The Half and Half Substitute List You Can Rely On

With the help of the right half and half substitute, you surely can add the right amount of creaminess to your morning coffee, mashed potato, chowder, and other recipes.

Whether you're on the look out for a vegetarian and vegan option or run out of the ingredient, you can rely on my list to find the perfect alternative to your half and half milk.

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• 7 Best Half and Half Substitutes
• 2 Best Vegan Half and Half Substitutes
• Easily Replacing Half and Half in Your Recipes
• Recipe

7 Best Half and Half Substitutes

In my years of baking and cooking, I have experimented with several ingredients to find the best half and half substitutes. It was tasking and time-consuming, so I'm sharing with you my favorite substitutes to save you from the stress of trying and testing the many available ingredients.

1. Whole Milk and Light Cream

What is the best way to substitute half and half in your recipes than light cream and regular milk, which is what it's made of, right?

To mimic half and half, combine equal parts of light cream and regular whole milk. Then, add the same amount of the mixture as what the recipe calls for half and half milk.

For instance, to replace one cup of half and half in your recipe, combine ½ cup heavy cream and ½ cup whole milk.

Best for just about anything.

Related: 10 Best Whole Milk Substitutes

2. Whole Milk and Heavy Cream

I wouldn't be surprised if most of you don't have light cream in your pantry because it isn't as common as heavy cream, AKA whipping cream. But fret not; you can combine it with your regular milk to create a half and half replacement.

Like with the light cream-milk combination, you will add the same amount of this mixture to your recipe. However, the measurements you'll use when combining heavy cream and whole milk are different.

Remember that heavy cream has a thicker consistency than light cream because of its higher fat content. Thus, you will need to use less of it than when using light cream. Or else you will end up with a substitute for half and half that is too thick.

That said, combine ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream and ¾ cup of whole milk to make one cup of this half and half substitute, which is equivalent to a cup of half and half.

Best for just about anything.

3. Low-Fat Milk and Heavy Cream

Do you need a half and half substitute with a lower fat content that still has the same creamy texture? Well, you can use low-fat milk or skim milk instead of whole milk.

Once combined with the right amount of heavy cream, you'll surely have an ingredient with almost the same consistency as your store-bought half and half.

Now, to prepare this creamy substitute for half and half, combine ⅔ cup skim milk and ⅓ cup heavy cream. Mix until well blended and use it to replace the same amount of half and half in your recipe.

Best for just about anything.

4. Whole Milk and Melted Butter

While heavy cream is a kitchen staple in some homes, I know that not everyone stocks up on heavy cream unless you bake every day. The good news is you can add fat content to the milk to give it an almost similar creamy texture to half and half using a more common kitchen staple: butter.

If you have unsalted butter, that would be your best choice. But you can use the salted variety if you don't have one. Just make sure you adjust the salt content or any salty ingredient included in your recipe.

So, how do you make this substitute? With your liquid measuring cup, measure a cup of whole milk and place it in a bowl or regular cup.

Place 1.5 tablespoons of butter in your saucepan and melt it over low or low-medium heat. Once done, measure one tablespoon of the melted butter and place it in the bowl or cup containing your milk. Mix it using your spatula until well blended.

While you can already use this mixture to replace a cup of half and half in your recipe, I recommend emulsifying the two ingredients. You can use your blender or hand mixer. This emulsification step will ensure the melted butter gets evenly distributed in the whole milk.

Best for baking and cooking.

5. Evaporated Milk

As a shelf-stable ingredient, most of you surely have leftover or a can of unused evaporated milk in your fridges or fridges. After all, it's one of the most versatile ingredients. From soups and chowders to pumpkin pies and casseroles, it's a creamy milk product you surely should stock up on.

Thanks to its consistency that's almost as close to half and half, a 1:1 substitution ratio will work perfectly for your recipes.

One thing I would like you to note about evaporated milk is its mild sweetness. Make sure you adjust the amount of any sweet ingredient in your recipe to avoid serving overly sweet dishes, baked goods, or desserts.

For your drinks like coffee, tea, and milkshake, the sweetness of evaporated milk is sometimes enough, so you won't need to add any sweetener. But, of course, this isn't a rule written in stone, as we have different preferences.

Best for drinks, baked goods, desserts, and sweet dishes.

6. Sour Cream

Are you surprised to see sour cream in my list of regular half and half substitutes? I thought I was also out of my mind when I decided to try it out.

Surprisingly, it does work for some recipes because of its rich consistency. Its slight tanginess also makes it the perfect ingredient to enhance your baked goodie, sauce, and savory dish's flavor.

In fact, I love using it in my lemon cake, pie, and tart recipes, even if I have half and half or heavy cream in my pantry.

Now, to substitute half and half in your recipe, add the same amount of sour cream as what the recipe calls for the said milk.

Sometimes, you'll notice that your dough looks and feels a bit denser than when you use half and half. ISo when baking with sour cream, gradually add water to the cream until it has a consistency that's almost the same as half and half before measuring and using it.

Best for tangy-flavored baked goods, desserts, savory dishes, and sauces.

Related: What Can I Substitute for Sour Cream in Baking?

7. Plain Regular or Greek Yogurt

If you don't have sour cream, go ahead and use that plain yogurt in your fridge. However, it isn't the best option for your cooking recipes.

Why, you may ask? Well, yogurt will curdle once exposed to your stove's direct heat. But if you still opt to use it, you can remove your pan or pot from the heat and then add the yogurt and stir.

With that out of the way, I suggest using regular yogurt over Greek yogurt because it has a thinner consistency. But, of course, there's nothing wrong with using it; you will only need to add more water compared to thinning out regular yogurt and sour cream.

Once you have thinned out the yogurt, measure the same amount of it as what the recipe requires for half and half.

Pro Tip: I clearly indicated plain yogurt, but if you're baking or making non-bake desserts with flavors similar to your flavored yogurt, go ahead and use it instead of the plain variety. For instance, use strawberry yogurt for your strawberry cheesecake.

Best for baked goodies and desserts.

2 Best Vegan Half and Half Substitutes

If you're serving someone who is vegan or vegetarian but can't find vegan half and half in the nearest healthy or local grocery store, here are my go-to ingredients that you can easily make at home:

1. Vegan Milk and Cream

I love using almond, coconut, and oat milk because of their low calorie and fat content while being highly nutritious. For cream, my ultimate favorites are cashew and coconut cream. Simply choose the flavored cream that will work well with the milk's flavor.

To make this substitute, combine one cup of the milk and ⅔ cup of the cream. If it's still not thick enough, you can add two to three tablespoons more of the cream.

Use this mixture to replace the same amount of half and half in your recipes.

Best for just about anything.

Related: Best Vegan Heavy Cream Substitutes for Delicious Dishes

2. Vegan Milk and Vegetable Oil or Vegan Butter

If you don't have or can't find vegan cream, you can opt for vegan butter or vegetable oil. My favorite is canola oil because of its flavorless, odorless, and colorless.

To substitute a cup of half and half, combine ¾ cup of your vegan milk and ¼ cup of vegetable oil.

If you're going to use vegan butter, melt 1.5 tablespoons of vegan butter and add a tablespoon of the melted butter to a cup of vegan milk. Then, emulsify with the help of your blender or hand mixer.

Best for baking.

Related: What Is the Best Substitute for Vegetable Oil in Brownies?

Easily Replacing Half and Half in Your Recipes

Made of half milk and half cream, combining the right kitchen staples and using the correct ratio will give you the best half and half substitute that you can use for your beverage, savory, sweet, and baking recipes.

My list of substitutes provided you with several options, even vegan ones, to ensure you always have an alternative when you don't have one or more of the ingredients included.

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