Creative Ways To Use Up Leftover Heavy Cream

Heavy cream is one of those ingredients that you generally don't need a full carton of for most recipes. It's often incorporated in smaller amounts to add a splash of richness to the dish, but that leaves you with part of a carton still hanging around in your fridge, waiting to be used up. Luckily, that's a pretty good problem to have — there are so many uses for heavy cream, so that leftover half-carton can help you level up meals for days to come. Whether you're in the mood for something sweet or savory, heavy cream is a wonderful ingredient to have on hand.

In the mood for a decadent, dreamy supper? A small amount of heavy cream can turn just about any cream-based soup into an absolute delight. Many cream-based soups use milk or broth, along with thickening tricks like crafting a roux, to create the creamy base, so adding a bit of actual heavy cream can really transform your vegetable soup. A similar principle applies for pasta sauces — a splash of heavy cream will help you create a mouthwatering pasta dish. Or, if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, why not try your hand at crafting some homemade cheese? Though it seems like it would be way too difficult for a novice home cook, all you actually need to whip up some fresh ricotta is a pinch of salt, lemon juice, and some boiling cream. Simple and tasty!

One of the easiest ways to use up leftover heavy cream is to make a bit of homemade whipped cream, which can be used to top everything from hot chocolate to fresh fruit. There's no specific amounts needed, so you can use up however much you have leftover, and it's endlessly versatile. Plus, there's just something so decadent about adding a dollop of freshly whipped cream to your otherwise simple bowl of ice cream or chopped fruit. On a similar note, you can use heavy cream to totally transform your afternoon coffee break. Perhaps you don't like to add much more than a splash of milk to your daily cup or two, but if you're looking to indulge a bit, why not play barista and craft your own coffee creamer, combining the heavy cream with your preferred flavoring? For an added bonus, save some of the heavy cream to whip up as the final touch of your coffee shop worthy creation.

Or, if you prefer your sweet treats a little chillier, did you know that you can create a small portion of homemade ice cream using very minimal ingredients and equipment? "The Pioneer Woman" has a recipe where all you need is some heavy cream, a bit of vanilla extract for flavoring, and sugar for sweetness, as well as resealable bags, salt, and ice to get the ice cream crafting process going.