37 Recipes to Put That Extra Heavy Cream to Good Use
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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 Aichele1/37Sweetened 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.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich15/37Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Fried Onions
Sure, it’s a Thanksgiving essential. But maybe this creamy green bean dish deserves more than one night a year on your table.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews16/37Chocolate Mousse
Get out your fanciest dessert bowls for this chocolate mousse—and don’t tell your guests how easy it is to whip up.
Photo by Haraala Hamilton18/37No-Churn Hazelnut Espresso Ice Cream
Even if you don’t own an ice cream maker, you can make this velvety-smooth, no-churn dessert. It tastes like a hazelnut latte—and it’s even better served under a shot of espresso.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine19/37Twice-Baked-Potato Casserole
The classic version is great and all, but sometimes you just can’t fuss with stuffing mashed potatoes back into potato skins. The answer is this large-format casserole, which gives you all the flavor of the original with much less effort.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi22/37Quiche Sardou
Fill your quiche with spinach and artichoke hearts and serve at brunch with lots of coffee.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews23/37Spring Greens and Leek Gratin
A wonderful way to use ramps when you can find them—but you can sub in garlic if needed.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce24/37White Chicken Chili
A one-pot meal that tastes even better the day after it’s made? That’s busy-season dinner gold. To speed things up, start with a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
Photo by Sarah Kieffer.25/37Caramel Candies
Heavy cream is an essential in caramel, whether you’re making glossy caramel sauce or these giftable candies.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne27/37One-Pot Chicken and Biscuits
The loosely scattered drop biscuit layer adds a fluffy texture and crispy top that contrasts the creamy filling in this weeknight-friendly rendition of the classic comfort food.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege29/37Creamy One-Pot Pasta With Sausage and Squash
All the flavors you want in a fall dinner are here: sweet butternut squash, fennel-scented Italian sausage, garlic, sage, and, of course, cream.
Photo by Nicole Franzen30/37Mussel Chowder With Bacon, Leek, and Lime
While some chowder recipes opt for half-and-half or whole milk, this luscious one from The Lost Kitchen in Maine goes extra cozy with heavy cream.
Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell31/37Creamy Pasta With Crispy Mushrooms
A creamy sauce is the ideal backdrop for mushroom varietites like feathery maitakes, meaty oyster mushrooms, or shiitakes. Garnish with extra Parmesan at the table.
Photography by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen33/37Golden Chicken With Mustard and Shallots
After trying this reader-favorite recipe, you’ll never look at chicken breasts the same way again.
Photo by Chelsie Craig34/37Rigatoni With Easy Vodka Sauce
A pour of cream (and yes, the booze) transforms a simple tomato sauce into something you’ll want to eat on everything.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens35/37French Toast Casserole
Get this breakfast casserole recipe assembled the night before and all you’ll have to do in the morning is brush it with butter and bake.
Photo by Shutterstock36/37Fettuccine Alfredo
Sometimes you just need a big bowl of creamy pasta Alfredo—while the classic recipe doesn’t use heavy cream, this extra-luscious version can be yours in just 20 minutes.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Erika Joyce37/37Grasshopper
After all these recipes with heavy cream, we’d be remiss if we didn’t offer you something to drink. This minty after-dinner cocktail is part dessert, part beverage, and completely fun.
