How do you make whipped cream at home

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A dollop of homemade whipped cream makes every dessert special, and it takes just 5 minutes to make.

How do you make whipped cream at home

Whipped cream, or Chantilly cream, is a mixture of heavy cream and sugar whipped in a mixer (or by hand) until it’s soft, billowy, and doubled in volume. With only two ingredients, it takes just 5 minutes to make, and it’s so much better than the imitation non-dairy whipped topping from the store. However, like most super-simple recipes, it’s easy to mess up! The key is to avoid over whipping it; whipped cream can go from perfectly silky and voluminous to grainy and curdled in an instant. You’re aiming for soft to medium peaks when the whisk is lifted out of the bowl. To avoid over whipping, keep a close eye on it the whole time, and when it’s close to done, remove the bowl from the mixer and finish whipping by hand. Homemade whipped cream makes almost any dessert better. Dollop it on pies (apple, pumpkin, sweet potato), cobblers (peach, apple, blueberry), fruit crisps (peach, strawberry rhubarb, pear, apple), fresh berries, and more.

What you’ll need to make whipped cream

How do you make whipped cream at home

Cold Heavy Cream: You’ll need heavy whipping cream (30% to 35% fat) or heavy cream (minimum of 36% fat) – these two creams are interchangeable in recipes. For the fluffiest whipped cream, it’s important that the cream is very cold, so keep it in the fridge right up until you’re ready to use it. Note that organic heavy cream will give your whipped cream an off-white/yellowish hue, while regular cream will make bright white whipped cream.

Confectioners’ Sugar: While you can use granulated sugar (or any sweetener) to sweeten whipped cream, confectioners’ sugar (or powdered sugar) is ideal because it dissolves easily. Additionally, the cornstarch in confectioners’ sugar helps stabilize the whipped cream, allowing it to hold its shape for longer.

One cup of cream makes about eight 1/4-cup servings. If you need more whipped cream for a larger dessert, keep in mind that whipping will approximately double the volume of cream, so if you need 3 cups of whipped cream, start with 1-1/2 cups of heavy cream and 3 tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar.

Step-by-Step Instructions

If you have time, stick the bowl and whisk in the fridge or freezer for 10 to 15 minutes prior to making the whipped cream. (This is not absolutely necessary but it helps to give the whipped cream more volume.) In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl if using a hand mixer), beat the cream on medium speed (or medium-high speed if using a hand mixer) until it starts to thicken, about 2 minutes.

How do you make whipped cream at home
Add the confectioners’ sugar and continue beating on medium speed until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes more.

How do you make whipped cream at home
Keep a close eye on it – it’s always done before you think it is, and it goes from perfectly smooth and billowy to grainy and curdled in a few seconds. For extra insurance, when it’s close to done, remove the bowl from the mixer and finish whipping by hand (you don’t need to dirty a whisk; simply hold the whisk attachment with your hand). It should have a smooth, creamy texture and dollops should just barely hold their shape, like the whipped cream in the image below.

Can Whipped Cream Be Made Ahead of Time?

Whipped cream is best made right before serving but can be made up to three hours ahead of time. If you don’t plan on serving it immediately, it’s best to under whip it slightly and then whisk it by hand to the desired consistency right before serving.

How To Fix Over-Whipped Cream

You’ll know you’ve over whipped the cream if the texture becomes curd-like and clumpy. The image below shows cream that is over whipped by just a few seconds. At this stage, you can still salvage it by adding a few more tablespoons of cold cream and gently whisking it in by hand until smooth.

How do you make whipped cream at home
However, if you take it way too far (i.e., it looks almost like butter, like in the image below), there is no way to fix it and it’s best to start over. Don’t throw it away though! You can whip it until stiff, add a pinch of salt, and use it as fresh-made butter for spreading on toast.

How do you make whipped cream at home

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How do you make whipped cream at home

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A dollop of homemade whipped cream makes every dessert special, and it takes just 5 minutes to make.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cold heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Instructions

  1. If time allows, stick the bowl and whisk in the refrigerator or freezer for 10 to 15 minutes prior to making the whipped cream.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl if using a hand mixer), beat the cream on medium speed (or medium-high if using a hand mixer) until it starts to thicken, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and continue beating on medium speed until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes more. Keep a close eye on it – it's always done before you think it is, and it goes from perfectly smooth and billowy to grainy and curdled in an instant. It should have a smooth, creamy texture and dollops should just barely hold their shape. If you're nervous about over whipping it, when it's close to done, remove the bowl from the mixer and finish whipping by hand (you don't need to dirty a whisk; simply hold the whisk attachment with your hand). Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours. If you don’t plan on serving it immediately, it’s best to under whip it slightly and then whisk it by hand to the desired consistency right before serving. Leftover whipped cream will keep for a few days in the refrigerator but will lose some of its volume. You may need to rewhip for a few seconds before serving.
  3. Note: If you accidentally over-whip the cream by a few seconds, you can salvage it by adding a few more tablespoons of cold cream and gently whisking it in by hand until smooth. If it's beyond repair (i.e., it looks like butter), continue whipping until stiff, add a pinch of salt, and spread it on your toast.

Nutrition Information

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How do you make whipped cream at home

  • Per serving (8 servings)
  • Serving size: 1/4 cup
  • Calories: 110
  • Fat: 11 g
  • Saturated fat: 7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 3 g
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Sodium: 11 mg
  • Cholesterol: 41 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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  • Ice Cream, Pudding & Custards
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Comments

How do you make whipped cream fast?

If you're in a hurry, use a hand mixer or immersion blender. Choose a sturdy bowl with a smaller base and tall sides (a 4-cup liquid measuring cup is perfect) and chill it for 15 minutes in the freezer. That way, the blender is agitating more of the cream at once, and the cold walls help it whip up even faster.

How is whipped cream made from scratch?

Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, about 3–4 minutes. Medium peaks are between soft/loose peaks and stiff peaks, and are the perfect consistency for topping and piping on desserts.

What is homemade whipped cream made of?

Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe: Ingredients However, in this homemade whipped cream recipe there are only three, easy to pronounce, ingredients: heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla! We'll chat about each of the ingredients, as well as possible substitutions.

How do you make whipped cream work?

Pour one cup of whipping cream into the bowl and beat until it holds soft peaks. Soft peaks should fold over when the beaters or whisk are lifted. If using an electric mixer, start on medium speed to prevent splattering, then speed up. If using a whisk, circle it vigorously in the cream, watching as it thickens.