What to do with Leftover Heavy Whipping Cream

One of our most popular posts at A Well Advised Life is about what to do with leftover half and half cream. While half and half is great and versatile in the kitchen, it’s time to also give some love to its decadent, higher-calorie, higher-fat cousin: heavy whipping cream. I love heavy whipping cream. Rich, creamy, and indulgent, it’s the main component of homemade whipped cream. It also can go into soup, coffee, tea, and more.

How is heavy whipping cream different from milk or from half and half? It’s all about fat content. Here are the stats, according to The Spruce Eats:

skim milk = less than 0.5% butterfat
1% milk = (as the name suggests) 1% butterfat
2% = 2% butterfat
whole milk = 3.5% butterfat
half and half = about 12% butterfat
heavy whipping cream = around 38% butterfat

While heavy whipping cream is higher in calories and fat than its dairy cousins, current science suggests it’s a healthy fat that is tied to lower weight and reduced risk of diabetes, so go ahead and drop a carton guilt-free into your cart during your next shopping trip. It’s a great part of a balanced diet.

And if you have some heavy whipping cream in your fridge and you aren’t sure what to do with it, here are some ideas.

20 Ways to Use Up Leftover Heavy Whipping Cream:

Make whipped cream. All you need is some heavy whipping cream, just a little sugar, and some vanilla if you want. This tastes much better than the fake “whipped topping” stuff in the plastic tub in the grocery store freezer, and it’s better than the canned whipped cream at the store, too. It’s great on desserts like apple crisp or pumpkin bread, or enjoy it simply on top of fresh berries or homemade applesauce. It’s easy to make. Read how to do it here. (Also, you can freeze leftover whipped cream to use later. Read how to do it here.)
Pour a splash into your coffee. It’s delicious and less processed than traditional coffee creamers, with no added sugar. It also is better for your blood sugar and can reduce the jitters that can come with consuming caffeine.
Pour a dash into your tea. I drink tea every day, and it’s a treat to splash a bit of cream into my Chai or Earl Grey. It gives my tea a smooth, velvety taste that can’t be beat.
Add some to your favorite hot chocolate. Take your favorite creamy cocoa drink to the next level.
Make half and half. Did you know half and half is just equal parts whole milk and heavy whipping cream?
Make butter. It’s easy, and here’s how to do it.
Use it in place of milk or half and half in your favorite soup recipes. One of my favorite ham bone soup recipes actually calls for heavy whipping cream as part of its broth base, and it is wonderful.
Use it to make alfredo sauce. Who needs to eat at restaurants when you can make decadent pasta dishes at home?
Make caramel sauce. If you have sugar, heavy whipping cream, and salted butter, you can make your own fresh caramel sauce and skip the jarred stuff at the store. Here’s a recipe.
Make homemade ricotta cheese. That’s right. With a little heavy cream, whole milk, salt, and vinegar or lemon juice, you can make your own ricotta for lasagna or stuffed shells. Here’s a recipe.
Use it instead of milk in pancake or waffle batter.
Add it to instant or homemade oatmeal in place of milk. For an indulgent breakfast.
Add a dash to your egg batter for French toast.
Add a little to your scrambled eggs. Simply pour a dash into your beaten egg mixture before pouring it all onto the skillet to cook.
Use it instead of milk when making quick breads like banana bread and other baked banana treats.
Add a dash to homemade or instant mashed potatoes. Give your spuds some extra pizzazz.
Use it instead of milk when making homemade or boxed macaroni and cheese.
Use it to make homemade biscuits. You can use heavy whipping cream in place of milk in any biscuit recipe, but here’s a recipe that specifically calls for cream.
Make ice cream by hand. Place cream, vanilla, and sugar in a small resealable plastic bag. Place the small bag inside a large resealable bag with ice and some salt, and shake for 10-15 minutes. This is a great activity for kids. Here are more details about how to make it.
Freeze it into cubes in an ice cube tray. Heavy whipping cream freezes and thaws better than lower-fat varieties of cream. By freezing it into cubes, you can drop individual cubes into your sauces, soups, or iced coffee drinks. This is great for using up small amounts of leftover heavy whipping cream.