How to Use Up Leftover Cream

What to do with Heavy Cream Leftovers?

I tend to have leftover cream fairly frequently, and I hate wasting this delicious nectar of the gods. So, I’ve developed a list of tried and true uses for heavy cream. I’ve also recently discovered some new ones, but I haven’t actually tried all of these yet. I can’t fully vouch for their effectiveness.

29 uses for Heavy cream leftovers

here are some ideas in no particular order:

  1. Crème brulee. You can make four small servings with a couple egg yolks, sugar, and a cup of cream. Yum.
  2. Cream sauce. Making pork or chicken? Vary the usual sauce by making a cream sauce instead.
  3. Chocolate mousse.  What else is there to say?
  4. Ice cream. Okay, this isn’t so much leftover cream, as a thing that will create leftover cream, but what list of cream uses is complete without second most delicious dessert ever created? (The first being chocolate mousse.)
  5. Crème fraiche. You can actually make crème fraiche yourself with cream and buttermilk. See tomorrow’s post for uses for the leftover buttermilk you’ll now have.
  6. Sour Cream.  Crème fraiche is really just a French version of sour cream. You can make the American version with cream and more buttermilk.
  7. Ricotta. Again, you can make this at home with leftover cream, vinegar, and milk.
  8. Whipped cream. Whip it up and serve it over dessert.
  9. Butter. According to Alton Brown, you can make your own butter by churning cream in a food processor. I have not tried this.
  10. Thicken other sauces. Try using it instead of butter if you have a sauce that needs a bit of thickening.
  11. Buttercream frosting. You will, of course, have to bake a cake or cupcakes, but at least your cream will be used up.
  12. Cream soup. Most soups that have a creamy texture actually call for cream. They’ll taste much better homemade than you anything you could get in a can. Start with clam chowder.
  13. Borscht.
  14. Topping for any soup. Add just a dollop to make a serviceable soup truly decadent.
  15. Served with fruit. Get a fruit, just about any fruit but berries are best, and put it in a bowl. Pour cream into the bowl. Eat.
  16. Fleur de Sel caramels. Make your own candy (assuming you happen to have this pricey salt.)
  17. Mac and cheese.
  18. Cream scones. I really, really wish I could make these!
  19. Mashed potatoes. Use it instead of milk for extra creamy potatoes.
  20. Potatoes au gratin. Try using this recipe, or replacing the milk in your favorite recipe with cream.
  21. Ganache. You can then use it for truffles, frosting, or just an ice cream topping.
  22. Bread pudding.
  23. Panna cotta.
  24. Pots de crème. Sort of like custard, sort of like creme brulee. All good.
  25. Tea or coffee. If you usually use milk, use some of that cream instead.
  26. Brandy Alexander. Alcohol and cream? What’s not to love?
  27. Eggnog.
  28. Chicken pot pie.
  29. Freeze it. If you can’t find a way to use it, pop it in the freezer. Depending on the thickness of it, it may not be something you can whip later, but you can still use it as a thickener or in other recipes.

Got any other great heavy cream uses? Share them in the comments!

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