These double cream recipes are a great way to use up a tub of cream. Both sweet and savoury dishes can be enhanced with some indulgent double cream.
Double cream has twice the fat content of single cream. This higher fat content means it can be whipped – great for desserts. But it's just as good poured or used to enrich sauces. Find out just how versatile double cream is with some of our favourite ways to use it:
Create a rich and creamy curry
Heat 1tbsp oil in a frying pan, and cook 1 sliced onion till softened. Stir in 2-3tbsp tikka masala curry paste and 1tbsp tomato purée, and cook for 30 secs. Stir in 400g can chopped tomatoes, 50g/2oz ground almonds and 1tsp sugar. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 mins. Add 250g/9oz raw tiger prawns and cook for 5 mins before stirring in a 150g carton double cream. Season and scatter with coriander.
Chill in a syllabub
Whip 4tbsp icing sugar with a 300ml carton double cream to soft peaks. Add 150ml/5fl oz sparkling rosé wine and whip to soft peaks again. Slice 4 strawberries and drop into 4 glasses, then top with syllabub mixture. Chill before serving.
Try some chocolate truffles
In a processor, whizz 3 x 100g bars 70% cocoa solids dark chocolate into small pieces. Melt chocolate then stir in a 150ml carton double cream. Chill in fridge for 1 hr. Roll into balls and toss in cocoa to coat, and leave to set completely.
Mix an after-dinner co*cktail
Stir 125ml/4fl oz cold espresso with 4tbsp each Tia Maria and vodka. Divide between 4 glasses. Whip a 150ml carton double cream and 4tbsp Baileys till just thickened and spoon over coffee mixture just before serving.
Bake a dauphinoise
Preheat oven to gas mark 3/ 170°C (150°C in a fan oven). Heat 500ml/1pt milk and a 300ml carton double cream in a large pan till bubbles appear at edge of pan. Add a 1kg bag potatoes, thinly sliced, and 2 finely chopped garlic cloves to pan, and cook for 10-15 mins. Taste and season. Butter an oven dish, pour in potatoes, and bake for about 1 hr.
Stack up a millefeuille
Preheat oven to gas mark 6/200°C (180°C in fan oven). Line a baking tray with baking parchment and sprinkle with 1tbsp sugar. Place a sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry on top, sprinkle over another tbsp sugar and cover with another sheet of baking parchment. Place a heavy baking tin on top and bake for 25 mins till crisp and golden. When cool, trim edges and cut into 3 equal pieces. Stir finely grated zest of lime and 2tbsp icing sugar into 300ml carton cream, and whip to soft peaks. Peel a small mango and cut into small chunks then fold into cream with 2 passion fruits and the juice of 1 lime. Layer cream between pastry to make a stack, and dust with icing sugar.
Make a marvellous quiche
Preheat oven to gas mark 6/200°C (180°C in a fan oven). Line a 25cm/10in tart tin with ready-made shortcrust pastry. Chill for 3 mins, then cover with greaseproof paper and baking beans, and bake for 15 mins. Remove paper and beans and return to oven for 10 mins. Beat 2 eggs with a 300ml carton double cream, season and stir in a bunch of shredded basil. Place 125g/4oz halved cherry tomatoes on base, pour over egg mix and drop in spoonfuls of 75g/3oz soft goats' cheese. Grate over Parmesan cheese and bake for 25 mins.
Whip up a fruity ice-cream slice
In a blender, whizz 500g pack of defrosted frozen summer fruits, then pass the purée through a sieve to remove seeds. Whisk the fruit purée with 400ml/14fl oz condensed milk and a 150ml carton double cream. Pour the mixture into a loaf tin lined with cling film, and freeze overnight. Turn out and serve in slices.
Stir a sumptuous pasta sauce
Cook 400g/14oz pasta as directed on packet. Heat 1tbsp oil in a frying pan, and cook 6 large Cumberland sausages for a few mins till starting to brown. Add 150ml/1⁄4pt white wine and bubble till reduced by half. Mix in 3-4tbsp wholegrain mustard and a 300ml carton double cream. Season, stir in a handful chopped parsley, squeeze lemon juice and the drained pasta.
Beat into a banoffee mess
Whip a 300ml carton double cream to soft peaks. Fold in 6 crumbled meringues, 6tbsp toffee sauce and 4 sliced bananas. Divide between 6 bowls, drizzle with a little extra sauce, and grate over dark chocolate to serve.
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FAQs
Double cream lives up to its name by boasting one of the highest butterfat contents of all the cream varieties, weighing in at 48%. (For extra context, heavy cream or heavy whipping cream's fat content is 36-38%, and whipping cream's is 30%.)
What can I do with lots of cream? ›
Avoid wasting it with these recipes.
- 1Ice-cube tray lemon and passionfruit cheesecakes. ...
- 2Ham and leek potato gratin. ...
- 3Dark chocolate ganache. ...
- 4Neapolitan milkshake cupcakes. ...
- 5Creamed spinach. ...
- 6Chocolate truffles. ...
- 7One-pot Italian chicken. ...
- 8Cheat's mango cheesecake dessert cups.
What does it mean when a recipe calls for cream? This usually is referring to either heavy cream or half and half but there are many different types. Heavy cream will have a higher fat content. The higher the fat content, the thicker the cream will be.
Can I freeze double cream? ›
The best thing to do is to freeze double cream in it's whipped form, as that way it will keep it's original texture- you can also use the whipped frozen cream for cooking too.. even for making things such as caramel and ganache- which is very handy if you're a baker!
What is the American equivalent of double cream? ›
Double cream is the British term for heavy or whipping cream in the United States, but it is a little thicker than our whipping cream. It contains about 48% butterfat.
What is another name for double cream? ›
Double cream, also known as heavy cream or whipping cream, is a rich and thick cream that contains at least 48% milk fat. It is commonly used for whipping or making whipped cream and has a rich, velvety texture.
Can you make butter out of double cream? ›
Make your own butter by moving and shaking organic double cream till it transforms before your very eyes into thick, golden butter. This recipe is a fun way to get kids involved in cooking and they'll enjoy spreading it on slices of homemade bread.
Does double cream thicken? ›
It's all in the fat content. Single cream contains 18% fat, whilst double cream contains 36% fat. This is what makes double cream generally thicker and richer than single cream.
How do you make double cream last longer? ›
And if you want to elongate the life of your heavy cream even further, you can freeze it. That's right:heavy cream holds up in the freezer for up to three months. We like to pour heavy cream into ice cube trays, freeze them solid, and then pop a few out when we only need a few ounces for a recipe.
Can I freeze heavy cream? ›
Yes, you can freeze heavy whipping cream straight from the carton. Whether you intend to cook with it or whip it, it will still be good to go with a bit of stirring after it's thawed. As for heavy cream that's already been whipped, you can freeze that, too.
Heavy cream, whipping cream, or heavy whipping cream are all suitable choices for making homemade butter. Heavy cream, with the highest percentage of butterfat, will yield the most butter; lower-fat whipping cream will yield less.
What is the best cream to use for cakes? ›
Thickened cream
It contains thickening agents, so is great for whipping and pouring over your favourite desserts. It's the all-rounder cream that's perfect for desserts, whipping, cake fillings, mousse and is the cherry on top when served with hot, golden scones.
What is the best cream for making cakes? ›
Heavy cream is a good choice when decorating pies or cakes, or for thickening sauces and ganache. Heavy cream is also great for making ice cream and soup. Whipping cream is a bit lighter since it contains less fat than heavy cream, and has about 30 to 36 percent milk fat.
What is the best cream for baking? ›
Heavy cream is a common ingredient in sweet and savory recipes. With 36 to 40 percent milkfat, it has a higher fat content than light cream, whipping cream, half-and-half, whole milk, and evaporated milk.
What is double cream used for cooking? ›
Double cream contains 48% fat. Uses: It can be used as a pouring cream over fruit and puddings, used in cooking or whipped and incorporated into dishes or served separately. Whipped double cream can be spooned or piped on to desserts and cakes.
Can I use double cream in coffee? ›
The verdict: Yes, you can use heavy whipping cream in coffee. In fact, heavy cream can be an excellent addition to your coffee if you enjoy a richer, creamier taste. Heavy cream is a dairy product that contains at least 36% fat, making it much thicker and creamier than milk or half-and-half.
Can I use double cream on my face? ›
The answer is that it depends on the individual and their skin type. While Doublebase cream is generally safe to use on the face, it is important to note that it is a heavy moisturizer and may not be suitable for all skin types.
What is the difference between thick cream and double cream? ›
Rich or double cream doesn't contain any thickening agents and usually has a fat content of at least 48% or more. Pure cream doesn't usually contain any thickening agents and has a fat content of around 40%. With 35% milk fat, thickened cream contains additives such as gelatin, vegetable gum or other modifiers.
