Perfect Whipped Cream Recipe

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

To make it, you’ll need just three ingredients. You’ll need the following:

• heavy whipping cream – I prefer to use heavy whipping cream vs. whipping cream as I find that it holds its shape longer and produces a creamier result. It also works well if you plan to pipe your whipped cream or use it to fill pastries. I explain the differences between heavy cream, whipping cream, and heavy whipping cream below.
• sweetener – you are able to choose your favorite sweetener to use. I generally use confectioner’s sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Confectioner’s sugar provides the most classic and flavor-neutral sweetener on this list.
• flavorings – the options for flavoring are endless! My go-to for classic whipped cream is to use vanilla extract. You can also flavor with liquors, other extracts, and spices. See my favorite flavorings below.

How to Make Whipped Cream

To make it perfect every single time, you must start cold. Then go high.

That’s it. That’s the trick. It sounds simple, but it’s oh-so-important.

• Start Cold
  Chill your mixing bowl and whisk (yes, even those to your electric mixer) in the freezer for about 20 minutes to get as cold as possible. You’ll also want to make sure that your heavy whipping cream is as cold as possible, too.

• Go High
  Add all of your ingredients into your super chilled mixing bowl and whisk together on high speed for about a minute until stiff peaks form. And you are done!

How to Make Flavored Whipped Cream

If you’d like to add another flavor to your recipe, you can substitute the vanilla extract, taste it, and add a bit more if you think it is needed.

You can also use honey or maple syrup instead of sugar, which adds flavor. You may decide that you don’t need to add anything else. Both options taste amazing.

If you add more liquid to the recipe, you may need to whip it a bit longer than one minute to reach the stiff peak stage.

Flavor Options for Whipped Cream

• Honey – Replace the sugar with honey
• Maple – Replace the sugar with maple syrup
• Cinnamon – Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• Coconut – Use 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon coconut extract

Chocolate Whipped Cream

To make a chocolate version of this recipe, whisk three tablespoons of cocoa powder with the sugar and follow the recipe as written. All other ingredients and instructions remain the same.

Strawberry Whipped Cream

To make the strawberry version, follow the recipe as written until soft peaks form. Then, add 1/4 cup chilled strawberry jam or puree and beat again until medium peaks form. If not using immediately, store, covered, in the refrigerator. 

How to Make Stabilized Whipped Cream

To make stabilized whipped cream, you will want to use an additional ingredient to help it last longer in the refrigerator. I like to use cream of tartar if I know that I will be making mine well in advance of serving. By adding a little cream of tartar to your heavy whipping cream, it will generally last much longer in the refrigerator.

For each cup of heavy whipping cream, add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar along with the confectioner’s sugar when whipping.

Can Homemade Whipped Cream Replace Cool Whip?

Yes! Absolutely. This homemade whipped cream easily replaces frozen whipped topping (aka Cool Whip) in recipes. You will use an equal amount of whipped cream as Cool Whip is called for in a recipe.

Note that the amount of heavy whipping cream you use will double in volume in whipped cream. Therefore, if you need 2 cups of whipped cream, you will use 1 cup of heavy whipping cream.

What is the Difference Between Heavy Cream, Whipping Cream, and Heavy Whipping Cream?

1. Heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are essentially the same. Both contain at least 36% milk fat. The key word to remember here is the word “heavy,” as it means higher milk fat. It will make a whipped cream with stiffer peaks, holds form longer, and is great for filling pastries. It is my preferred cream to make perfect whipped cream every single time. I prefer to make whipped cream from heavy cream.
2. Whipping cream, also called light whipping cream, contains between 30 to 35% milk fat. You can certainly use it in this recipe. It will just not produce the same stiff, well-formed peaks or hold shape for any length of time. It is best used immediately. I will use it on top of my hot chocolate from time to time.

Source for milk fat requirements: USDA.

How to Recover if Overmixed

Overmixed whipped cream will curdle and become lumpy. Slowly fold in 1 tablespoon at a time of fresh, liquid, heavy whipping cream by hand with a spatula until the lumps disappear.

Can You Freeze Whipped Cream?

YES! Place large spoonfuls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and flash freeze. Once frozen, you can then place it in freezer-safe containers and freeze it. When ready to use, thaw for about 15 to 20 minutes.