It's creamy, luxurious, and light. Homemade whipped cream is absolutely delicious, and once you make it, you'll likely never opt for the store-bought variety again. 

After spending hours on a dessert made from scratch, it only makes sense to dollop your masterpiece with your homemade whipped topping, not something from a tub or can. It's the freshest, and it gives anything a special touch. Another benefit of making whipped cream at home is that it gives you complete control over the ingredients and flavors. Best of all, you can make it with three simple ingredients in just 10 minutes.

In this article, we'll walk you through how to make whipped cream at home, share a recipe along with some tips, and answer some FAQs. 

First, let's talk about the tools you'll need and the difference between whipping or heavy cream.

The equipment you'll need

• A glass or metal mixing bowl and a wire whisk, if you're mixing by hand

• A stand mixer with a glass or metal bowl with a wire whisk attachment, if you happen to own one

• A glass or metal mixing bowl with a hand mixer will also work

The difference between heavy cream and whipping cream

The difference between heavy cream and whipping cream is in the fat content. Heavy cream contains more fat, which creates a firmer whipped cream that can hold its shape. This makes whipped cream recipes that use heavy cream ideal for piping cakes and filling pastries. Using whipping cream results in a slightly lighter and fluffier topping that's optimal for pies, ice cream sundaes, and no-bake desserts like cheesecake.

How to make homemade whipped cream

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This recipe makes two cups of whipped cream and takes 10 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy cream, whipping cream, or heavy whipping cream, cold

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Before making your whipped cream, place your bowl and whisk in the freezer for 15 minutes. This includes the ones on your stand or hand mixer. Be sure to use a bowl that can withstand temperature changes to avoid shattering it.

2. Take your equipment out of the freezer and add the ingredients to the bowl. 

3. Whisk the mixture by hand at a medium pace or turn your mixer on medium.

4. You'll notice the cream starting to get frothy after a few minutes. 

5. Increase your whisking speed until the cream starts to form thickened peaks. This should take 30 seconds to one minute. 

6. To avoid overmixing, check the thickness by lifting the whisk out. The whipped cream should stick to the whisk. 

Note: To make whipped cream without powdered sugar, swap it out for the same amount of granulated sugar and follow the same directions.

Nutritional values per cup

• Calories: 530 

• Carbohydrates: 33 grams

• Protein: 2 grams

• Fat: 44 grams

• Saturated fat: 27 grams

• Cholesterol: 163 milligrams

• Sodium: 43 milligrams

• Potassium: 89 milligrams‍

• Sugar: 29 grams

Original recipe: Brown Eyed Baker

Tips for making whipping cream

• Cream whips more efficiently when it stays cold. The frigid temperature also helps it keep stable. Cooling your tools and working as swiftly as possible will help it stay chilled.

• Starting at a slower whisking pace and gradually increasing the speed helps prevent the ingredients from spattering and creates a more even mixture.

• Avoid overmixing the whipped cream, as it will turn buttery.

• You can make whipped cream ahead of time and store it in the fridge for a day. Just give it a quick whisk before serving to freshen it up.

How to make flavored whipped cream

• Chocolate: Add three tablespoons of cocoa powder to the sugar before mixing.

• Honey: Swap the sugar in this recipe for two tablespoons of honey.

• Maple: Swap the sugar in this recipe for two tablespoons of pure maple syrup.

• Cinnamon: Add a half teaspoon of cinnamon to the rest of the ingredients.

• Coffee: Dissolve two teaspoons of instant coffee into the heavy cream before mixing.

• Strawberry: Add a quarter cup of chilled strawberry puree or jam right before you increase the whisking speed in this recipe. Or, for a bright-pink topping, leave out the vanilla extract and add two tablespoons of strawberry gelatin powder and half the amount of sugar.

Once you master making whipped cream, feel free to play around with the flavor, like swapping the vanilla for other extracts or liquors or finding additional ingredients to take your cream's originality to the next level.

What to serve with whipped cream

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• Cakes and shortcakes

• Crepes, pancakes, and waffles

• Hot chocolate and coffee drinks (here's how you can make some of those)

• Pies and tarts

• Pudding and ice cream sundaes

• Fruit

Whipped cream FAQs

What can you use whipped cream for?

Whipped cream is excellent as a topping, filling, or decoration when it comes to making desserts. Some dessert recipes also call for whipped cream as an ingredient, such as mousse, parfaits, trifles, and no-bake cheesecakes. Additionally, you can add a dollop to specialty coffee drinks or serve it with breakfast or brunchtime crepes, waffles, and pancakes like those in this simple recipe.

Can you freeze whipped cream?

Yes, you can freeze whipped cream. However, it's best not to freeze it in one enormous glob. Instead, you can flash-freeze generous scoops on top of a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Once they harden, place them together into a freezer-safe container. You can thaw them individually in 15 minutes.

What is whipping cream made of?

Whipping cream and heavy cream are made from high-fat cream in fresh dairy milk. It's also the same cream used to make butter, which is why you want to avoid overmixing.

Can I eat whipped cream by itself?

You can, but it may be one of those "too much of a good thing" scenarios, as you're essentially consuming pure cream and sugar. You're also likely to end up with a stomach ache. As part of a healthy diet, it's best to use whipped cream as an accent occasionally and moderately.

Is there a whipped cream recipe without heavy cream?

Yes, you can replace the heavy cream in this recipe with a can of full-fat coconut milk and cut the sugar in half. Place the can of milk upright in the fridge overnight. O¡nce you've chilled your tools, carefully take the can from the refrigerator, remove the lid, scoop out the thick part, and add it into the bowl. Whisk this just as you would per the instructions, and add the sugar and vanilla before increasing your speed. You can also find whipped cream recipes with whole milk and sugar mixed with gelatin or cornstarch.

Whip it real good

If you're here looking for dinner and dessert inspiration, check out the Gopuff food and drink blog for various ideas and recipes. You can also order daily essentials in seconds and have them delivered to your door in minutes with Gopuff's delivery service. It's like working with your very own mealtime – or anytime – sidekick.