Last Updated on May 27, 2022
Heavy cream is a versatile ingredient used in both sweet and savory dishes. Knowing how to thicken heavy cream is important if you plan to use it in a sauce or whipped cream. If it does not properly thicken, it will be thin and runny, making a mess with whatever you are trying to make.
Heavy whipping cream is great for making whipped cream, pasta sauce, soup, frosting, ice cream, cream pie, and much more. It is a common ingredient that most bakers keep on hand. It provides richness, flavor, and texture when used in recipes.
What You Will Need To Follow This Tutorial For How To Thicken Heavy Cream
Ingredients
To thicken heavy cream for a sauce, you will need:
- Heavy cream
- Gelatin, flour, or cornstarch
- Sauce ingredients
To thicken heavy cream for whipped cream, you will need:
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin or 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 4 teaspoons water
Equipment
To thicken heavy cream for a sauce, you will need:
- Saucepan
- Whisk
- Wooden spoon
To thicken heavy cream for whipped cream, you will need:
- Stand or hand mixer
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk attachments
- Microwave-safe bowl
Step by step instructions: Thickening heavy cream for sauce
Step one: Prepare your sauce according to the recipe
Prepare your sauce according to the recipe you are using.
Step two: Bring to a simmer
Bring your sauce with the heavy whipping cream to a simmer, where you see some bubbles forming on the surface. Bringing it to a simmer is important as this will help thicken the heavy cream.
Step three: Simmer the sauce
Once it reaches a simmer, slightly turn the heat down to allow it to stay at a consistent simmer. Allow your sauce to simmer for several minutes, as it will continue to thicken as it simmers. Stir occasionally as well to help the thickening process.
Step four: Add a thickening agent
If your sauce is still not thick, add a thickening agent. The best thickening agents to use include flour, cornstarch, and unflavored gelatin.
Add about one to two teaspoons of your thickening agent of choice. Use a whisk or wooden spoon to mix it into your sauce. Allow the sauce to simmer for a few more minutes and if it is still too thin, add some more of your thickening agent until it reaches your desired consistency.
Step by step instructions: Thickening whipped cream
Step one: Whip the cream
Add one and a half cups of cream, a half cup of powdered sugar, and one teaspoon of vanilla extract to your mixer with whisk attachments. Beat it at medium-high speed for about three minutes, until soft peaks begin to form.
Step two: Prepare the gelatin
As you make your whipped cream, prepare the unflavored gelatin. Add your unflavored gelatin and water to a microwave-safe bowl and allow it to sit for three to five minutes. After sitting, microwave the gelatin and water for around 10 seconds until the gelatin is dissolved.
Step three: Add the gelatin to the whipped cream
With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in your gelatin. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and mix the whipped cream until stiff peaks form, around a couple of minutes.
Step four: Use cream of tartar instead of gelatin
Instead of gelatin, you can use cream of tartar to thicken your gelatin. Add the cream of tartar in at the beginning of the recipe with the other ingredients and then beat the whipped cream for around four to five minutes, or until stiff peaks form.
Tips And Tricks
When making whipped cream, it is very important that your heavy cream is cold. It needs to be cold in order to properly thicken while mixing, if it is too warm then it will not form stiff peaks. It is a good idea to place your mixing bowl and whisks in the fridge about 30 minutes before making your whipped cream to make sure the whipped cream stays nice and cold while mixing.
When making a sauce, do not rush the simmering process. Simmering is what helps thicken the heavy cream and it takes time to do so. It can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to fully thicken a sauce when simmering.
Be sure to use unflavored gelatin when adding it to heavy cream, as you don’t want to change the flavor at all. Cornstarch is a great option for thickening sauces, but flour works fine as well. When adding cornstarch or flour, it can be helpful to mix it with a small amount of water before adding it to the sauce to eliminate any clumps.
Thickening Your Cream In Sauces And Whipped Cream
Heavy cream is a wonderful ingredient for adding richness, flavor, and texture to recipes. When making a sauce, simmering it and adding cornstarch, flour or gelatin will help thicken it. When making whipped cream, using cold heavy cream, unflavored gelatin, or cream of tartar will help thicken and stabilize it.
Did you enjoy this tutorial on how to thicken heavy cream for sauces and whipped cream? If so, please share your thoughts on baking and cooking with heavy cream and ask any questions about heavy cream in the comments below.
How To Thicken Heavy Cream
Equipment
- To thicken heavy cream for a sauce, you will need:
- Saucepan
- To thicken heavy cream for whipped cream, you will need:
- Whisk attachments
Ingredients
To thicken heavy cream for a sauce you will need:
- Heavy cream
- Gelatin, flour, or cornstarch
- Sauce ingredients
To thicken heavy cream for whipped cream you will need:
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin or 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 4 teaspoons water
Instructions
Thickening heavy cream for sauce
- Prepare your sauce according to the recipePrepare your sauce according to the recipe you are using.Sauce ingredients
- Bring to a simmerBring your sauce with the heavy whipping cream to a simmer, where you see some bubbles forming on the surface. Bringing it to a simmer is important as this will help thicken the heavy cream.Heavy cream
- Simmer the sauceOnce it reaches a simmer, slightly turn the heat down to allow it to stay at a consistent simmer. Allow your sauce to simmer for several minutes, as it will continue to thicken as it simmers. Stir occasionally as well to help the thickening process.
- Add a thickening agentIf your sauce is still not thick, add a thickening agent. The best thickening agents to use include flour, cornstarch, and unflavored gelatin.Add about one to two teaspoons of your thickening agent of choice. Use a whisk or wooden spoon to mix it into your sauce. Allow the sauce to simmer for a few more minutes and if it is still too thin, add some more of your thickening agent until it reaches your desired consistency.Gelatin, flour, or cornstarch
Thickening whipped cream
- Whip the creamAdd one and a half cups of cream, a half cup of powdered sugar, and one teaspoon of vanilla extract to your mixer with whisk attachments. Beat it at medium-high speed for about three minutes, until soft peaks begin to form.1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 1/2 cup powdered Sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Prepare the gelatinAs you make your whipped cream, prepare the unflavored gelatin. Add your unflavored gelatin and water to a microwave-safe bowl and allow it to sit for three to five minutes. After sitting, microwave the gelatin and water for around 10 seconds until the gelatin is dissolved.1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin or 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar, 4 teaspoons water
- Add the gelatin to the whipped creamWith the mixer on low speed, slowly add in your gelatin. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and mix the whipped cream until stiff peaks form, around a couple of minutes.
- Use cream of tartar instead of gelatinInstead of gelatin, you can use cream of tartar to thicken your gelatin. Add the cream of tartar in at the beginning of the recipe with the other ingredients and then beat the whipped cream for around four to five minutes, or until stiff peaks form.
FAQs
Can You Use Plain Flour to Thicken Sauces?
Yes, you can use plain flour to thicken sauces. Cornstarch also works great as well to thicken sauces.
Does Simmering Thicken Sauce?
Simmering is an important aspect of thickening sauces. During this process, water evaporates, in return making the sauce thicker.
Does Boiling Sauce Make it Thicker?
Boiling sauce can make it thicker, but you have to be careful doing so. Boiling can cause the ingredients to separate and potentially burn if you are not careful. It is best to just stick with simmering to thicken your sauces.
What Do I Do if My Sauce is Too Watery?
If your sauce is too watery, you can try adding some cornstarch, flour or gelatin. In addition, you can also let it simmer for a few minutes longer.
Ever since she was a young girl, Anna has been a lover of desserts. As an adult, she enjoys
baking a variety of desserts from cakes, cookies, brownies, bread, and more from scratch. She
enjoys sharing her passion for baking with others who also have a sweet tooth. From properly
measuring ingredients to making sure they are the correct temperature, Anna knows the
importance small details can make in baking. She wants to share her experience with others in
hopes they can make the most delicious baked goods. When she’s not busy blogging, Anna
enjoys trying new recipes in the kitchen.
