Heavy Cream vs. Vanilla Ice Cream

Nutrition comparison of Heavy Cream and Vanilla Ice Cream


Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?

We compared the nutritional contents of heavy cream versus vanilla ice cream (100g each) below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].

For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in heavy cream and vanilla ice cream:

  • Both vanilla ice cream and heavy cream are high in Vitamin A, calcium, calories and saturated fat.
  • For omega-3 fatty acids, heavy cream has more dpa than vanilla ice cream.
  • Heavy cream has 7.3 times less carbohydrates than vanilla ice cream.
  • Heavy cream has signficantly more Vitamin D than vanilla ice cream.
  • Vanilla ice cream has 61% less cholesterol than heavy cream.
  • Vanilla ice cream has more niacin and Vitamin B12.
Detailed nutritional comparison of heavy cream and vanilla ice cream is analyzed below. You can also visualize the nutritional comparison for a custom portion or serving size and see how the nutrition compares.

USDA sources for nutritional information: Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) and Vanilla Ice Cream (Ice creams, vanilla) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.


Image of Heavy Cream src
Image of Vanilla Ice Cream src

Calories and Carbs

calories

Both vanilla ice cream and heavy cream are high in calories. Heavy cream has 64% more calories than vanilla ice cream - vanilla ice cream has 207 calories per 100 grams and heavy cream has 340 calories.

For macronutrient ratios, heavy cream is lighter in protein, much lighter in carbs and much heavier in fat compared to vanilla ice cream per calorie. Heavy cream has a macronutrient ratio of 3:3:94 and for vanilla ice cream, 7:46:48 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.

Macro Ratios from Calories:

Heavy Cream Vanilla Ice Cream
Protein 3% 7%
Carbohydrates 3% 46%
Fat 94% 48%
Alcohol ~ ~

carbohydrates

Heavy cream has 7.3 times less carbohydrates than vanilla ice cream - vanilla ice cream has 23.6g of total carbs per 100 grams and heavy cream has 2.8g of carbohydrates.

dietary fiber

Vanilla ice cream has more dietary fiber than heavy cream - vanilla ice cream has 0.7g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and heavy cream does not contain significant amounts.

sugar

Vanilla ice cream is high in sugar and heavy cream has 86% less sugar than vanilla ice cream - vanilla ice cream has 21.2g of sugar per 100 grams and heavy cream has 2.9g of sugar.

Protein

protein

Vanilla ice cream and heavy cream contain similar amounts of protein - vanilla ice cream has 3.5g of protein per 100 grams and heavy cream has 2.8g of protein.

Fat

saturated fat

Both vanilla ice cream and heavy cream are high in saturated fat. Heavy cream has 239% more saturated fat than vanilla ice cream - vanilla ice cream has 6.8g of saturated fat per 100 grams and heavy cream has 23g of saturated fat.

trans fat

Vanilla ice cream has less trans fat than heavy cream - heavy cream has 1.2g of trans fat per 100 grams and vanilla ice cream does not contain significant amounts.

cholesterol

Vanilla ice cream has 61% less cholesterol than heavy cream - vanilla ice cream has 44mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and heavy cream has 113mg of cholesterol.

Vitamins

Vitamin C

Vanilla ice cream and heavy cream contain similar amounts of Vitamin C - vanilla ice cream has 0.6mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and heavy cream has 0.6mg of Vitamin C.

Vitamin A

Both vanilla ice cream and heavy cream are high in Vitamin A. Heavy cream has 248% more Vitamin A than vanilla ice cream - vanilla ice cream has 118ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and heavy cream has 411ug of Vitamin A.

Vitamin D

Heavy cream has signficantly more Vitamin D than vanilla ice cream - vanilla ice cream has 8iu of Vitamin D per 100 grams and heavy cream has 63iu of Vitamin D.

Vitamin E

Vanilla ice cream and heavy cream contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - vanilla ice cream has 0.3mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and heavy cream has 0.92mg of Vitamin E.

Vitamin K

Vanilla ice cream and heavy cream contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - vanilla ice cream has 0.3ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and heavy cream has 3.2ug of Vitamin K.

The B Vitamins

Vanilla ice cream has more niacin and Vitamin B12. Both heavy cream and vanilla ice cream contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate.

Heavy Cream Vanilla Ice Cream
Thiamin 0.02 MG 0.041 MG
Riboflavin 0.188 MG 0.24 MG
Niacin 0.064 MG 0.116 MG
Pantothenic acid 0.495 MG 0.581 MG
Vitamin B6 0.035 MG 0.048 MG
Folate 4 UG 5 UG
Vitamin B12 0.16 UG 0.39 UG

Minerals

calcium

Both vanilla ice cream and heavy cream are high in calcium. Vanilla ice cream has 94% more calcium than heavy cream - vanilla ice cream has 128mg of calcium per 100 grams and heavy cream has 66mg of calcium.

iron

Vanilla ice cream and heavy cream contain similar amounts of iron - vanilla ice cream has 0.09mg of iron per 100 grams and heavy cream has 0.1mg of iron.

potassium

Vanilla ice cream has 109% more potassium than heavy cream - vanilla ice cream has 199mg of potassium per 100 grams and heavy cream has 95mg of potassium.

Antioxidants and Phytonutrients

carotenoids

Carotenoids are micronutrients commonly found in plants and some animal products. An example is beta-carotene, the notable carotenoid which is a popular source of Vitamin A.[4][5]

For specific types of carotenoids,

Heavy Cream Vanilla Ice Cream
beta-carotene 72 UG 19 UG

Omega-3 and Omega-6

omega 3s

For omega-3 fatty acids, heavy cream has more DPA than vanilla ice cream per 100 grams. Both heavy cream and vanilla ice cream contain significant amounts of alpha linoleic acid (ALA).

Heavy Cream Vanilla Ice Cream
alpha linoleic acid 0.128 G 0.175 G
EPA 0.009 G 0.003 G
DPA 0.02 G ~
Total 0.157 G 0.178 G

omega 6s

Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, heavy cream has more linoleic acid than vanilla ice cream per 100 grams.

Heavy Cream Vanilla Ice Cream
other omega 6 0.039 G ~
linoleic acid 1.294 G 0.275 G
Total 1.333 G 0.275 G



Customize your serving size


The comparison below is by weight, but sometimes 100g isn't that intuitive of a measurement for food. View a custom portion comparison (e.g. cups, oz, package).

You can try adding or subtracting the amount of either Heavy Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream .

Note: The specific food items compared are: Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) and Vanilla Ice Cream (Ice creams, vanilla) .

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FAQ

Does vanilla ice cream or heavy cream contain more calories in 100 grams?
Both vanilla ice cream and heavy cream are high in calories. Heavy cream has 60% more calories than vanilla ice cream - vanilla ice cream has 207 calories in 100g and heavy cream has 340 calories.

Does vanilla ice cream or heavy cream have more carbohydrates?
By weight, heavy cream has 7.3 times fewer carbohydrates than vanilla ice cream - vanilla ice cream has 23.6g of carbs for 100g and heavy cream has 2.8g of carbohydrates.

Does vanilla ice cream or heavy cream contain more calcium?
Both vanilla ice cream and heavy cream are high in calcium. Vanilla ice cream has 90% more calcium than heavy cream - vanilla ice cream has 128mg of calcium in 100 grams and heavy cream has 66mg of calcium.