Cream

Cream Tips & Tricks

Want to add the luxurious texture and flavour of cream to your everyday cooking? Here are a few handy tips:

To add velvety texture to gravy, whisk Whipping, 35% Cooking or 35% Country-style cream until thickened, but not stiff, and stir into gravy just before serving.
Make a wonderful vanilla-infused cream to use in coffee, desserts such as Easy Crème Brûlée or breakfast recipes like Angels’ French Toast. Place one-quarter of a vanilla bean in 1 cup (250 mL) of any type of cream, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 days or for up to 5 days.
Pour 15%, 18% or 35% cream into a plastic squeeze bottle and add finely chopped fresh herbs and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the herbed cream over soups for a stellar restaurant presentation.
Dress up store-bought or homemade soup by whisking Whipping cream until it’s slightly thickened, then add chopped fresh herbs such as chives, cilantro, basil or mint and drizzle it over a creamed soup just before serving to garnish and add a burst of fresh flavour.
For a quick, easy and terrific tasting sauce, pan-sear chicken, pork chops or veal cutlets, add Whipping, Cooking or Country-style cream to the pan juices and bring to a boil, then simply season with mustard or fresh herbs.
Cream can replace coconut milk in recipes: for each cup (250 mL), add 1/4 cup (50 mL) unsweetened shredded coconut to 1 cup (250 mL) Whipping cream or 15% Cooking cream and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.
Add richness, tenderness and moisture to bread dough and other baked goods by replacing the water with cream.
Make an at-home cappuccino by whipping cream until thickened and stirring it into a steaming cup of regular coffee. Serve sprinkled with cinnamon.
Create a quick hot fudge sauce to pour over ice cream or as a dessert garnish: heat 1/2 cup (125 mL) 15%, 18% or 35% cream in a saucepan or in the microwave just until steaming and whisk in 2 tbsp (25 mL) finely chopped chocolate until melted. Serve hot.
Out of eggs? In a pinch for muffins or other quick breads that need 1 egg, substitute 3 tbsp (45 mL) of any type of cream, 3 tbsp (45 mL) all-purpose flour and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) baking powder. Whisk them together and add to the batter.
For better tasting pasta sauce, stir a drizzle of Whipping cream or 35% Cooking cream or Country-style cream into traditional tomato pasta sauce just before serving.
For cold dips, substitute equal parts whipped cream and plain yogurt in place of sour cream.
Make a better tasting, lighter and puffier omelette by whisking Whipping, Cooking or Country-style cream into the eggs before cooking them.
Sweeten lightly whipped cream with maple syrup or liquid honey for an especially delicious topping for pancakes, waffles or French toast.
For an even more sublime texture, lightly whip Whipping or 35% Country-style cream until thickened (but not stiff) before adding to pastas, soups and sauces.
Easily turn simple sorbet into a dessert: fold whipped cream into slightly softened fruit sorbet; spoon into serving dishes and freeze until set. Serve semi-frozen garnished with fresh fruit.
For most gently cooked pan sauces, Half-and-Half or Blend cream, or Table or Coffee cream can be used in place of Whipping cream. Just whisk 1 tbsp (15 mL) all-purpose flour or 2 tsp (10 mL) cornstarch into the cream before adding to the pan and cook, stirring, until the sauce is thickened.
Make a richer and more satisfying hot chocolate from a powdered mix by replacing one-third of the water with cream.
Stir cream into your favourite curry at the end of cooking for a smoother and more elegant taste.
Add warmed cream to mashed potatoes to elevate them to a 5-star restaurant level. You won’t believe how fantastic potatoes can be.
Avoid store-bought fruit dips made with mysterious ingredients. Instead, sweeten whipped cream with maple syrup, honey or jam and spoon it into small bowls or ramekins. Serve with a plate of fresh fruit for dipping.
Make ordinary coffee or tea a special experience by infusing cream with subtle, exotic flavours:
- Add a cinnamon stick, crushed cardamom pods, vanilla beans, crystallized ginger (or your favourite combination) to cream, cover and refrigerate for about 1 day.
- Remove spices and whip chilled cream to soft peaks; sweeten, if desired.
- Serve flavoured whipped cream in small bowls for your guests to top their coffee or tea.
- Higher fat creams can easily be used in place of lower fat cream in most recipes.