Q: I have a recipe that calls for a cup of coffee cream, but this year I have been unable to find it. What would be the best substitute?
— J.R., Orient
A: Coffee cream can be difficult to find, although sometimes it is labeled as table cream or light cream, so look for those names in the dairy section. (No, it isn’t the same as nondairy coffee creamers.)
How much fat is in dairy products is determined by U.S. Department of Agriculture standards.
Heavy cream is 36 percent or more fat; light whipping cream, 30 to 36 percent; light cream, 18 to 30 percent; and half-and-half, 10.5 to 18 percent.
Coffee cream is typically 18?percent, so, if you can’t find it, substitute light cream in your recipe. Half-and-half is the next-best option.
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