Half-and-half, a concoction of whole milk and heavy cream, offers a versatile option for various recipes, providing a creamy texture without the heaviness of pure cream.

When faced with recipes calling for heavy cream, substituting with half-and-half is straightforward, requiring only the addition of butter to achieve similar richness and texture.

To pitch the scale more toward the “heavy cream” side, mix ⅞ cup of half-and-half with ⅛ cup of melted butter, and you’ll get a mixture with the texture and density of heavy cream.

However, this substitute isn’t suitable for whipping due to half-and-half’s lower fat content. In fact, while this hack is handy, it’s not a perfect substitute for every recipe.