37 Recipes to Put That Extra Heavy Cream to Good Use
You probably already know that a little splash of cream makes pretty much any pasta dish more luxurious. But recipes with heavy cream go far beyond pasta, and an open carton of the stuff is a wonderful problem to have. Below, you’ll find a few of our favorite sweet and savory ways to use up heavy cream, including plush cakes, luscious dip, and an easy large-format take on twice-baked potatoes. Scones? They’re flaky, buttery, and so tender. Soup? As silky as could be. Restaurant-level desserts you can prep ahead? You’ll learn their secrets on this list of our best recipes with heavy cream. Dive in, and you might even find yourself grabbing the bigger carton next week.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele1/37Homemade Whipped Cream
Okay, let’s get the obvious part out of the way with the simplest of all of our heavy cream recipes. It’s exactly what you need for dolloping onto strawberry shortcake or your Sunday morning waffles.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/37Creamed Corn
You really do want to make this while you can get fresh ears of corn—the kernels keep their texture beautifully, and the cob itself offers extra flavor. But we all know that what makes this dish a standout is the generous pour of heavy cream.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton3/37Classic Crème Brûlée
All you need for this classic recipe from Gourmet: vanilla, egg yolk, sugar, and cream, plus a pinch of salt. Get yourself a full-sized kitchen torch for that crackly topping—and so many other kitchen tasks.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert5/37Potatoes au Gratin
A truly essential holiday side dish to offer with baked ham, braised lamb, roast turkey, or a side of salmon.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich6/37Blueberry Scones
A wet batter of egg and heavy cream offers a rich tenderness that most scones only dream of.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton7/37French Silk Pie
While we have a soft spot for blackberry cobbler and clafoutis with cherries, you can’t beat a summer dessert that requires no baking. This creamy pie begins with a press-in Oreo crust and is topped with a smooth chocolate filling lightened with whipped cream.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone8/37Classic Spinach-Artichoke Dip
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova9/37Panna Cotta
Need an easy dessert to bring to a friend’s house? We nominate this make-ahead treat, topped with whatever fruit you like.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton10/37Chicken and Potato Gratin
When cream is dolled up with nutty brown butter, thyme, and sage, it becomes a luxurious sauce for chicken and potatoes. Toasty breadcrumbs (cooked in the chicken drippings for extra flavor) complete the dish.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht11/37Tiramisu
If you don’t have Marsala to make this Italian no-bake dessert, swap in dark rum or brandy.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton13/37Cheater’s Pastry Cream
There’s no whisking or finicky tempering involved in this shortcut pastry cream, but you can still use it to fill a seasonal fruit tart, cream puffs, or Boston cream pie. Layer it into a towering Crepe Cake, or just serve it with fresh fruit for dipping.
