What Is Cream and How Can I Use It?

Cream rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 701 recipes to cook with it.

What is cream?

Cream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-butterfat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, over time, the lighter fat rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream this process is accelerated by using centrifuges called "separators".

In many countries, cream is sold in several grades depending on the total butterfat content. Cream can be dried to a powder for shipment to distant markets.

Cream skimmed from milk may be called "sweet cream" to distinguish it from whey cream skimmed from whey, a by-product of cheese-making. Whey cream has a lower fat content and tastes more salty, tangy and "cheesy".

Cooking with

Cream is used as an ingredient in many foods, including ice cream, many sauces, soups, stews, puddings, and some custard bases, and is also used for cakes. Irish cream is an alcoholic liqueur which blends cream with whiskey and coffee. Cream is also used in curries such as masala dishes.

Cream (usually light/single cream or half and half) is often added to coffee.

For cooking purposes, both single and double cream can be used in cooking, although the former can separate when heated, usually if there is a high acid content.

Most UK chefs always use double cream or full-fat crème fraîche when cream is added to a hot sauce, to prevent any problem with it separating or "splitting".

In sweet and savoury custards such as those found in flan fillings, crème brûlées and crème caramels, both types of cream are called for in different recipes depending on how rich a result is called for. It is useful to note that double cream can also be thinned down with water to make an approximation of single cream if necessary.

Nutrition

Where found

Cream is usually found in the dairy section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Cream is a member of the Dairy and Egg Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does cream weigh?

Related

Dairy and Egg Products

Recipes using cream

There are 701 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Tomato & Orange Soup

Creamy tomato and orange soup with fresh tomatoes, orange juice, orange zest and a swirl of cream. A British-style soup that's bright, velvety and full of citrus warmth.

Apple with Cream Cake

.

Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream

Homemade Mexican chocolate ice cream with cinnamon, almond extract, and a rich egg custard base churned in an old-fashioned ice cream freezer. Warm spice meets cold, creamy chocolate.

Grainy Mustard Mashed Creamy Potatoes

Grainy mustard mashed potatoes simmered right in cream infused with garlic, thyme, and bay, then mashed silky and spiked with whole-grain mustard. A rich, tangy upgrade on the classic side dish.

Yummy Crisp Sugar Cookies

Crisp sugar cookies: thin, snappy roll-out cookies with vanilla and a hint of lemon, sprinkled with sugar before baking. Old-fashioned cookie jar staple that holds intricate cutter shapes.

Sage & Walnut Pesto Pasta

Sage and parsley bring herbal, earthy, and outdoorsy notes to the forefront, walnuts bring meaty richness, and Parmesan brings home the umami. This simple recipe is all about technique. The pesto then coats the pasta dreamily. Best of all, it's super simple and quick to plate.

Mango Ice-Cream

Mango ice cream made without a machine, blending ripe mango and papaya with a whipped egg-yolk custard, thick cream, coconut milk and ground almonds, then frozen in a mould until scoopable.

Japanese Pumpkin Frittata Served with Bush Tomato Chutney

Japanese-style Frittata seasoned with Australian native spices and served with Australian Bush Tomato Chutney.

Chocolate Mousse Tart with Gumleaf Cream & Wild Rosella Confit

A chocolate mousse tart with cream made from gumleaf and served with a side of rosella confit.

Capsicum Toast

This open faced toasted capsicum sandwich is delicious as a quick snack or midnight feast. Also good as a healthy lunch for the kids. The secret ingredient is semolina!

Harvest Time Pumpkin Soup

Harvest time pumpkin soup: creamy pureed pumpkin, potato, and carrot enriched with butter and a savory splash of soy sauce, finished with sour cream and chives. A velvety vegetarian autumn bowl.

Creamed Tomato Soup

Creamy tomato soup made from scratch with ten ripe tomatoes, onion, thyme, and basil, blended silky and finished with cream, milk, and a swirl of butter. A rich, homemade bowl made for grilled cheese.

Chocolate Velvet Ice Cream

Chocolate velvet ice cream with cocoa powder, egg yolks, heavy cream, and shaved semi-sweet chocolate stirred in. Silky, dense, and intensely chocolate.

Chrissy's Eggs & Chorizo Omelette

Eggs and chorizo unite in a soft, family-style omelette with sautéed onion, half-and-half cream, and a hint of oregano. A quick Mexican breakfast built for sharing.

Chili Soup

Hearty chili soup with ground beef, kidney beans, strained tomatoes and a surprising swirl of cream. Simple to make with just a handful of ingredients, simmers low and slow.

Fillet of Salmon with Anchovies & Tomatoes

Pan-seared salmon with golden crust, bathed in a silky cream sauce spiked with anchovies, tomatoes, and white wine in just 30 minutes.

Truffes Au Chocolat (Chocolate Truffles)

Classic French chocolate truffles (truffes au chocolat) made with four ingredients: chocolate, butter, cream and powdered sugar. Hand-rolled into balls and dusted with grated chocolate for the rustic earthy look truffles are named for.

Cream of Carrot Souo

Cream of carrot soup made the classic way: onions sweated in butter, a quick roux for body, then carrots simmered in stock, blended and strained silky-smooth, and finished with cream. Velvety, elegant, and simple.

St. Patrick's Day Grasshopper Pie Cupcakes

Indulge in the irresistible flavors of a classic grasshopper pie in cupcake form! These delightful treats feature rich chocolate cupcakes topped with a silky mint mousse and a luscious chocolate ganache, all dressed up in festive green. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations or any occasion that calls for a minty, chocolaty dessert, these cupcakes are as beautiful as they are delicious.

Pumpkin Pie with Short Pastry Crust

Pumpkin pie sweetened with honey and molasses, lightened with whipped cream folded into the custard, in a buttery short pastry crust. A holiday classic with a silkier-than-usual filling.

Rich Pumpkin Bread or Muffins

Make a bunch of these buttery and moist pumpkin bread or muffins for Thanksgiving. Cream adds extra richness. Honey, molasses and vanilla with all the spices make the bread taste incredibly flavorful and tasty. They are also wonderful gifts for you to give away.

Champagne Truffles

Classic Belgian-style truffles with cognac-spiked dark chocolate ganache centers, double-dipped in melted chocolate and rolled in cocoa powder. A fine-dining-grade petit four for celebrations.

Dal Makhnai

Dal makhani or maa di dal, as it is popularly known in the punjab, with its smooth velvety texture and lovely flavour is a delicacy that is very much a dish of the punjab. Every punjabi restaurant, roadside eating place and food stall vendor makes the claim that this is a delicacy that they alone can make to perfection. This my own tested recipe dare i claim it as the best? dal makhani is traditionally cooked on a low flame overnight and allowed to thicken. Using a pressure cooker helps cook the dal in a jiffy. Serve hot with naans.

Dal Makhnai

Dal makhani or maa di dal, as it is popularly known in the punjab, with its smooth velvety texture and lovely flavour is a delicacy that is very much a dish of the punjab. Every punjabi restaurant, roadside eating place and food stall vendor makes the claim that this is a delicacy that they alone can make to perfection. This my own tested recipe dare i claim it as the best? dal makhani is traditionally cooked on a low flame overnight and allowed to thicken. Using a pressure cooker helps cook the dal in a jiffy. Serve hot with naans.

Best Cream Biscuits

Easy cream biscuits with butter, heavy cream, and a cream-of-tartar leavening. Tender, flaky biscuits ready in 45 minutes; serve with butter, whipped cream, or jam.

All 701 recipes