Homemade Whipped Cream

by Katy Damania and Arni Balsara

This simple homemade whipped cream can be used for several purposes. A common use is for making a whipped topping for Pavlova, Gingerbread, Trifle, Cupcake, Shortcake, Cream Pie, Bread Pudding, Cream Puffs, Layer Cake, Cheesecake, Mousse Pie, Coffee Creamer, Lava Cake, ice cream, milkshake, crepe, waffle, pancake. It is also used as an ingredient in recipes for desserts, soups, sauces, and beverages.

To cook
20 min
Level
Easy
Servings
4

Ingredients

1 cup (240 ml) cold heavy whipping cream
2-4 tablespoons (15-30) grams powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

Before getting started place your mixing bowl and beaters in the refrigerator or freezer for about 10-15 minutes to chill. Once chilled remove from the refrigerator or freezer. The colder the cream the easier and more successful it will whip because cold cream creates the lightest whipped cream.

Slightly warm or room temperature cream does not equate to whipped cream. You could even chill the mixing bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or the freezer for 15 minutes.

Add heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a large mixing bowl. Use hand held mixer or heavy batter mixer. Start mixing on low speed and then increase the speed to medium-high until soft or stiff peaks form. This speed is perfect for whipped cream which will whip air into the cream at a medium pace. High speed easily over-whips cream and low speed under-whips cream.

Whipped cream only takes a couple minutes but it’s only a few seconds between soft whipped cream and over-mixed whipped cream. Over-mixed whipped cream is curdled and grainy. Soft whipped cream has a billowy and smooth texture. Stand by your mixer so you know when it’s ready.

When you lift the beaters or whisk out from the bowl a slightly sturdy peak should form on them. The peak will slightly droop down but not lose its shape entirely. It won’t be too soft and liquidy it won’t be heavy and curdled. If not sure stop the mixer and check the consistency of the whipped cream as you go.