The epic battle continues! Which is better: dairy or non dairy whipping cream? Find out in an earth-shaking matchup here!

To dairy or not to dairy? That’s the question that millions of sweet-tooths ask themselves every single day. Some of you out there might even be lactose intolerant, which makes it really difficult to enjoy the most delicious desserts.

One of the best ingredients for desserts? Whipping cream. Some of you may not have realized, but there are two kinds: dairy whipping cream and non-dairy whipping cream. These are used for cake decorating, topping ice cream sundaes, or just cramming into your mouth whenever you feel like it!

See below for an in-depth guide comparing dairy vs non-dairy whipping cream and ending the debate once and for all!

Dairy Whipping Cream

For most of you reading this, you’ve only ever had dairy whipping cream. It’s the more common whipping cream of the two and can be purchased at your local grocery store.

What Is Dairy Whipping Cream?

As the name would imply, dairy whipping cream is cream that comes from dairy milk—go figure, right? Because of that, it has a higher body of fat and has that delicious taste that most of us have learned to crave.

Dairy whipping cream can be used for cake decorating, as well as for other desserts, but its complexion and taste make it off-putting to some.

Then there is the aforementioned lactose intolerant crowd, who hardly feel it’s worth taking a bite of. It comes in three main classes: light cream, heavy cream, and double cream.

Dairy whipping cream, due to its fat content, is generally heavier and tends to sit in your stomach like a rock if you consume too much of it. There’s no denying the great taste.

That said, the benefits and potential of non-dairy whipping cream cause its dairy-filled opponent to fail in comparison. The only upper hand dairy whipping cream has is its taste, but things can be added to non-dairy whipping cream to make it taste just as good.

Non-Dairy Whipping Cream

By in large, non-dairy whipping cream is known for being a better cream to use for cake decorating. It’s entirely sustainable, has a great composition, and can withstand normal temperatures, making it a great choice for displaying the cakes you create, as well as using it on tasty breakfast dishes!

What Is Non-Dairy Whipping Cream?

Often considered to be the most flexible dessert ingredient to work with, non-dairy whipping cream starts as a tasteless substance.

It’s generally made with ingredients such as salts, veggie protein (such as soy), stabilizers, water, and vegetable oil. Some brands also mix in skimmed milk. Does that technically make it non-dairy? We will let you be the judge of that!

You might be thinking to yourself “but with that unimpressive list of ingredients, how does non-dairy whipping cream become such a great tool for dessert decorating?” We’re glad you asked this very specific question!

Non-dairy whipping cream uses emulsifiers as its primary ingredient. These are used to hold on to the water and fat they come across and create the structure of whipping cream that we’ve all come to know and love.

The Benefits of Non-Dairy Whipping Cream

Now that we know the distinction between dairy whipping cream and non-dairy whipping cream, let’s get ourselves more acquainted with the latter. Like an interesting person, we’ve just met. See below for a few noteworthy benefits of using non-dairy whipping cream from this day forward.

1. Consumable by Everyone

Okay… maybe not everyone. For example, if someone is allergic to soy, a common emulsifier used in non-dairy whipping cream, then they wouldn’t be able to consume it. Thankfully, only about 0.4-percent of humans are allergic to soy.

Being a non-dairy product, trusted companies such as Rich’s Gold Label are very upfront and transparent about the ingredients that they use.

Fun fact: Rich Product Corporation was actually the world’s inventor of non-dairy whip topping. Why settle for anything other than the original? This gives you more peace of mind while you create tasty treats.

2. Easy to Prepare

Raise your hand if you enjoy the prepping process when cooking or baking. Don’t fool yourself, no one enjoys that part of it!

Here’s the good news: non-dairy whipping cream will minimize the time it takes to prep. Dairy whipping cream, on the other hand, takes a bit more time.

Simply pour some vegetarian gelatine in with some whipping cream and your preferred flavor (such as sugar to make it sweet). Set the mixture aside for a few minutes, then whip it well until it develops the structure you’re looking for.

3. Cost-Efficient

No further explanation needed, right? If there is a way to cut costs whenever you make your delectable treats, you’re there!

Not only is non-dairy whipping cream healthier due to there being less dairy fat, but it’s also cheaper. Vegetable fat is always cheaper than dairy fat, making the entire concoction more affordable.

For those of you that make sweet treats in bulk, you’ll find non-dairy whipping cream to be much more suitable and friendly for your budget.

Invest in Non-Dairy Whipping Cream for Your Desserts Today

Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on the battle between dairy and non-dairy whipping cream, it’s clear that non-dairy whipping cream is superior.

Have you ever heard of the Torta Della Nonna dessert? Whether you have or not, be sure to read this article for more information on what it is and why you should bake one for Gramma.

Be sure to circle back to our site frequently. We’re always adding new recipes and interesting articles on all things food!