Anyone looking for a vegan substitute for heavy cream can explore several options but it may be hard to decide where to start. We’ve identified five here that reliably combine the best consistency with the best flavor.
In the dairy world, heavy creams come in a range of flavors, from sweet to savory. To keep this simple, we’ll note whether the vegan substitute for heavy cream works better in savory or sweet recipes.
While you can work with 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.
| Substitute | What We Add to It | How We Like to Use It |
| Nut MilksAlmond, Cashew | Soaked Nuts or Vegan Butter or Plain Silken Tofu | Sweet/Savory |
| Coconut Milk | *no additional ingredients needed (details below) | Sweet |
| Hemp Milk | Cornstarch or Silken Tofu | Savory |
| Oat Milk | Cornstarch or Vegan Butter or Tofu or Olive Oil | Sweet/Savory |
| Soy Milk | Olive Oil or Silken Tofu | Savory |
Substitute 1: Nut Milk (Almond, Cashew)
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.
How to Make It with Soaked Nuts (Almonds and Cashews Work Best)
- Soak almonds or cashews overnight in the refrigerator
- Pour 3/4 cup of soaked nuts into a blender
- Pour 1/4 cup water or cashew milk into the blender
- Add sugar, agave, maple syrup, or vanilla extract if a sweet taste is desired
- Blend until smooth, adding more nuts to thicken as desired
How to Make It with Vegan Butter
- Pour 2/3 cup nut milk into a blender
- Pour 1/3 cup melted vegan butter into the blender
- Add sugar, agave, maple syrup, or vanilla extract if a sweet taste is desired
- Blend until smooth
How to Make It with Plain Silken Tofu
- Pour 1 cup of nut milk into a blender
- Pour 1 cup plain silken tofu into the blender
- Add sugar, agave, maple syrup, or vanilla extract if a sweet taste is desired
- Blend until smooth
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.
Substitute 2: Coconut Milk
This is the outlier in the bunch. While you can use boxed or carton coconut milk for this, you may want to opt for 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 with coconut milk – so long as the fat content matches up.
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 (when it comes canned). 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.
Substitute 3: Hemp Milk
Hemp milk has a very neutral flavor, so it’s one of our top picks for a savory heavy cream substitute.
How to Make It With Cornstarch
- Pour 1 cup hemp milk into a mixing bowl
- Start by adding 2 tbsp. corn starch, and add more if needed for thickness
- Mix with a whisk
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.
How to Make It With Silken Tofu
- Pour 1 cup hemp milk into a blender
- Add 1 cup plain silken tofu
- Blend until the consistency is right
Both of these methods will result in a heavy cream texture but add very little flavor.
Substitute 4: Oat Milk
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.
How to Make It With Cornstarch
- Pour 1 cup oat milk into a mixing bowl
- Start by adding 2 tbsp. corn starch, and add more if needed for thickness
- Mix with a whisk
- Whisk in a small amount of sugar, agave, maple syrup, or vanilla extract if a sweet taste is desired
How to Make It With Vegan Butter
- Pour 2/3 cup oat milk into a blender
- Pour 1/3 cup melted vegan butter into the blender
- Add sugar, agave, maple syrup, or vanilla extract if a sweet taste is desired
- Blend until smooth
How to Make It With Silken Tofu
- Pour 1 cup oat milk into a blender
- Pour 1 cup plain silken tofu into the blender
- Add sugar, agave, maple syrup, or vanilla extract if a sweet taste is desired
- Blend until smooth
NOTE: For a savory recipe, consider flavored silken tofu and no sweeteners.
How to Make It With Olive Oil
- Pour 2/3 cup oat milk into a blender
- Pour 1/3 cup olive oil into the blender
- Blend until smooth
Substitute 5: Soy Milk
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.
How to Make It With Olive Oil
- Pour 2/3 cup soy milk into a blender
- Pour 1/3 cup olive oil into the blender
- Blend until smooth
How to Make It With Silken Tofu
- Pour 1 cup soy milk into a blender
- Pour 1 cup plain silken tofu into the blender
- Blend until smooth
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.
Vegan Heavy Cream Frequently Asked Questions
What Do Vegans Use Instead of Heavy Cream?
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.)
What Is the Closest Substitute for Heavy Cream?
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.
Can Almond Milk Replace Heavy Cream?
No milk (except for coconut 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.
Can I Use Oat Milk Instead of Heavy Cream?
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.)
Find a Vegan Recipe to Try Out Your New Heavy Cream Options!
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!
