Learn to make homemade whipped cream with only 3 ingredients in less than 5 minutes! Skip store-bought, this is so easy to make and the perfect topping for desserts.
Whipped topping is a classic for so many treats including hot chocolate, banana cream pie and strawberry shortcake trifle!
Table of Contents
Easy Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe
Tis’ the season of homemade pies! Every year on Thanksgiving we have an assortment of pies and I make this homemade whipped cream to go on top! A few of my favorites pie recipes to add it to are pumpkin pie or key lime pie.
Once you make this homemade whipped topping recipe, you’ll never go back to store-bought! It’s so simple to make and tastes 100 times better than the canned stuff. Trust me, you’re going to love the from scratch version. It not only tastes great on pies, but is delicious dipped with fruit or on top of breakfasts, drinks, cakes and more.
Ingredients
This is a 3 ingredient whipped cream, it’s so easy!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Heavy whipping cream: Cold heavy cream works best.
- Sugar: My preference is powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar), but granulated sugar also works too.
- Vanilla: Vanilla extract adds to the classic flavor.
How to Make Homemade Whipped Cream
- Kitchen aid mixer: Start out by placing your whisk attachment and the bowl of a standing mixer in the freezer. Then whip the ingredients on medium-high speed until soft peaks form.
- In a blender: Place the blender in the freezer and then blend until a peak forms.
- Bowl + whisk: Place both in the freezer and then put your muscles to work the good ol’ fashioned way. :)
Favorite Recipes to Top with Whipped Cream
- Pies: You can’t have pie without whipped cream! Serve it on top of coconut cream pie or strawberry pie.
- Cakes: Use it to make jello poke cake or tres leches cake.
- Ice Cream: Spread on top of an ice cream cake or use as a topping on banana splits.
- No-Bake Desserts: Add it as a layer in chocolate lasagna or an Oreo ice cream cake.
- Breakfasts: Use it as a topping for nutella crepes or chocolate chip pancakes.
- Drinks: Top white hot chocolate or butterbeer with a dollop.
Foolproof Whipped Cream Tips
- Your cream must be at least 30% milk fat. This means you cannot use light cream or half n half. Double cream or whipping cream may work but the whipping topping may not hold shape as well.
- Freeze your bowl and beaters: Place your mixing bowl and beaters (or whisk) in the freezer for about 15 minutes prior to using them. The stiff peaks will form faster this way.
- Cool whip replacement: If you’re making a dessert and don’t have cool whip on hand, just whip up a batch of this easy whipped cream and use as a 1:1 replacement. I personally like it better than cool whip anyways!
- Make stable: Turn this recipe into stabilized whipped cream by adding unflavored gelatin. This way it will hold it’s shape for longer and stay sturdy on top of your favorite desserts.
More dessert recipes to use with homemade whipped topping include banana pudding, chocolate silk pie or this crepe cake recipe.
More Recipes to Use with Whipped Cream
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Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
- 2-4 Tablespoons powdered sugar or granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place a medium to large bowl and electric beaters (or whisk attachment and a stand mixer bowl) in the freezer and chill 15 minutes.
- In the chilled bowl, add the cream, sugar, and vanilla. Using an electric mixer fitted with chilled beaters, beat on low until combined. Beat on high 2 minutes, or until soft peaks form.
- Enjoy on your favorite pie and desserts!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, I have heard that coconut cream can be a great dairy-free substitute that works well.
To use this as a frosting, you are going to want it to be a bit thicker. I would recommend whipping the cream to soft peaks and then adding vanilla and powdered sugar until you get stiff peaks. You could even add a few drops of food coloring to make it more decorative, if you like.
Absolutely! You can swap the vanilla extract for peppermint, orange, or almond extracts.
You can store it for up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. I have stored it for longer but it does start to separate.
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Christmas, Desserts, Gluten-Free, No-Bake, Nut-Free, Thanksgiving, Toppings, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Worked like a charm. I even added cinnamon
Sounds fantastic for fall with that warm cinnamon!
Made it exactly are recipe indicated. Wouldn’t set up or “peak” as described. So I put it in the refrigerator and I’ll check in an hour to see if it’s more then sloppy…..if not set, I’ll toss it out.
Hi Maryellen, So sorry you were having trouble. The best way to get the peak to form quickly is to make sure the heavy cream, bowl and beaters are cold (I like to put the bowl and beaters in the freezer 20 minutes before I beat them).
Love it! Never using cool whip again!
Yay! That is great to hear. This recipe can come in handy in many ways.
Love it. Tasty and easy
SO much better than Cool Whip! It was perfect spread over key lime pie. Delish!
I really loved how easy this is to make! Really amazing!
I LOVE how easy and delicious this is! Good idea! Looks very tasty! I really like! Thank you.
Great recipe for the holidays! Hope you enjoy! :)
Homemade whipped cream is forever and always the BEST!
Nothing beats hommade whipped cream. Perfect for Thanksgiving pies!
Yes, perfect for any pie! :)
Such a great reminder that whipped cream is so simple to make at home and a heck of a lot cheaper. Your pictures really highlight your post!
Thank you! Yes, so easy and delicious!
Not yet, please help me to try your easy way on how to make to your three way of easy makibg of whipping cream. Thank you
Perfect timing with Thanksgiving just around the corner, my family loves homemade whipped cream on top of their pies. Looks delicious!
Yes, homemade whipped cream is a MUST on Thanksgiving! :D
This looks delicious! I love homemade whipped cream. Congrats on the expected little one :)
Thank you Sarah! Homemade whipped cream is the only way to do it! :)