Part whole milk, part heavy cream – half-and-half is a tasty and versatile ingredient that adds a rich, creamy flavor to all kinds of recipes.
However, it’s all too easy to forget you have a carton of half-and-half until it’s about to expire.
But don’t worry – your half-and-half doesn’t have to go to waste!
There are all sorts of delicious recipes that you can make if you need to use up the last of your half-and-half.
From sweet to savory, this list of 23 easy half-and-half recipes is full of delicious dishes that are perfect for finishing off your half-and-half before it expires.
So let’s get started, shall we?
1. French Toast
One of the most popular breakfast and brunch foods out there, French toast is a deliciously sweet and rich recipe that’s also an ideal way to use up that last bit of leftover half-and-half.
Because you don’t need a massive amount for this recipe, it’s great for when you only have a little bit left.
While French Toast is typically made using normal milk, swapping this out for half-and-half adds an extra level of creamy richness to the custardy brioche.
2. Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is delicious enough on its own, but adding a splash of half-and-half in place of coffee creamer gives this tasty drink a creamy undertone.
The higher fat content of the half-and-half is great at balancing the taste of the coffee; the slight sweetness of half-and-half is perfect here too, making this tasty coffee the ideal start to your morning!
3. Cream Of Mushroom Soup
This creamy soup balances rich half-and-half with earthy mushrooms for a delicious and cozy soup that’s perfect for a chilly Winter’s day.
This tasty recipe is both quick and easy to make. Using only a handful of ingredients, the subtle taste of the half-and-half is a great addition to the nutty, woody mushrooms.
4. Mac & Cheese
Everyone loves mac & cheese, so you’ll get no complaints for serving this great recipe when you need to use up your half-and-half!
Swapping out the milk in this simple mac & cheese for half-and-half gives it a much creamier flavor and smoother texture.
If you want an easy recipe where half-and-half only makes it better, then look no further than this amazing mac & cheese!
5. Ice Cream
If you have a larger batch of half-and-half that’s close to expiring, then ice cream is a great way to use it up.
Rich, smooth, and creamy, this ice cream recipe is a great way to make your own delicious ice cream at home.
Using half-and-half here adds a subtle extra bit of sweetness to the ice cream, while its lower fat content compared to cream makes it softer and smoother.
6. Italian Soda
Italian soda is a sweet and fun drink made of soda water and flavored syrup, with a splash of half-and-half to mellow it out and add a hit of creaminess.
These tasty drinks are quick and simple to make, and you can use pretty much any flavor of syrup that you want – the sky’s the limit!
If you only have a little bit of half-and-half left, then this recipe is a great way to use it up!
7. Panna Cotta
This tasty Italian dessert is creamy and smooth, with a subtle vanilla flavor and custardy texture.
While it’s often thought of as a tricky, complicated dessert, this panna cotta recipe makes it quick, simple, and unbelievably delicious.
8. Mashed Potatoes
What’s better than some good old creamy mashed potatoes? What about this delicious recipe that swaps out milk for rich half-and-half?
These buttery potatoes get an extra bit of creaminess and a smoother texture because of the half-and-half, which takes this classic recipe to a whole new level.
Add plenty of butter and a sprinkling of shredded cheese to your mashed potatoes for an even deeper burst of flavor!
9. Chicken Alfredo
Chicken alfredo is a pasta dish which combines chicken and tagliatelle in a rich, creamy sauce.
This delicious recipe is already packed with subtle yet complex flavors, including a mix of herbs and a dash of nutmeg.
However, it’s the half-and-half that really makes this recipe.
While you might not be able to tell the difference at first, the creamy half-and-half adds its own rich taste and a gentle sweetness to this tasty pasta dish.
10. Scrambled Eggs
A classic at breakfast and brunch, scrambled eggs are at their best when they’re rich, delicate, and buttery.
If you want to give your eggs even more flavor and a better texture, swap out milk for half-and-half.
Your eggs will be creamy and rich, and you’ll never switch back!
11. Broccoli And Cheddar Mini Frittatas
These miniature frittatas are packed with tender broccoli and gooey cheddar cheese, along with some seasonings and an entire dozen of eggs to hold it all together.
While this recipe puts the mixture into a muffin tray for delicious bite-sized frittatas, you can also swap this out for a casserole dish or skillet if you want to make one large frittata to share.
12. Chicken Lazone
Chicken lazone is like chicken alfredo on steroids! Spicy, fragrant, and bursting with flavor, this incredible pasta dish is made even better by using half-and-half for the delicious creamy sauce.
The lighter half-and-half mellows out the spices in the sauce, while still letting their flavors shine through.
13. Carrot Cake
Moist, sweet, and tasty – carrot cake has it all. This simple recipe for homemade carrot cake uses half-and-half in the cream cheese frosting for an even smoother and creamier option.
The light sweetness of the half-and-half is great here, working with the sweet cake and making its flavors pop.
14. Cheesy Garlic Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is famous for how it behaves when cooked; by gently mashing it with a fork, the tender squash separates into long and thin spaghetti-like noodles, which give it its name.
Stuffed with cheese, garlic, and a splash of half-and-half, this delicious recipe is perfect if you’re looking for a meat-free way to use up your half-and-half.
15. Coconut Cream Pie
Half-and-half’s subtle flavors work wonders in this delicious dessert recipe.
Made with a coconut custard on a sweet pie crust and topped with whipped cream, coconut cream pies are a sweet treat that are perfect for a summer evening.
By swapping out the cream for half-and-half, the pies get a lighter, sweeter topping that compliments the light coconut flavor.
16. Creamy Pink Lemonade
We know what you’re thinking – “Cream? In lemonade?”. Trust us here, this recipe is far better than it seems at first glance!
Homemade raspberry lemonade is mixed with some half-and-half in this sweet and refreshing drink.
The half-and-half doesn’t just take some of the acidic edge away from the lemonade; unlike other similar ingredients, half-and-half won’t curdle in this recipe!
17. Broccoli Cheese Soup
Broccoli and cheese are a match made in heaven.
It’s clear that both of these flavors work well together in a creamy dish, so it’s no surprise that this delicious soup is the perfect recipe for them!
18. Vanilla Pudding
One of the most simple desserts out there, vanilla pudding is incredibly simple and easy to make.
This also means that it’s a great recipe to make at home to help you use up your leftover half-and-half!
Sweet and delicately flavored, the half-and-half adds an extra rich and creamy taste to this simple pudding.
19. Lemon Parmesan Chicken
Tender chicken, zesty lemon, parmesan cheese, and a creamy sauce? This delicious recipe has it all!
The creamy chicken is tender and works perfectly with the tangy lemon juice and garlic it is cooked with. The sauce is rich but light, and is a great matching for these bold, vibrant flavors.
20. White Russian
This classic cocktail generally either uses full-fat milk or heavy cream, but half-and-half makes an ideal compromise between the two.
The favored drink of The Dude from The Big Lebowski, this half-and-half twist on the White Russian has a bolder hit of sweetness and a lighter taste than the original.
21. Creamy Garlic Sauce
Sometimes simple is best, and this delicious sauce made with half-and-half, garlic, and a handful of other basic ingredients is a great example of that.
Fragrant and flavorful, this creamy sauce is perfect for adding to pasta, chicken, and much more!
It can also be frozen to give it even more lifespan!
22. Clam Chowder
While it’s not to everyone’s taste, this clam chowder recipe is stepped up a notch by the addition of half-and-half.
It adds some rich flavor and improves the texture of the chowder, making this variation of the hearty soup even better than the original!
23. Tres Leches Cake
A tres leches cake is a variety of French sponge cake, known for its light texture and simple flavors.
An airy sponge is coated with a thick layer of creamy topping, made even more rich and creamy than usual by the addition of half-and-half.
Dusted with cocoa powder and topped with fresh strawberries, this delicious cake is the perfect way to use up half-and-half!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Freeze Half-And-Half To Store It?
If you have too much Half-and-Half and you it will spoil before you can use it all up, don’t worry – all hope is not lost yet!
As long as you follow the proper process, you can freeze and store half-and-half for up to three months!
To do this, you need to follow certain steps to keep the half-and-half in its best condition.
Transfer the half-and-half to a freezer-safe sealable plastic bag, squeeze out all the air from the bag, and seal it up.
Pop it in the freezer and let it freeze, and you’ll be able to use it as you need for the next three months.
Can Half-And-Half Be Used To Substitute Milk?
If you’re looking for something a bit richer than milk, substituting milk for half-and-half is a great choice.
The cream in the half-and-half gives it a much richer flavor and slightly thicker texture than milk, making it a perfect addition to a cup of coffee (or pretty much any other recipe!).
However, you should bear in mind that half-and-half is heavier than milk and has a higher fat content, which can affect the flavor and texture of recipes you swap out the milk for.
For the most part, though, using half-and-half adds a delicious richness and flavor to any recipe you add it to.
How Healthy Is Half-And-Half?
Compared to heavy cream, half-and-half is on the healthier side.
Because half-and-half pairs cream with comparatively healthier whole milk, half-and-half gets all the rich and creamy greatness of cream but without the high fat content.
While half-and-half may not be quite as healthy as milk or other similar ingredients, it’s still reasonably low in fat and is perfectly healthy to consume in moderate amounts.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! 23 tasty recipes that will help you use up your extra half-and-half before it expires!
These recipes are quick, simple, and taste amazing – the perfect excuse for using the last of your half-and-half!
Now that you know these delicious recipes, all you need to do now is give them a try whenever you need to use up your half-and-half.
Enjoy!
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