Can I Use Whole Milk Instead Of Heavy Cream In Icing

Know when — and when not — to swap out whole milk for heavy cream in icings.

Image Credit: Morsa Images/Stone/GettyImages Baking is often a precision art, requiring exact measurements of specific ingredients. But with certain recipes, there’s a little wiggle room for substitutions.

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 You can substitute whole milk for heavy cream in recipes that call for a small amount of cream to thin the frosting. Recipes that rely on heavy cream as a main ingredient, such as ganache, don't adapt well to whole milk.

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  Also, consider the event you are serving the cake at, as well. You'll probably feel more comfortable experimenting with a casual family dessert than a dessert for a holiday gathering or other important event.

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 Related Reading Baking at Home? Try These 8 Best Cake Mixes for Every Diet, From Gluten-Free to Vegan

Basic Icing Use whole milk to thin a simple butter and confectioner’s sugar icing instead of heavy cream. The purpose of the liquid is to thin the icing to a spreadable consistency, so you’ll probably need slightly less milk than heavy cream.

Soften the butter first and sift the confectioner’s sugar to remove any lumps. Add 2 tablespoons of whole milk at a time, beating after each addition until you have the desired consistency. If you get it to thin, add more confectioner’s sugar. Keep in mind, though, that the icing will thicken slightly as the butter hardens.

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 Glazes

Use whole milk instead of heavy cream to thin powdered sugar glazes, such as those used for cinnamon rolls or doughnuts.

Beat 1 cup powdered sugar with 1/2 cup butter until smooth. Add whole milk until the glaze is the consistency of pancake batter. Drizzle the glaze on freshly baked pastries and allow it to set for a sweet taste.

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 Whipping Cream Frosting

If the recipe calls for an icing of whipped cream, such as a chocolate roulade, try whole evaporated milk instead.

Chill 1 cup evaporated milk in the freezer for 30 minutes, as well as the beaters and bowl. Whip the evaporated milk for 2 to 3 minutes until it is stiff. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

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 Considerations

If the recipe calls for ganache and you don’t have heavy cream, your best bet is probably to select another cake or substitute a different type of icing. For example, chocolate buttercream is delicious on most chocolate cakes instead of ganache and requires only chocolate, butter, sugar and eggs. Warm egg whites and beat them with sugar until they’re frothy and light but still moist.

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  references & resources
  
      Martha Stewart: "The Martha Stewart Cookbook"
    
      Julia Child: "Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1"
    
      Chicago Tribune: "Topping dessert with canned milk"
    
      Food Network; Chocolate Buttercream Frosting; Ina Garten; 2007
       




  references & resources
  
      Martha Stewart: "The Martha Stewart Cookbook"
    
      Julia Child: "Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1"
    
      Chicago Tribune: "Topping dessert with canned milk"
    
      Food Network; Chocolate Buttercream Frosting; Ina Garten; 2007
    




Know when — and when not — to swap out whole milk for heavy cream in icings.

Image Credit: Morsa Images/Stone/GettyImages

Baking at Home? Try These 8 Best Cake Mixes for Every Diet, From Gluten-Free to Vegan

      Martha Stewart: "The Martha Stewart Cookbook"
    
      Julia Child: "Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1"
    
      Chicago Tribune: "Topping dessert with canned milk"
    
      Food Network; Chocolate Buttercream Frosting; Ina Garten; 2007