How to Make Whipped Cream

Imagine having fresh, homemade whipped cream to top your cakes and other confections with. It's easier to make than you might think. Here are the perfect recipes for a frothy, dessert-like topping without the preservatives. One cup of whipping cream yields two cups of whipped cream.

Edit Ingredients

Classic Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup or 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Pinch of salt

Flavored Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup or 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Pinch of salt

Flavorings such as vanilla, almond or anise extract; bourbon or brandy; or lemon or lime zest

Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, room temperature

2 cups whipping cream

1/2 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

1 tablespoon vanilla

Edit Steps

Method One: Classic Whipped Cream

Chill the cream. The colder the cream is, the easier it is to whip. Plan to whip the cream the moment you take it out of the refrigerator, rather than leaving it sitting on the counter for some time. The bowl you pour the cream into should also be chilled if possible.^[1]

Add sugar and salt. Sweeten the cream with your sugar of choice. Add a pinch of salt to bring out the cream's rich flavor and contrast with the sugar. Use a spoon or whisk to stir the mixture well.

Whisk the cream. Using a large whisk, start whipping the cream in a circular direction. Whip as quickly as possible to help air change the consistency of the cream from a heavy liquid into a light, fluffy substance.
- It takes a little practice to learn how to whip cream effectively by hand. You have to work quickly enough that the cream doesn't have time to warm up too much. Switch hands if one becomes too tired.
- Use an electric mixer to make the job easier. Set the bowl of cream under a stand mixer and let the machine do all the work, or use a hand mixer to make gentle swirls in the cream while the beaters whip it up.

Watch for peaks to form. The first change you'll notice is that the whisk or beaters will begin to leave drag marks in the cream, indicating that it has become more solid in texture. Continue whipping until you can lift the whisk or beaters from the cream and leave semi-stiff peaks in their wake.^[2]
- Some people prefer soft whipped cream, which slumps deliciously down the side of cakes and pies. Others prefer stiffer whipped cream that retains a certain shape when it's used to top a dessert. Keep whipping until the cream reaches the texture you desire.
- Stop whipping before it turns to butter. If you keep whipping for too long (which is easier to do with an electric mixer than by hand) the cream will turn to solid butter. If this happens to you, save the butter to make cinnamon sugar toast or another delicious treat and start over with a new batch of cream.

Method Two: Flavored Whipped Cream

Decide how to flavor the whipped cream. In recent years it has become popular to make whipped cream in a variety of different flavors that complement the dish the cream will top. Whipped cream is easily flavored by extracts, cocoa, liqueurs, and zests; choose a combination that works with your dessert. Here are a few ideas:
- Make chocolate whipped cream by adding a tablespoon of cocoa. This would make a great topping for chocolate silk pie.
- Make vanilla bourbon whipped cream as a topping for pecan pie. Add a teaspoon of vanilla and a teaspoon of bourbon to the mix.
- Create a bright-tasting cream by adding a tablespoon of lemon zest, and use it to top strawberry shortcake.
- Almond or anise extract add a subtle depth to whipped cream. These make an excellent topping for berry pies.

Flavor the cream before you whip it. When you're ready to make whipped cream, remove the chilled cream from the refrigerator and pour it into a clean bowl. Add sugar and a pinch of salt, then add the flavorings you want to use. Stir it all together with a spoon or a whisk.

Whip the cream. Using the same technique described for classic whipped cream, beat the cream until it forms either soft or stiff peaks, depending on your preference. Use the cream to top your pie or cake.

Method Three: Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

Beat the cream cheese. Place it in a chilled bowl and beat until it becomes light and fluffy.

Sweeten the cream. In a separate bowl, pour in the chilled whipping cream, vanilla, sugar, and salt. Use a whisk or spoon to stir the mixture well.^[3]

Whip the cream. Use a whisk or a hand mixer to whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Stop short of whipping up stiff peaks.

Combine the cream cheese and whipped cream. Add the cream cheese to the bowl of whipped cream. Use the whisk or hand mixer to beat the mixture until it forms stiff peaks when you lift the beaters from the bowl.

Use cream cheese whipped cream as a topping or icing. Since cream cheese whipped cream is a bit stiffer and thicker than regular whipped cream, it can be used as either a topping or an icing. Cream cheese whipped cream makes a delicious icing for apple cake or zucchini bread.