a heavy cream substitute?
We’ll be talking about all of these AND more… 1. Coconut cream
One of the best plant-based creams you can use is coconut cream. You can use it in curries,
as well as in cakes. You can also use it to make coconut ice cream.
It’s a straight swap with heavy cream. You can buy cans of coconut cream and use it in
a 1:1 ratio for heavy cream. If you want to make your own, you can put a can of full-fat
coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, you can just get rid of the
liquid and use the remaining coconut cream. Coconut cream will give you, as expected,
a mild coconut flavor. So if you don’t want that flavor in your food, you should avoid using it.
Coconut cream isn’t just delicious, it also has several health benefits. It has medium-chain
triglycerides, which help reduce appetite and decrease calorie intake compared to other fats.
One of the biggest misconceptions people have regarding coconut cream is that since it’s high
in saturated fat, it isn’t heart-healthy. Well that’s not true. Research suggests it may benefit
people with normal or high cholesterol levels. An 8-week study was conducted to figure out the
effect of coconut milk porridge on your health. It was found that coconut was responsible for
lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol and increased good (HDL) cholesterol.
Other potential health benefits of coconut cream include its impact on reducing inflammation in
your body, decreasing stomach ulcers, and fighting viruses and bacteria.
All in all, coconut cream is definitely a health boosting substitute for heavy cream.
Do you like coconut? How do you prefer eating it? Share your preferences with the Bestie community
in the comments below… 2. Silken tofu
There are many different types of tofu, but the one that’s best used in place of heavy cream is
silken tofu. This variety is made by condensing soy milk, which is then made into blocks. It has a
much smoother and softer consistency. You can use it for whipped cream, desserts, and even sauces.
You will need to first take equal parts of silken tofu and any plant-based milk you prefer,
and blend it until its consistency is thick and smooth. You can then swap your
heavy cream for this mixture in a 1:1 ratio. Tofu is a great substitute for heavy cream,
as it’s low in calories and offers several health benefits. Tofu is a
great addition to an anti-inflammatory diet. This wonderful food is a great source of complete
protein, meaning it has a well-balanced amino acid profile, in addition to fiber, potassium,
magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese. Looking for answers on all the latest
health and wellness news? Hit that “subscribe” button, and join our millions of followers.
Stay up to date on all our great Bestie content… 3. Vegan yogurt combined with plant-based milk
If you want a similar texture to heavy cream, the combination of vegan yogurt with plant-based
milk is your best bet. This combo comes with a creamy, luscious texture you can use in
pasta sauce, lemon bars, and even in soups. To make this combination, you will need to
combine three-quarters of a cup of unsweetened vegan yogurt with a quarter cup of any of your
favorite plant-based milk. This combo can be swapped for heavy cream in a 1:1 ratio.
However, it’s important to note that because unsweetened yogurt is being used, the mixture
could have a tangy taste to it. So only use it in recipes if you’re okay with the taste.
Vegan yogurt isn’t just a great heavy cream substitute. It’s also a great way to pack fiber,
calcium, and protein into your diet, not to mention probiotics,
which are great for digestive health. 4. Combining milk with butter
This particular combination has been the go-to substitute for heavy cream for a number of years.
The combination is especially helpful for people who eat dairy products
as they’re easily available. When you mix butter with milk,
it adds fat. The fat percentage would be similar to what you find in heavy cream. You can use it
in desserts that don’t need to be whipped. To make this mixture, you will need to mix a
quarter cup of melted butter and three quarters of a cup of milk. If you want to make it thicker than
it is, you can add a spoon of flour to it. 5. Combining milk with olive oil
This may not look like the most obvious mixture, but it’s still a great substitute for heavy cream.
Olive oil can actually add a thickness to your food,
while at the same time providing some healthy fats, which are not present in heavy cream.
You can use it in pasta or as a salad dressing. To make this mixture, mix two-thirds a cup of
milk with one-third of olive oil. This mixture can be used in place of one cup of heavy cream.
Before we move ahead, here’s another video you might like. Watch and learn more about different
natural ways to balance your hormones… 6. Combining milk with Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt is already pretty popular. Instead of just heavy cream, you can use it to combine with
milk. All you have to do is combine Greek yogurt with plant-based milk or whole or skimmed milk in
equal parts to get the heavy texture you need. You can use this mixture in place of heavy
cream in a 1:1 ratio. This combo can be used in soups, sauces, and in the preparation of muffins.
This also doesn’t work for foods that need whipping. Also, because of the low-fat content,
it may not be suitable for desserts that require richness in texture.
7. Cashew cream Cashew cream is not
available in most grocery stores, so you’ll have to make it yourself. You will need to
first soak some raw cashews overnight so that they can become soft and blend easily. Drain
the cashews and blend three-quarters of a cup with a quarter cup of water.
You can use the resultant mixture as a 1:1 substitute for heavy cream. Considering this
isn’t something you can make quickly, it’s not a substitute you can use as a quick fix.
Also, cashew cream has a nutty flavor to it, so you may not want to use it if
you don’t want that in your dish. 8. Combining milk with cornstarch
You can mix cornstarch with plant-based or dairy milk to make a thick mixture that is a great
substitute for heavy cream. All you have to use is two teaspoons of cornstarch with one cup of milk.
Mix it until it becomes thick. You can use it in place of one cup of heavy cream.
This particular mix can be used in stews and sauces. However, this is another substitute that
won’t do well if the recipe needs whipping. 9. Combining milk with cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is made from the curd prepared from cow’s milk. It’s rich with important nutrients,
along with protein. To make this mixture, make sure the cottage cheese is lump free before you
blend it with a splash of milk. You can swap heavy cream with this mixture in a 1:1 ratio.
The combination can be used for sauces and biscuits. However,
cottage cheese comes with a lot of sodium. As a result, this substitute may not be the best
option for people who are sensitive to salt. Try using cottage cheese that has low sodium.
10. Cream cheese When people eat
bagels and cheesecakes, they also have milk and cream with it. Instead of heavy cream,
you can try using cream cheese in some of the recipes. You can use cream cheese as icing,
as well as in cakes and sauces. You can simply swap heavy cream for cream cheese in a 1:1 ratio.
Cream cheese also comes with fewer calories when compared to heavy cream.
It also has much less fat. However, cream cheese does not count as a low cal or low fat
option. So if that’s your motivation to swap heavy cream, it’s not the right option for you.
Just like some of the other substitutes, it’s not a great alternative for recipes that need
whipping. Instead, you will need to go with something different.
11. Dairy-free heavy cream If you can’t find anything else,
maybe a quick run to the nearby grocery can solve matters for you. These days there are dairy-free
heavy cream substitutes available in the market. And as you already know by now, these are low
in calories and better for your health. You can use dairy-free heavy cream substitutes in soups,
curries, sauces, and desserts. Swap this by 1:1 ratio in your recipes.
Do you love these healthy heavy cream substitutes? There are so many other
healthy food alternatives you should know about. Here are a couple more videos…
Watch 10 Healthy Alternatives to White Rice. Or how about 20 Effortless Healthy
Food Swaps To Cut Thousands Of Calories? Go ahead, click one. Or better yet,
watch both, and learn more about healthy eating. Are you planning on including any of
these healthy heavy cream substitutes in your recipes? Let us know in the comments below!