20 Recipes with Half and Half to Use It Up (2024)

Try these recipes with half and half to use it all up!

I will be the first to admit that half-and-half is one of those ingredients I buy for one recipe, then forget. We all have our flaws.

I love finding new ways to use up ingredients I already have on hand, so these recipes are a must!

20 Recipes with Half and Half to Use It Up (1)

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Whether you have a pint of half-and-half begging to be used or are looking for new recipes, I have you covered.

All of these recipes go well beyond simple coffee and cream.

This list is loaded with 20 rich recipes to help you use up what’s left in your fridge. Keep it simple or add complexity!

From creamy panna cotta to tres leches cake, half and half is as diverse as you want it to be!

1. Garlic Cream Sauce

Creamy garlic sauce is the perfect way to use up leftover half and half. It has just six ingredients and takes a few minutes to prepare.

I love recipes that are easy to toss together on busy nights. This sauce is delicious on pasta and any protein you can imagine!

2. Classic Panna Cotta

Most think of panna cotta as a complicated, sophisticated dessert. With this recipe, you’ll be a panna cotta master, and with minimal effort!

The berry gel is a delicious contrast to the creamy custard. For a richer dessert, use caramel or chocolate sauce instead.

3. Chocolate Ice Cream

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!

What better use half and half than rich, chocolate ice cream? If you haven’t made your own chocolate ice cream, do yourself a favor and try it.

This recipe calls for three cups of half and half, which may be more than you have leftover. If so, adjust the proportions for fewer servings.

4. Chicken Lazone

Chicken breast is even better when coated with buttery cream sauce. Of course, a hearty bed of pasta does the trick, too!

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Why not enjoy the best of both worlds with creamy chicken lazone? In 30 minutes, you can use up your leftover half-and-half and have a beautiful dinner.

5. French Toast

Using half-and-half in place of regular milk in French toast takes it to the next level.

The heavier cream saturates the bread and creates a breakfast-friendly dessert.

This recipe is made with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.

I love serving French toast with loads of fresh fruit in place of syrup. Berries add beautiful color, flavor, and texture to this recipe.

6. Cream of Mushroom Soup

Sure, canned soup is fine in a pinch. But with just a few ingredients, you can make your own cream of mushroom soup!

You’ll find that making homemade cream of mushroom soup is simple and satisfying. This is a soup recipe you will enjoy spoon after spoon.

Earthy, creamy, and hearty. Does it get any better?

7. Coconut Cream Pie

Coconut cream pie is the perfect use for half and half you have on hand. In fact, you might just have everything you need to make this creamy dessert!

Fragrant coconut and creamy custard. Yes, please!

This is the ultimate summer pie for your next warm-weather get-together.

8. Scrambled Eggs

You have to try these scrambled eggs. Seriously, this is the easiest recipe on this list!

Adding half and half to your scrambled eggs creates a fluffier, richer consistency.

Be warned, you won’t want to go back to making eggs any other way!

9. Tres Leches Cake

Tres leches might seem intimidating, but really it is quite easy to make.

In essence, it’s a vanilla sponge cake saturated with a blend of milk.

The blend calls for half and half and is poured slowly over the cake after baking. This cake is rich, creamy, and a Latin American classic!

10. Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken

Parmesan chicken isn’t always made with tomato sauce! Sometimes, it’s a well-balanced cream sauce, loaded with parmesan cheese.

The lemon adds citrus sophistication to a comforting pasta dish. Serve it over traditional pasta or your favorite zoodles. Either way is a win!

11. Broccoli Cheese Soup

If your heart is in need of a big hug, look no further.

Creamy broccoli cheese soup is the perfect warm-up on a cold night. Not to mention, it’s a hearty way to use up that half-and-half!

This is one of my favorite recipes for many reasons. The best part is, it takes just a few ingredients and less than an hour to whip up.

12. Mashed Potatoes

I love mashed potatoes with half and half. Okay, I just love mashed potatoes.

But adding in a heavier cream in place of milk makes the mashed potatoes so much richer!

In this recipe, you’ll melt your butter and half and half before mashing.

13. Vanilla Pudding

Instant pudding has nothing on homemade vanilla pudding. It’s rich, elegant, creamy, and perfect for all occasions.

It only takes six ingredients and a few steps to make the best pudding you’ll ever have. Be sure to let your pudding cool for a couple of hours before serving.

This pudding is great on its own, but can easily be added to for entertaining company.

Fresh berries add beautiful dimension!

14. White Russian

White Russians are like alcoholic iced coffees. Using half and half in place of heavy cream adds the perfect richness.

Coffee and cream are all the better with a splash of vodka!

I highly recommend the scoop of ice cream in place of ice cubes for a cold coffee co*cktail. This is one cold co*cktail that’s superb in all seasons!

15. Clam Chowder

This chowder is hearty, creamy, and the perfect use for the last cup of half-and-half.

This recipe is a frugal and flavorful variation of clam chowder. Canned clams add the rich seafood flavor without breaking the bank.

Bacon adds the perfect savory flavor and crunchy texture right before serving.

16. Basil Pesto Cream with Tortellini

Creamy pesto has the flavor you need in your life. Use your favorite pesto and mix with butter and half-and-half.

The result will be your new favorite herb sauce.

Cheese tortellini is the perfect carb to coat with this creamy pesto sauce. But really, any pasta you have on hand will do!

17. Homemade Carrot Cake

If I were Superman, carrot cake would be my kryptonite.

This is a traditional carrot cake, loaded with texture and flavor.

This recipe uses a pinch of half and half for the cream cheese frosting. Assembly can be half the battle.

Don’t stress, as the flavor will be the same no matter how it looks!

18. Bowtie Chicken Alfredo

Homemade Alfredo sauce is easy to make and worth the effort!

Pan-seared chicken and creamy Alfredo sauce is a classic use of half-and-half. This recipe uses a wine reduction, adding deeper flavor to the sauce.

The bow tie pasta adds a beautiful dimension and texture. Don’t forget to top it with extra parmesan!

19. Breve Latte

Okay, we’ve all used half and half as coffee creamer. Level up your game and enjoy espresso and steamed half-and-half.

Breve lattes are creamier and richer than traditional lattes.

No milk steamer? No problem! Just warm up your milk and use a hand frother to get the same result!

20. Mac and Cheese

Slow cooker macaroni and cheese is one meal that everyone has to try at least once. Creamy, cheesy, and easy: three words you love to hear!

Using freshly grated cheese, evaporated milk, and half and half makes this pasta perfectly creamy.

After 2 hours of slow cooking, this pasta is ready to serve!

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20 Recipes with Half and Half to Use It Up (2024)

FAQs

Can you use half-and-half to make whipped cream? ›

Yes, you can make whipped cream with half and half. However, it may not be as thick or stable as whipped cream made with heavy cream due to the lower fat content.

Can you make anything out of half-and-half? ›

Half-and-half, which is half cream and half milk, is a very versatile ingredient that you'll find on the ingredient list in a wide range of recipes from appetizers to casseroles to desserts.

What is half-and-half used in recipes? ›

Half-and-half is simply a mixture of half whole milk and half cream. It's what you use when you need something richer than milk, but not quite as thick as cream. You'll find it in rich and velvety sauces, soups, and desserts.

What happens if I whip half-and-half? ›

Half-and-half is equal parts cream and milk, giving it a thinner consistency. While you can whip half-and-half, it's not going to sit in those lovely, fluffy peaks that we associate with a good whipped cream. Also, its runny nature means that it'll try to revert to liquid form as soon as you take your eye off it.

Can I add butter to half-and-half to make whipped cream? ›

Half-and-half + butter

Because heavy cream is so high in fat, you can often create a substitute with other high-fat ingredients. In terms of taste and consistency, a combination of half-and-half and butter is one of the best substitutes for heavy whipping cream—it tastes just like the real thing.

Can you make ice cream with half-and-half instead of heavy cream? ›

Don't worry too much if you don't have whole milk or heavy cream. Nearly any milk will work, and you can substitute half-and-half for the cream. Ideally you want ingredients with a high fat content because these will create a creamy texture when cooled.

Will half-and-half turn into butter? ›

Half-and-half will never turn into whipped cream and no amount of churning will turn it into butter.

Can you use half-and-half in pasta? ›

Yes, as a matter of fact, using half and half instead of heavy cream results in a sauce that is equally as thick and creamy. How do you thicken half and half for Alfredo? We've added a couple tablespoons of flour to this sauce recipe to make sure the sauce turns out equivalently thick and creamy using half and half.

Can you freeze and reuse half-and-half? ›

Yes, it's possible to freeze half-and-half. So if you have an excess amount in your fridge, there's no need to worry about how you'll use the rest of the carton right away.

What does half-and-half do to coffee? ›

It's used to sweeten coffee while also making the texture richer and more velvety. If you add half-and-half to your coffee every day, it's worth it to find out how it's impacting your body. After all, it's the habits we do regularly that impact health the most.

Can half-and-half be used in baking? ›

If you have half-and-half on hand, it's a perfect cup-for-cup substitute. Because half-and-half is made up of 50% whole milk and 50% heavy cream, it will offer close to the same results as milk would, while adding a lovely richness to your baked goods.

What is the most common use of half-and-half? ›

It has a rich, creamy taste and is commonly used in coffee, tea, and various recipes, such as soups, sauces, and baked goods. Its smooth consistency and mild flavor make it a popular choice for enhancing the taste and texture of various dishes.

How to make heavy cream with half-and-half? ›

To substitute for 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream, combine 7/8 cup (232 grams) of half-and-half with 1/8 cup (29 grams) of melted butter.

Which is healthier half-and-half or heavy cream? ›

Heavy cream commonly contains 36% milk fat, which translates to about 11 grams of fat per liquid ounce, with 7 grams of that being saturated fat. Compare that to half-and-half, which only has around 3 grams of fat per ounce, including 2 grams of saturated fat. There's also a big jump in calories between the two.

Can you make whipped cream with half-and-half or whole milk? ›

Rather than make a less-than-essential trip to the grocery store or go without whipped cream altogether, you can, in fact, substitute whole milk or half-and-half for heavy cream.

Is whipping cream and half-and-half different? ›

According to the FDA, half-and-half contains between 10.5 percent to 18 percent milk fat, while heavy cream contains between 36 percent and 40 percent milk fat. Because heavy cream contains more fat, it is thicker and has a richer taste and a creamier mouthfeel than half-and-half.

Can you use creamer to make whipped cream? ›

It's 2 parts creamer to 1 part cold milk: sugar & vanilla to taste. It takes 5 - 7 minutes of whipping at high speed until stiff. Keep on hand for when you are out of cool whip. Pretty handy.

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