How to Make Whipped Cream

Whipped cream takes an ordinary ingredient — cream — and makes it extraordinary, simply by adding sugar, flavor and air. Whether whipped or whisked, whipped cream is fluffy yet rich, simple yet special. Think about your favorite pie, like pumpkin or apple. Delicious, right? Now imagine it with whipped cream. Next level!

Do you know how to make homemade whipped cream? Whipped cream recipes generally call for just three ingredients: cream, sugar and a dash of flavor, such as vanilla or pumpkin pie spice. Then, voila! It takes just a few minutes to whip a bowl of liquid into billowy cloudy deliciousness.

Below, we’ve got some tried and true tips on how to make whipped cream. Warning: once you try these whipped cream recipes, you might not want to settle for store-bought!

Choose the right recipe and gather these essential ingredients

First things first. Do you want to make a classic vanilla whipped cream, or are you interested in something with a specific flavor? Make that decision and then select a whipped cream recipe to follow. (If you’re looking for suggestions, two of our favorites are Homemade Whipped Cream with vanilla extract and a holiday-inspired Pumpkin Pie Spiced Whipped Cream). Then, gather your ingredients. Those will generally include some combination of the following:

• Cream (heavy cream or whipping cream will do, make sure it’s cold)
• Sweetener (this could be granulated sugar, powdered sugar, honey or a sugar substitute, depending on your recipe and personal preference)
• Flavoring (vanilla is popular, but you could also opt for chocolate, cinnamon, espresso powder, or your favorite extract or spice, such as McCormick® Pumpkin Pie Spice)

Get your equipment ready

While you have a lot of choices on what equipment to use when making homemade whipped cream, there are some options that home cooks tend to prefer over others. Those include:

• The right mixing bowl. To get the stiff peaks you’re after, you’ll want to start with cold cream, and keep it cold as you whip it. To do that, grab a metal or stainless steel bowl and pop it into the freezer for about 15 minutes before you start making your whipped cream. If you don’t have a metal bowl, a glass or ceramic bowl will work just fine (avoid using plastic).
• The proper whisking tools. The tools you use are a matter of personal preference as well. A whisk can work in a pinch, but for a little extra “oomph” many home cooks prefer to use a hand mixer, a stand mixer or a whipped cream dispenser, which uses nitrous oxide to aerate the cream. If you’re using a whisk or beaters, put them in the freezer with the bowl, so they’re extra cold.

Tips for how to make whipped cream

The recipe you’ve selected will walk you through the key steps to making whipped cream. As you follow along, keep these additional tips in mind:

• Choose the right cream. Milkfat is key in making a light, fluffy whipped topping. By definition, heavy cream must contain at least 36% milkfat and whipping cream must contain 30% to 35% milkfat. Either works great for making homemade whipped cream.
• Whip it good. You’re going to whip the cream, sugar and extract or flavoring on high until stiff peaks form. That means that when you lift the whisk or beaters, those peaks stand straight up (the amount of time that takes will depend on the tool you’re using). Be sure to stop when that happens. If you whip the cream for longer than necessary, it becomes dense and clumpy (if that happens you can rescue your whipped cream by whisking in some cold cream).
• Freeze any leftovers. Whipped cream stores quite well in the freezer. If you made more than you can use, spoon small mounds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze it overnight. Then, transfer those servings to a bag or container for longer keeping in the freezer.
• Apply generously! Whipped cream is a delicious addition to just about any dessert. Now that you have it at your fingertips, add a dollop to cakes, pies, ice cream sundaes, hot chocolate, coffee and anything else that calls for a little extra pizzazz.

Perfect Pairings

Pair your freshly whipped cream with these delicious recipes:

• Easy French toast

• Pumpkin pie

• Easy apple pie

• Pumpkin spice latte