Our All-Time Favorite Desserts Starring Heavy Cream

We've partnered with Hood®—makers of great-tasting, high-quality cream made from real Hood Milk—to comb through our archives for our most-beloved desserts starring heavy cream. From dreamy mousse pies to easy no-churn ice cream, your bowls, plates, and spoons are in for a very sweet treat.

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When it comes to desserts that delight—those heavenly recipes you come back to over and over again—there’s often one common denominator: heavy cream. The key ingredient in so many of the sweets we love, heavy cream (we're using Hood®) gives a sumptuousness—and yes, creaminess—to dishes that might otherwise be a little ho-hum.

So for all the sweet tooths out there, we’ve collected our best heavy cream desserts of all time—the ones you’ve made or really wanted to make, and the ones that inspire rave reviews, constant clicks, and boatloads of comments. Think of this as the crème de la crème (see what we did there?) of heavy cream-based desserts. And while we may not be handing out actual trophies to these all-star treats, they’ll always be winners in our hearts.

1. Tahini Mousse Pie

This dreamboat is made of cloud-like mousse that’s created by mixing piles of fluffy whipped cream with tahini (sesame paste). That creamy sweetness, which is flecked with vanilla beans, is poured over hunks of halva into a chocolate cookie-crumb crust. (The crust also has a bit of Turkish coffee in the mixture, which adds a just-right counterpoint to the sweetness of the pie.) If you thought this couldn’t get more amazing, think again: The finished product is then drizzled with silan, a date syrup.

2. New England Spider Cake

Part-cornbread, part-pancake, this magical cake achieves legendary status with the final step: Heavy cream is poured into the batter right before baking. That gives the center a custardy softness that’s unbeatable—one reviewer was “amazed and dazed” by the end result. This may technically be a dessert, but given that it’s excellent topped with maple syrup, feel free to eat it for breakfast, too.

3. Millionaire’s Shortbread

Millionaire’s Shortbread got its name because (surprise, surprise) it’s so rich, thanks to the combination of crisp and buttery shortbread, homemade caramel, and chocolate. (Think of it as a Twix that won the lottery.) Here, the heavy cream is instrumental in the caramel, giving it the soft loveliness that takes the whole confection from very good to over-the-top amazing. Our co-founder Merrill Stubbs took the deliciousness even further by sprinkling the end result with flaky sea salt, and we wholeheartedly approve.

4. Alice’s Chocolate Pudding

This incredibly easy pudding (one reviewer called it “high reward for minimal effort”) from baking expert Alice Medrich is a superstar at both weeknight dinners and elaborate holiday feasts. The flavor of the pudding is intensely, beautifully chocolate-y. Hood Cream works great here, and it arrives on the scene just before serving, making this effortlessly elegant—just pour the cream over the top of the pudding so it forms little puddles across it. Then grab a spoon.

5. Lime Posset With Graham Cracker Streusel

A posset is essentially an old-school British version of pudding. This one couldn’t be simpler, and it’s a nod to key lime pie, only with way less fuss. Reviewers called this silky pudding “unbelievable” and “outrageously delicious,” so if you’re waiting for a sign telling you to make this tonight, consider this the one.

6. Naughty Rhubarb Scones

Scones might not scream “heavy cream,” but it gives an unparalleled richness and density to these crumbly baked marvels. With vanilla sugar and hunks of rhubarb, these are so spectacular, you won’t even need to top them with butter or jam. And a nearly perfect score with 113 reviews? These are bonafide winners at tea time, after-dinner time, or any time, really.

7. J. Kenji López-Alt’s 10-Minute Lime Cracker Pie

An icebox cake (or pie) almost feels like cheating—how could something so simple be so good? Still, the many glowing reviews of this lime-flavored pie make it clear this one’s a keeper. You’ll alternate layers of a condensed milk and heavy cream mixture over Ritz crackers (yes, Ritz crackers), then toss the whole thing in the fridge to let the layers meld and soften. It’s perfectly retro and exactly what we want to eat all summer long.

8. No-Churn Ice Cream With Vanilla Bean & Scotch

You didn’t think we’d make a list of the best heavy cream desserts and leave out ice cream, did you? This one is a leap way beyond anything you can buy in a carton, and you won’t even need special equipment to make it. There’s only really two steps: (1) Mix heavy cream with sugar, Scotch, and vanilla, then (2) freeze the mixture in a pan. The alcohol prevents the ice cream from getting concrete-hard in the freezer, and gives the flavor a rich complexity. One reviewer called it “amazingly simple and absolutely delicious,” and we’d be inclined to agree.

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What’s your favorite dessert with heavy cream? Tell us in the comments below!

Our friends at Hood® have been around since 1846, so they know a thing or two about making top-notch dairy products, including heavy cream. Hood Cream is a must-have for so many sweet treats—from pie to ice cream to pudding—but it works equally well in savory soups and cheesy quiches, too. Oh, and don’t forget to pour a splash into your coffee for the dreamiest, creamiest morning sip.