Cream Cheese vs. Heavy Cream
Nutrition comparison of Cream Cheese and Heavy Cream
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
cream cheese
versus
heavy cream
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in cream cheese and heavy cream:
- Both heavy cream and cream cheese are high in Vitamin A, calcium, calories and saturated fat.
- Cream cheese has more niacin.
- Heavy cream has signficantly more Vitamin D than cream cheese.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Cream Cheese (Cheese, cream) and Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Both heavy cream and cream cheese are high in calories. Heavy cream is very similar to heavy cream for calories - heavy cream has 340 calories per 100 grams and cream cheese has 350 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, cream cheese is heavier in protein, lighter in fat and similar to heavy cream for carbs. Cream cheese has a macronutrient ratio of 7:6:87 and for heavy cream, 3:3:94 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Cream Cheese | Heavy Cream | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 7% | 3% |
| Carbohydrates | 6% | 3% |
| Fat | 87% | 94% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Heavy cream and cream cheese contain similar amounts of carbs - heavy cream has 2.8g of total carbs per 100 grams and cream cheese has 5.5g of carbohydrates.
sugar
Heavy cream and cream cheese contain similar amounts of sugar - heavy cream has 2.9g of sugar per 100 grams and cream cheese has 3.8g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Cream cheese has 117% more protein than heavy cream - heavy cream has 2.8g of protein per 100 grams and cream cheese has 6.2g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Both heavy cream and cream cheese are high in saturated fat. Heavy cream has 14% more saturated fat than cream cheese - heavy cream has 23g of saturated fat per 100 grams and cream cheese has 20.2g of saturated fat.
trans fat
Heavy cream and cream cheese contain similar amounts of trans fat - heavy cream has 1.2g of trans fat per 100 grams and cream cheese has 1.2g of trans fat.
cholesterol
Heavy cream and cream cheese contain similar amounts of cholesterol - heavy cream has 113mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and cream cheese has 101mg of cholesterol.
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Heavy cream and cream cheese contain similar amounts of Vitamin C - heavy cream has 0.6mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and cream cheese does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin A
Both heavy cream and cream cheese are high in Vitamin A. Heavy cream has 33% more Vitamin A than cream cheese - heavy cream has 411ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and cream cheese has 308ug of Vitamin A.
Vitamin D
Heavy cream has signficantly more Vitamin D than cream cheese - heavy cream has 63iu of Vitamin D per 100 grams and cream cheese does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin E
Heavy cream and cream cheese contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - heavy cream has 0.92mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and cream cheese has 0.86mg of Vitamin E.
Vitamin K
Heavy cream and cream cheese contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - heavy cream has 3.2ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and cream cheese has 2.1ug of Vitamin K.
The B Vitamins
Cream cheese has more niacin. Both cream cheese and heavy cream contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6, folate and Vitamin B12.
| Cream Cheese | Heavy Cream | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.023 MG | 0.02 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.23 MG | 0.188 MG |
| Niacin | 0.091 MG | 0.064 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.517 MG | 0.495 MG |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.056 MG | 0.035 MG |
| Folate | 9 UG | 4 UG |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.22 UG | 0.16 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Both heavy cream and cream cheese are high in calcium. Cream cheese has 47% more calcium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 66mg of calcium per 100 grams and cream cheese has 97mg of calcium.
iron
Heavy cream and cream cheese contain similar amounts of iron - heavy cream has 0.1mg of iron per 100 grams and cream cheese has 0.11mg of iron.
potassium
Heavy cream and cream cheese contain similar amounts of potassium - heavy cream has 95mg of potassium per 100 grams and cream cheese has 132mg 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, both cream cheese and heavy cream contain significant amounts of beta-carotene.
| Cream Cheese | Heavy Cream | |
|---|---|---|
| beta-carotene | 59 UG | 72 UG |
| alpha-carotene | 1 UG | ~ |
| lutein + zeaxanthin | 7 UG | ~ |
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, both cream cheese and heavy cream contain significant amounts of alpha linoleic acid (ALA) and DPA.
| Cream Cheese | Heavy Cream | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.131 G | 0.128 G |
| EPA | 0.01 G | 0.009 G |
| DPA | 0.02 G | 0.02 G |
| Total | 0.161 G | 0.157 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, both cream cheese and heavy cream contain significant amounts of linoleic acid.
| Cream Cheese | Heavy Cream | |
|---|---|---|
| other omega 6 | 0.036 G | 0.039 G |
| linoleic acid | 1.212 G | 1.294 G |
| Total | 1.248 G | 1.333 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 Cream Cheese or Heavy Cream .
Note: The specific food items compared are: Cream Cheese (Cheese, cream) and Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) .
Cream Cheese g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Heavy Cream g
()
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
|
5% | calories | 5% |
|
KCAL % | |
| G % |
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5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
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5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
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G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
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5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
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5% | saturated fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
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5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
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5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
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IU % | |
| MG % |
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5% | calcium | 5% |
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MG % | |
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5% | iron | 5% |
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MG % | |
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5% | magnesium | 5% |
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5% | potassium | 5% |
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MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
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MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
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MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
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MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
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| UG % |
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5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
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UG % | |
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5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
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MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
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5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
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5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
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UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | chlorine | 5% |
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MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | fluoride | 5% |
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UG % | |
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5% | iodine | 5% |
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5% | manganese | 5% |
|
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| UG % |
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5% | molybdenum | 5% |
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5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does heavy cream or cream cheese contain more calories in 100 grams?Both heavy cream and cream cheese are high in calories. Heavy cream is quite similar to heavy cream for calories - heavy cream has 340 calories in 100g and cream cheese has 350 calories.
Does heavy cream or cream cheese contain more calcium?
Both heavy cream and cream cheese are high in calcium. Cream cheese has 50% more calcium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 66mg of calcium in 100 grams and cream cheese has 97mg of calcium.