The present invention provides a simple and economical production method, without using a large amount of thickeners, of a high-viscosity O/W cream. The production method comprising: emulsifying, at 70° C. or higher, an oil phase with a water phase to prepare an O/W emulsified part, wherein the oil phase comprises (A) a nonionic surfactant, (B) a linear higher alcohol that has 16 or more carbon atoms and can form an α-gel in water with (A), and (C) an oil component, and the water phase comprises (D) water； cooling the emulsified part while being stirred； and stopping the stirring at the peak temperature or higher in a temperature range wherein the oil phase forms an α-gel in the water phase, but lower than 70° C. The peak temperature is the exothermic peak measured by DSC of the emulsified part. The viscosity of the O/W cream measured with a B-type viscometer at 30° C. is preferably 8,000 mPa·s or higher.
