When it comes to cooking or baking, combining milk and melted unsalted butter results in a mixture that can impart the same creamy richness heavy cream provides.

To whip up 1 cup of a makeshift heavy cream alternative, melt ¼ cup (4 tablespoons, or half a stick) of butter, let it cool down, and combine it with a ¾ cup of whole milk.

Heavy cream contains at least 36% milk fat. Since butter holds about 80% milk fat, adding it to whole milk, which comprises 3.25% fat, increases the fat percentage and richness.

If you’re using skim or low-fat milk, add an extra teaspoon or two of butter. Another great alternative is half and half, which is basically equal parts whole milk and heavy cream.

However, a half-and-half contains between 10.5 to 18% milk fat, so if you want to increase its fat content, consider incorporating two tablespoons of melted butter into the product.