Double Cream for Canada | Ask Nigella.com (2024)

Full question

Please explain about double cream - as far as I can glean from the internet, it's supposed to be 48%. In Canada, the double cream (which is not readily available) is something you can stand a spoon in. Some of the recipes in the books call for double cream, but it sounds like it is more fluid - like whipping cream? Can I use this as a substitute if I whip it first? Thanks!

Our answer

British double cream does indeed have up to 48% butterfat and it is difficult to find outside of the UK. In Canada whipping cream is the closest equivalent (in the US it is heavy cream) and has 32-35% butterfat but we would suggest trying to get the highest fat content possible. Canadian cream tends to be heat treated and has added stabilisers which can sometimes slightly affect the taste of the cream vs British cream, but is very unlikely to have an effect on any recipe.

Most of Nigella's recipes are re-tested using heavy cream and should work with Canadian whipping cream but with recipes that add liquids/alcohol to the cream before whipping - such as the no-churn ice creams - we would suggest that you whip the cream to soft peaks fist then whip in the additional liquid in a thin stream otherwise you may find that it is difficult to whip the cream. Also you my find that if cream is added to a sauce then it may be very slightly thinner than a sauce using double cream, but you can always boil the sauce (as long as it doesn't contain egg) for an extra couple of minutes to thicken it slightly.

Try This Tip

Using Up Double Cream

From Dairylee
  • 14
  • 2

Asked and Answered

Single Cream

From cpblanco57
  • 14
  • 2
Double Cream for Canada | Ask Nigella.com (2024)

FAQs

Double Cream for Canada | Ask Nigella.com? ›

Our answer

What is the equivalent to double cream in Canada? ›

If you have recipes from the UK, you might see references to double cream. This is cream with about 48% milk fat, which is not readily available in Canada, except in some specialty stores. Use whipping cream or heavy cream instead.

What is the equivalent of double cream in the US? ›

The British use double cream in recipes the way we use heavy cream or whipping cream here in the US, but they also allow it to accompany dessert the way we might use ice cream.

What to use for heavy cream in Canada? ›

Heavy cream's closest dairy equivalent is whipping cream, followed by half-and-half, both of which have similar creaminess and flavor but with fewer calories and lower fat content.

Is whipping cream the same as double cream? ›

Whipping cream has around a 36% fat content, which allows air to be trapped when whipped, roughly doubling the volume. Once whipped, it can be used to top desserts or fill cakes and pastries. Double cream is the thickest with around 48% fat content.

What can I use as a replacement for double cream? ›

The 10 Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream
  • Milk and butter.
  • Soy milk and olive oil.
  • Milk and cornstarch.
  • Half-and-half.
  • Tofu and soy.
  • Yogurt and milk.
  • Evaporated milk.
  • Cottage cheese and milk.

Is American heavy cream the same as double cream? ›

Heavy cream is an American term which refers to cream with 36 per cent (or more) fat. The equivalent in New Zealand is the regular fresh cream sold in supermarkets. Double cream has a higher fat content – around 48-50 per cent, and it's not commonly available here.

Can you get double cream in America? ›

Double cream is thick enough to dollop on desserts or cakes. It can also be whipped for an even thicker treat. It isn't readily available in the US but can be found in the UK, Ireland and Australia.

Is half-and-half the same as double cream? ›

According to the FDA, half-and-half contains between 10.5 percent to 18 percent milk fat, while heavy cream contains between 36 percent and 40 percent milk fat. Because heavy cream contains more fat, it is thicker and has a richer taste and a creamier mouthfeel than half-and-half.

Is double cream just thickened cream? ›

Double cream

It contains no thickeners, boasts 45 to 60 per cent milk fat, and is ideal for dollopping on your desserts, adding to your baking and stirring into soups and slow-cooked meals (we're talking rich, comforting goulash here) to give that extra creamy texture and taste.

Why can't I find heavy cream in Canada? ›

Why doesn't Canada have heavy cream? - Quora. True heavy cream, that is cream with 36% or higher butterfat, can be found in Canada but you usually will only find it in specialty stores. Whipping Cream in the US can be as low as 25% butterfat so the two types of cream can't reliably be substituted.

What is clotted cream called in Canada? ›

It is also referred to as: Double Cream, and Devonshire Cream with only slight differences. It is NOT the same thing as "creme fraiche" nor Chantilly Cream. How is Clotted Cream made? We make Clotted Cream by baking 35% pasturized whipping cream at a low temperature for 9-11 hours.

Can I use whipping cream instead of double cream? ›

Double cream has a high fat content which makes it very good for whipping. However it is difficult to find outside the UK and it is possible in most cases to use whipping cream (in the US heavy cream) as an alternative. You always use the same amount of cream if substituting whipping cream.

Which whipping cream is best for cake in Canada? ›

Heavy cream whips up well and retains its form for an extended amount of time. So, when preparing ice creams, cakes, and even ganache, this is the one to choose. It's also used to give gravies like Tikka masalas a thick, creamy texture.

What is English double cream? ›

A dense cream skimmed from the surface of milk. With a butterfat content of 48%, it is much more decadent than whipped cream but slightly lower than clotted cream. $7.98. It is not difficult to guess where English Double Devon Cream is made; Devon or Devonshire in South West England.

Can you buy heavy cream in Canada? ›

It not possible because dairy is tightly regulated and “heavy cream” is a term used in the US, not Canada. In the US, “heavy cream” means 36%. In Canada, the legally-mandated term is “whipping cream” and can actually be applied to 33% - 36%, but I always see 35% in Toronto stores.

Does double cream have another name? ›

Double cream or full-fat crème fraîche is often used when the cream is added to a hot sauce, to prevent it separating or "splitting".

Does Canada not have heavy cream? ›

True heavy cream, that is cream with 36% or higher butterfat, can be found in Canada but you usually will only find it in specialty stores. Whipping Cream in the US can be as low as 25% butterfat so the two types of cream can't reliably be substituted.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Foster Heidenreich CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5464

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Foster Heidenreich CPA

Birthday: 1995-01-14

Address: 55021 Usha Garden, North Larisa, DE 19209

Phone: +6812240846623

Job: Corporate Healthcare Strategist

Hobby: Singing, Listening to music, Rafting, LARPing, Gardening, Quilting, Rappelling

Introduction: My name is Foster Heidenreich CPA, I am a delightful, quaint, glorious, quaint, faithful, enchanting, fine person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.