If you’re stuck with half-and-half and need more richness, butter is your best friend. Melt a tablespoon of butter per cup of half-and-half. Boom, you’ve boosted the fat content. It’s not identical, but it’s close enough to fool a dinner guest. Don’t tell them.
Another trick? Add a splash of cream cheese. It thickens and adds tang. Use this for savory dishes, not sweets—unless you’re into weird cheesecake experiments. No judgment here.
2-Ingredient Heavy Cream Substitute
Cornstarch or flour can thicken half-and-half for sauces, too. Just whisk it in cold first. If you dump it in hot, you’ll get lumps. Lumps are the enemy of good gravy.