In the UK, we have single cream (about 18% milk fat), whipping cream (about 36%) and double cream (about 48%).

Do you have an equivalent for each of these products? In what situation would you use half-and-half? And what the hell is a creamer?

Many thanks,

A clueless Brit

13 comments

  1. Creamer is for coffee.

    I know you can buy half and half, whipping cream, heavy whipping cream, whip cream (sundae, coffee topping etc.)

    Whipping and heavy whipping cream are used in desserts normally

  2. Light cream, cream, heavy cream, whipping cream, don’t know the numbers, but roughly match up with the UK versions. Half and half is used with coffee or tea, an in-between choice between cream and milk. And used in some mixed alcoholic drinks. White Russian?

  3. Fairly similar, but the names are slightly different.

    Light cream is 18-30%, light whipping cream is 30-35%, heavy whipping cream is ≥36%. I don’t think we have a direct equivalent to double cream, though from a glance it looks like it would still qualify as heavy whipping cream.

    Half and half is ~10% fat and is mostly used for coffee.

    “Creamer” is generally any kind of shelf-stable fattening liquid for coffee. It’s often vegetable oil based and flavored (ie caramel or chocolate).

  4. We have light cream (about 18% milk fat), and heavy/whipping cream (about 36%). We don’t really have a version of double cream.

    Half and half is a mix of milk and cream (resulting in about 11% milk fat), it’s usually used in coffee. Creamer is the term for a non dairy alternative to cream, usually used in coffee and often flavored.

  5. Good luck in finding some cream that isn’t polluted with thickening agents &c. I’ve only found one brand that actually sells just what it is – Daisy. At least Daisy cottage cheese/sour cream/whipping cream is just that ingredient and nowt else.

    My $0.02’s worth

  8. I have used whipped cream in a pinch when I didn’t have coffee creamer. A lot of coffee creamer is often non-dairy but pretty much it is only used in coffee and you can’t use it in other things in place of milk, trust me not a good idea and everything will taste off.

  9. We have heavy cream, whipping cream, half and half, and whole milk. A creamer is basically an artificial cream that people put in their coffee. Half and half is often used for morning coffee.

  11. Light cream is 18% and heaven cream is 36%

    Half and half is half milk and half heavy creamer, so probably about 18-20% milkfat

    Never seen double cream

  13. Mainly in small towns in the south. Everyone normally goes there for their ice creams and I would avoid their food outside some tacos.

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