Light cream contains between 18% and 30% milk-fat, and you can add light cream to coffee, soups, desserts, and sauces to get a thick texture and sweet flavor.
People who do not like the taste of a light cream should find a better and healthier substitute, as finding a better alternative for light cream is not a very difficult task.
Light cream is a better option as it has moderate fat content compared to half-and-half and whipping cream.
Most of these dairies produce light cream versions with 20% fat content.
If you are looking for a healthier substitute of light cream, some options that might work for you are listed below.
What is Light cream?
In the UK, Light cream is called single cream, and sometimes it is called a table or coffee cream.
The fat content in the light cream will be around 18-percent to 30-percent, but most products that are made with a light cream contain around 20-percent fat.
It is also known as single cream in some places.
Light cream is lighter than whipping cream and heavier than half-and-half so that you can easily use light cream in your dishes like pasta sauces and ice cream.
Light cream is lighter than whipping cream so that you can use it on top of sundaes or hot chocolate for a better and creamy taste.
However, if you are out of light cream, then you can as well choose light cream substitutes.
What are the substitutes for light cream? Well, here you can find the 5 best substitutes for Light Cream that help you make your favorite dessert in no time.
5 Best Substitutes for Light Cream
1 – Coconut Cream
Coconut cream is one of the best and healthier substitutes for light cream.
Also, full-fat coconut cream is a preferred substitute for people who are not accustomed to dairy products or vegan.
The coconut flavor in this full-fat coconut cream is not suitable for all dishes, so make sure to use this cream for the required dishes only.
According to the study conducted by Nutrition Reviews, coconut cream wouldn’t increase lipid fats and it also supports heart health.
This cream is the best option for people who are lactose intolerant as you can make many gluten-free recipes.
It is the best replacement for light cream or any dairy-based recipe.
You can also make coconut cream at home, and for sure it tastes much tastier than canned coconut cream available at grocery stores.
2 – 2-percent Milk
This is a simple substitution that you can make if you do not have light cream.
2-Percent Milk is healthier than using whole milk as it has around 2-percent milk fat.
Also, you can add cream when boiling pasta or when making soups for enhancing their taste.
You can also replace half-and-half with two percent milk when cooking vegetables to get a better taste out of it.
Drinking 2-percent milk doesn’t harm your health in any way so you don’t need to worry about it regardless of public incredulity.
According to the study published in Food & Nutrition Research, and as per the scientific evidence, drinking milk regularly can prevent chronic diseases and doesn’t cause any adverse effects.
While baking, you can use 2% milk in the place of light cream, and you also use it in desserts and sauces to make them taste creamier and flavorful.
However, you should know that dairy products are liable to curdling when heated at high temperatures, so using lesser fat content milk will doesn’t cause the products to curdle.
To make the soups and sauces thicker, use corn-starch.
3 – Half-and-Half Cream
Half-and-half cream can be used as a substitution for light cream; however, the fat content in half-and-half is around 10.5% to 18%.
The taste and flavor of this substitute is very similar to light cream, and it is also a dairy product.
This cream can last in your refrigerator for around one week or in the freezer for four to five months.
According to the USDA, half-and-half contains three grams of lipid fats and around 40 calories per two tablespoons.
Using half-and-half in the place of light cream makes the dish not taste rich enough; however, it can help you save the day during an emergency.
If you want to avoid using higher-fat cream to add to your recipes for any reason, then try half-and-half as it has a lesser fat content, and it is also the best alternative for light cream.
4 – Evaporated Milk
If you need a long-lasting product that you can store in your refrigerator or freezer then evaporated milk is the best option for you.
Evaporated milk does not contain any watery portion and it is thickened with a small percentage of its original weight.
It provides a fine flavor to your recipes, and also, there are no worries about using evaporated milk in any recipe.
You just stir in canned evaporated milk and use it in the place of light cream.
According to International Dairy Foods Association, when evaporated milk is heated, it removes 60-percent of water content in the milk that makes the milk creamy and thick.
Evaporated milk is high in nutrients and low in calories.
For baking, take a spoon of milk and three tablespoons of melted butter and mix them well, as the fat content in the butter impersonates the fat in light cream to soften baked dessert foods.
5 – Plain Yogurt
Plain yogurt is available at any grocery store, and you can use it to replace light cream or half-and-half.
You can use it in desserts that are blended or in white soups without adding too much flavor to your recipes.
Yogurt is delicious when used with salads like potato salad, pasta salads, and also, light yogurt dressing can be used for various purposes.
Yogurt is a natural health food that contains protein and nutrients, and it has many other benefits according to a study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences.
For this reason, you can use yogurt as a substitute for light cream when cooking healthy recipes.
Conclusion
Light cream is used in making various mixed drinks, as many people prefer light cream drinks as heavier creams can be solid on the stomach when combined with alcohol.
Light cream can be used in tea and coffee, though, half-and-half is the regular choice for coffee, some people still prefer to have light cream.
Like any other dairy product, you can also make light cream flavors with different extracts like hazelnut, vanilla, or coffee.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Light Cream
Ingredients
- Coconut Cream
- 2- percent Milk
- Half-and-Half Cream
- Evaporated Milk
- Plain Yogurt
Instructions
- Choose your preferred substitute from the list of options.
- Organize all of your ingredients.
- Follow the substitution ratio to determine how much is required in your recipe.
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