Baking 101: The Different Types Of Creams And Their Uses (2024)

If you’ve been baking for quite some time now, you’ll know that there’s one particular ingredient you can never go without: creams. By simply choosing the type of cream to incorporate in your baking, you can significantly transform any dessert and pastries recipe into something else entirely. If you’re a dessert and pastry connoisseur, you’re most probably familiar with many of them – but how much do you truly?

To start off, creams are a rich, thick emulsion of dairy fat that boast a rich flavour and velvety texture. They are a perfect addition to desserts and sweets because of their ability to tone down richness and sweetness. Most of all, there’s no one-size-fits-all cream; there’s a variety! They come in different textures and flavours, with different uses and modes of application as well. Not all creams are meant for baking.

If you’re taking a break from ordering a pastry online in Singapore to whip your own creation in your kitchen, learn more about the wonders of this baking and cooking essential here!

Half and half cream

If you love coffee, then half and half cream is going to be your favourite. This type of cream consists of half milk and half cream with 10% to 12% fat. It’s often used for coffees and beverages, and it can perfectly substitute milk in various recipes. Pan sauces, creamy pasta sauces, and gravies often use this cream because of its incredible thickness.

Light cream

Also referred to as single cream or table cream, light cream helps bring moisture to desserts after you pour it over crumbles and pound cakes. Just like half and half cream, light cream can also be used for coffee. But this type of cream works best for soups and gravies because of its usual 12% to 18% fat content.

Heavy whipping cream

For those who are fond of mouth-watering desserts, heavy whipping cream is an ingredient that your recipe should not miss. Heavy whipping cream is a rich and thick cream that’s usually added to decadent desserts and dishes. It typically consists of 36% to 40% fat. If you’re looking toorder a birthday cake online for delivery, particularly, you might notice that many of the choices available are topped with a layer of heavy whipping cream frosting.

Double cream

When it comes to thickness, double cream reigns supreme. It boasts a 48% fat content, making it the thickest cream on the list. As such, there’s a tendency to overwhip it, so you’ll want to be mindful when using it in your recipe. This cream is an ideal pouring cream for ice creams, buttermilk scones, and chocolate truffles.

Sour cream

For other types of foods like sandwiches and salads, sour cream is a chef’s choice. Sour cream is created by adding bacterial cultures to the cream to produce lactic acid. This lactic acid results in a slightly sour taste and a thicker-than-normal consistency in the cream. With its slightly tart flavour, you can use sour cream to make dips, salad dressings, and casseroles.

Light sour cream

The same process is used to make light sour cream as with sour cream, except it contains a reduced fat and caloric content. It is a desirable component in nutritious recipes like salad dressings since it contains a blend of good and bad nutrients. With its tangy and delicious taste, you can top light sour cream on baked potatoes for a truly appetising meal.

Crème fraiche

As fancy as it sounds, crème fraiche is a thick and rich cream with a consistency similar to custard. It’s a version of sour cream, except with higher fat content, and is good for cooking because it’s less prone to curdling. With a usual fat content of 39%, crème fraiche is great for pan sauces and soups because it helps thicken them. It can also be added to scrambled eggs, cookies, and bread for a creamier and more refined flavour.

Conclusion

There are indeed different types of creams that can be used for various purposes. To make the most out of your dishes and pastries, be sure to use a suitable cream all the time. Aside from that, choose creams that are of high quality so that you can guarantee the richness of your foods’ flavour.

If you’re looking for premium quality pastries that you can share with your family and friends, Polar Puffs & Cakes is here to give you just what you are looking for! We have an extensive range of pastries and cakes that can surely delight your taste buds. We make sure we use suitable types of creams in our products to provide you with the best snack or dessert experience. As an offline and online cake shop in Singapore, you can buy our cakes in-store or online to have them delivered right to your doorstep. At Polar Puffs & Cakes, your convenience and satisfaction are our top priority. So, order from us today!

Baking 101: The Different Types Of Creams And Their Uses (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 types of cream and uses? ›

Do You Know ... the Types of Cream?
  • Clotted cream: at least 55% milkfat.
  • Heavy cream: more than 36% milkfat.
  • Whipping cream: 30% to 36% milkfat.
  • Light cream: 18% to 30% milkfat.
  • Sour cream: at least 18% milkfat.
  • Half and half: 10.5% to 18% milkfat.
  • Ice cream: more than 10% milkfat.
Nov 26, 2018

What kind of cream is used in baking? ›

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 are the different types of cooking cream? ›

Types of Cream
Cream Classification
Heavy Cream (Heavy Whipping Cream)36 to 40
Whipping Cream30 to 35
Light Cream (Light Whipping Cream)18 to 30
Half-and-Half10½ to 18
1 more row
Sep 24, 2023

What are the different types of cream for cakes? ›

Here are the 10 most popular ones.
  • Channel Island extra thick double cream.
  • Chantilly cream.
  • Clotted cream.
  • Crème fraîche.
  • Double cream.
  • Extra thick single cream.
  • Flavoured creams.
  • Goat's milk double cream.
Dec 30, 2020

What is the best cream for baking? ›

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.

What kind of cream do bakeries use? ›

Heavy cream is commonly used by bakers and pastry chefs because its increased fat content allows it to whisk faster and produce a more solid froth. You can enhance your whipped cream at home by doing the same thing.

What cream is best for cooking? ›

Double cream

This is the most versatile type of fresh cream, it can be used as it is or whipped. 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.

What's the difference between heavy cream and heavy whipping cream? ›

According to the labeling standards of the Food and Drug Administration, heavy cream is a cream with no less than 36% milk fat. It may also be called heavy whipping cream (1). In contrast, whipping cream has a slightly lower milk fat content, 30–36%.

Can I use double cream instead of whipping cream? ›

Double cream is a popular dairy product in Britain and Europe and it's as rich as it sounds. What Is Light Cream? 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.

How many kinds of cream are there? ›

United States
NameFat content
Half and half10.5% to 18%
Light cream18% to 30%
Whipping cream30% to 36%
Heavy (whipping) creamAt least 36%
1 more row

What is single cream called in the USA? ›

Single cream is a lower fat cream with a fat content of 18-20%. It is sometimes known as "pouring cream" and is mostly used to pour over desserts. In the US there is light cream, which is the closest with a fat content of around 20%.

What is the healthiest cream to cook with? ›

Here are a few of the best heavy cream substitutes, according to experts.
  • Greek Yogurt. ...
  • Coconut Cream. ...
  • Silken Tofu. ...
  • Cashew Cream. ...
  • Evaporated Milk. ...
  • Soy Milk. ...
  • Half-and-Half With Butter. ...
  • Bananas.
Dec 13, 2023

What are creams in baking? ›

Cream is a rich, thick emulsion of dairy fat available commercially as a white or light yellow colored fluid or it can be whipped into a stable foam for various applications. It is popular in baked goods such as: Cakes. Pastries. Cream filling.

What is the white cream on a cake called? ›

Icing, or frosting, is a sweet, often creamy glaze made of sugar with a liquid, such as water or milk, that is often enriched with ingredients like butter, egg whites, cream cheese, or flavorings. It is used to coat or decorate baked goods, such as cakes.

What is the most widely used cream in dessert preparation? ›

Whipped cream: This very popular dessert topping can be served plain, sweetened, or flavoured. Crème chantilly, a classic version of this, is a combination of whipped cream, sugar, and vanilla.

What are different creams used for? ›

Light cream is added to coffee and hot cereal, and is also used as an ingredient in sauces and other recipes. Whipping cream is used in sauces and soups, and as a garnish. Whipping cream will only produce whipped cream with soft peaks. Heavy whipping cream produces whipped cream with stable peaks.

What creams are used for? ›

Creams. Due to their high water content, creams are easily absorbed, so they can cover large areas of skin. Their oil content also means they stay on your skin's surface to help protect against moisture loss, which makes them ideal for treating dry skin, rashes, or skin lesions.

How do I know what cream to use? ›

Determine your skin type:
  1. Dry (will benefit from a heavier, oil-based moisturizer)
  2. Oily (will benefit from lighter, water-based moisturizers)
  3. Mature (will benefit from oil-based. moisturizers to preserve moisture)
  4. Sensitive (will benefit from soothing. ...
  5. Normal/Combination (will.

What does 10 cream mean? ›

As the name suggests, 10% cream which is also known as half-and-half uses equal parts milk and cream to enhance the richness of everything from fresh fruit to coffee to soup.

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