Better Homes And Gardens Whipped Cream Recipe

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Make beautiful Homemade Whipped Cream every time with only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of time. Then finish off your favorite desserts with a dollop or two or pipe it into pastries. This recipe is so easy and foolproof, there's no need to buy it at the store.

Take any of our pie recipes up a little notch topped with some whipped cream!

glass of hot chocolate with swirled whipped cream

Easy Whipped Cream Recipe

There are so many dessert recipes on this website that say, "top with a dollop of homemade whipped cream" because OF COURSE. I mean, so many desserts should be adorned with that finishing touch.

Today I'm sharing how to make whipped cream in its simplest form, with some tips to make it foolproof. You only need heavy cream, sugar, and 5 minutes. It's so easy! We also add vanilla for flavor and some cream of tartar, which allows it to hold its shape and last longer, without changing the taste at all.

Ingredients

(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

Heavy whipping cream: Heavy Cream vs Heavy Whipping Cream? Heavy whipping cream is what you want when making homemade whipped cream, as opposed to regular heavy cream, which doesn't have as much milk fat. Heavy whipping cream whips up creamier and holds its shape really well for piping.
Sugar: You can use either granulated or powdered sugar for whipped cream. I have a preference toward powdered sugar because it dissolves quicker, it's more stable, and I just love the taste.
Vanilla (optional): This is an optional ingredient, but we love a little bit for added flavor.
Cream of tartar (optional): This is used to make stabilized whipped cream (see notes below.)

Adding in Flavors

Once you've got our basic whipped cream recipe down, it's fun to play with different flavoring. The options are practically endless, but these are a few of my favorites:

Extracts – 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or 1/4 teaspoon peppermint.
Spices – 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
Liqueurs – 1/2 tablespoon Kahlúa or coconut rum.
Citrus – 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon or orange zest.

How to Make Whipped Cream

Even though this recipe could not be more simple, there are some tips to making sure your whipped cream has optimal results.
(Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the complete details.)

Your heavy whipping cream needs to be very cold. Whipping the cream makes air bubbles. With cold cream, these bubbles are held intact by a web of tiny fat particles, which allow the cream to eventually get light and fluffy, with great volume. When cream is warm, the fat particles collapse, so the cream can't whip up fully.
For maximum volume and the best texture, chill the mixing bowl and electric beaters, too. This can help ensure that your cream stays cold throughout the whipping process.
Start whipping slowly and then increase the speed. Using an electric mixer, begin whipping the cream on medium, then increase the speed to high. This "trains" the cream to hold its shape and makes a whipped cream that will last longer in the refrigerator.
Don't over-beat your cream. Whipping the cream for an extended period, produces irregular clumps and a curd-like texture. As soon as the beaters start to leave tracks in the cream, be alert; you'll soon have soft peaks!

piped whipped cream on top of sliced strawberries

Soft Peaks vs Stiff Peaks

Whipping your cream to soft peaks or stiff peaks is usually a matter of personal preference and also what you'll be using it for.

Soft peaks are really nice for tapioca pudding or angel food cake, while stiff peaks are better for spreading over a chocolate pie. If you'll be piping the whipped cream onto a cheesecake or into a pastry, you'll want to make sure it's stiff enough to stand on its own.

Once the whipped cream has the consistency you're looking for, stop mixing and use it as soon as possible.

Make Stabilized Whipped Cream

It's best to serve homemade whipped cream right away, but sometimes you need to make it in advance. I get you. That's where stabilized whipped cream comes into play. An additional ingredient is needed to help it last longer in the refrigerator. My preference is cream of tartar because it doesn't effect the taste. For each cup of heavy whipping cream, add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar along with the sugar when whipping.

Troubleshooting

How to Fix Over-beaten Whipped Cream: Whoops, you accidentally beat the whipped cream too much! Don't despair (yet!) – you might be able to fix it. Add a couple tablespoons of cold cream and whisk it in by hand. This should bring it back to soft peak consistency. If you've really over-beaten it to the point of curdling, unfortunately you might have to start all over.
What if I don't have an electric mixer? You can make whipped cream without a mixer by whisking by hand, but just know it can take a looooong time (10 minutes or more) and your arm will be sore afterward! Another alternative is shaking all the ingredients in a tightly covered jar until thick! You'll want to loosen the lid a few times to release some of the pressure that forms. I've done this with my kids and it's actually fun!

Make Ahead and Storage

How long does homemade whipped cream last? Homemade Whipped Cream will keep in the refrigerator for a couple days. However, I do recommend using it shortly after it's made. The longer it sits, the more it will deflate. If it does lose some volume, you can usually fix it with a whisk to thicken it back up.
How to store homemade whipped cream: Always keep the whipped cream in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator.

Serving Suggestions

Now that you've got your homemade whipped cream, you can use it on all of your favorite desserts or just simply enjoy it with fresh fruit or hot chocolate. Here are some other ideas:

Banana Pudding
Mini Pumpkin Pies
Lemon Trifle
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Chocolate Mousse
Oreo Cheesecake

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don't forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok , Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest , and YouTube !

swirled whipped cream in bowl

Homemade Whipped Cream

Make perfect homemade whipped cream with only 2 ingredients and 5 minutes of time. Then finish off your favorite desserts with a dollop or two or pipe it into pastries!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings: 16 (2 cups total)

1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (optional – see note)

Chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
Place the cold heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar, (and vanilla and cream of tartar, if using) in the cold bowl, and with either a handheld mixer or stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat on medium speed to start and then increase speed to high until the cream has thickened and soft peaks form.
If you want to achieve stiff peaks, continue mixing for another minute or two until the whipped cream is stable enough to stand on its own. (Be very careful not to over-beat or it will become clumpy!)
Use to your desire and enjoy!

To make stabilized whipped cream: the cream of tartar allows the whipped cream to hold its shape well and last a bit longer, without changing the taste at all.

This is best used the same day it's made, however it can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

For tips, variations, and frequently asked questions, please refer to the full article.

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Keyword: homemade whipped cream, whipped cream recipe