If you’re baking a recipe that calls for heavy cream, or picking up a carton to turn into whipped cream to finish a dessert, you may be confused when you hit the dairy aisle. There’s “heavy cream” — but also “heavy whipping cream” or, in some cases, just “whipping cream.”

So when it comes to heavy cream versus whipping cream, is there truly a difference?

What is heavy cream?

Aside from being delicious, there are very specific definitions and standards that must be met in order for something to be labeled as heavy cream. It is made by separating the fatty top layer from the base milk layer during processing. The FDA states that heavy cream is cream that contains no less than 36% milk fat. Comparatively, milk has 0% to around 3% milk fat, as well as a higher water concentration.…