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If you’ve ever followed an American recipe online, you’ve probably seen the term ‘heavy cream’ thrown around. But what it is? Can you get it in the UK? And if not, what is the UK equivalent of heavy cream?
If you keep reading, you’ll find all the answers you need…
What is Heavy Cream?
Heavy cream, also known as heavy whipping cream, is an American name for a type of cream.
Here in the UK, we have different varieties or types of dairy (and non-dairy) cream – double cream, single cream, ‘squirty’ cream, clotted cream, etc. Americans have the same thing, but they use slightly different terminology.
Heavy cream is cream that has a rather high fat content when compared to other types of cream, hence the name ‘heavy’. It is literally heavy in fat.
Heavy cream can only be called ‘heavy cream‘ if it has a milk fat percentage of higher than 36%.
For some comparison, whipping cream, another type (name) of America cream, has a milk fat percentage of between 30% and 36%.
Light cream is another (American) type, and it has a milk fat percentage of between 18% and 30%.
Can You Get Heavy Cream in the UK?
Cream that has a milk fat percentage of 36% is available in the UK, but it goes by the name of whipping cream, squirty cream or spray cream.
These can actually be slightly different products, too, just to make things even more complicated.
The following products go by the name of (UHT) whipping cream, and they have a milk fat percentage of 32% and 35.1% respectively:
Kerrymaid UHT Whipping Cream
Gluten Free
Candia Professionnel UHT Whipping Cream
From the French Meadows
Spray cream, aerosol cream, or squirty cream – all different names for the same thing – have a milk fat percentage of roughly the same amount. These include the following products:
Morrisons British Real Dairy Spray Cream
*approximate value
Can You Use Double Cream Instead of Heavy Cream?
You can use double cream instead of heavy cream…
However, despite regularly being offered as a UK equivalent or alternative, double cream actually has a higher milk fat percentage.
As it states on Freshways:
“Double cream is much thicker and richer, with a fat content of around 48%.”
Freshways
| Cream Type | Milk Fat Percentage |
|---|---|
| Heavy Cream (US) | 36% |
| Double Cream (UK) | 48% (+) |
What Will Happen if I Use Double Cream Instead of Heavy Cream?
If you use double cream in a recipe that calls for heavy cream, you’ll find that the end result is thicker, richer, and a little more calorific.
Some people say that there is very little difference to the end result when double cream is used instead of 36%* cream or heavy cream. Others, however, say that it adds a delightful richness to a dish. There are also people who don’t like the richness of the double cream.
For the most part, the thickness and richness is a matter of taste. Maybe you’ll like it. Maybe you won’t. Why not give it a try and find out?
Experiments are how great recipes are created, after all!
Can You Use Single Cream Instead of Heavy Cream?
It is not recommended to use single cream instead of heavy cream (or double/whipping cream).
Single cream has a considerably lower milk fat content than both heavy cream (36%) and double cream (48%).
| Cream Type | Milk Fat Percentage |
|---|---|
| Heavy Cream (US) | 36% |
| Single Cream (UK) | 12% to 18% |
| Double Cream (UK) | 48% (+) |
What Will Happen if I Use Single Cream Instead of Heavy Cream?
If you cook with single cream instead of heavy cream (or another UK equivalent), whatever you’re making won’t end up as thick as you’re expecting. Single cream is thinner, so a sauce or similar made with it will also be thinner.
Single cream will also result in a lighter, less rich finished result, depending on what you’re making.
You cannot use single cream in any recipe that requires heat.
Double cream and heavy cream both handle heat well, but single cream does not. Single cream has a tendency to curdle when heated up.
Not only that, single cream does not come to stiff, thick peaks like double (or heavy) cream does. Because of this, single cream does not make a good alternative for any kind of cream that requires whipping or thickening.
What is Heavy Cream Used For?
The reason that double cream is often given as a UK equivalent to heavy cream is because they are both used for similar purposes — in creamy sauces, poured over desserts, etc.
They can also both be used in sweet and savoury dishes alike.
Here are a few recipes that feature heavy cream:
- Chicken Breasts with Mustard Cream Sauce | Simply Recipes
- Creamy Baked Eggs | Food52
- Tiramisu Pancakes | The Kitchn
And here are a few recipes that feature double cream:
- Spicy Mushroom Lasagne | BBC
- Sugar-Free Mango & Lime Mousse | Yummly
- White Chocolate Panna Cotta | Greedy Gourmet