Half And Half vs Heavy Cream: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Half and half and heavy cream differ significantly in calories and fat content.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Emily Torres, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

Heavy cream contains more calories at 340, while half and half has 131 calories. Half and half has slightly more protein at 3.1 g compared to 2.8 g in heavy cream.

Half and half and heavy cream are both popular dairy products used in cooking and beverages. Understanding their nutritional differences can help in making informed dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Half And Half and Heavy Cream?

Half and half is a dairy product made from equal parts milk and cream, typically used in coffee and recipes. It has a lower fat content compared to heavy cream. Heavy cream, also known as heavy whipping cream, is a high-fat dairy product that contains at least 36% fat. It is often used in desserts and sauces for its rich texture.

Half And Half vs Heavy Cream: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of half and half and heavy cream, highlighting their nutritional profiles.

Nutrient (per 100 g) Half and half Heavy cream
Calories 131 kcal 340 kcal
Protein 3.1 g 2.8 g
Carbs 4.3 g 2.8 g
Sugar 4.1 g 2.8 g
Fat 11.5 g 36.1 g
Fiber 0 g 0 g
Sodium 61 mg 27 mg

Which Is Better, Half And Half or Heavy Cream?

For weight loss: Half and half is lower in calories at 131 compared to heavy cream's 340 calories, making it a better choice for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Half and half has a higher protein content at 3.1 g, while heavy cream contains 2.8 g of protein per 100 g.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Half and half has 4.3 g of carbs and 4.1 g of sugar, while heavy cream has 2.8 g of carbs and 2.8 g of sugar.

How to Track Half and half and Heavy cream Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when using cream products in recipes or beverages. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use, not medical advice. They reflect the nutritional content of each product per 100 g. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Half and half has 3.1 g of protein, while heavy cream has 2.8 g of protein per 100 g.

Which has fewer calories?

Half and half has 131 calories, while heavy cream has 340 calories per 100 g.

What is the fat content of heavy cream?

Heavy cream has 36.1 g of fat per 100 g.

How much sugar is in half and half?

Half and half contains 4.1 g of sugar per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in heavy cream?

Heavy cream has 27 mg of sodium per 100 g.

How many carbs are in half and half?

Half and half contains 4.3 g of carbs per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

  • Half and half has 131 calories per 100 g.
  • Heavy cream has 340 calories per 100 g.
  • Half and half contains 3.1 g of protein.
  • Heavy cream contains 2.8 g of protein.
  • Half and half has 4.3 g of carbs and 4.1 g of sugar.
  • Heavy cream has 2.8 g of carbs and 2.8 g of sugar.

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