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Learn how to make Homemade Whipped Cream with only 2 ingredients! The recipe is for a stabilized whipped cream without gelatin. It can be used as regular whipped cream and also as a frosting! It’s the perfect topping for cakes, cupcakes, pies, no-bake desserts and more. Ditch the Cool Whip and make a batch of homemade whipped cream instead.
Easy 2 Ingredient Homemade Whipped Cream
I make a LOT of whipped cream in my house. Anytime I am making poke cakes, no-bake desserts, pies or even ice cream, I am probably making a batch of whipped cream.
Therefore, a lot of my recipes call for whipped cream whether it’s mixed into the filling or added as decoration to the top. While I like to offer the option of using a pre-made whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, I always want to encourage making it from scratch. It’s much easier than you think!
This recipe makes a nice and thick whipped cream which is perfect for piping and decorating cupcakes, cakes, pies and more. Best of all, this is a whipped cream without gelatin.
What’s the Difference Between Whipped Cream and Whipped Cream Frosting?
They are actually the same thing when you use a stabilizer.
You can make whipped cream simply by beating heavy whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks, but unless you add a stabilizer it won’t hold its shape for long.
When you add a stabilizer – such as gelatin or powdered sugar (more on that below) – you make a whipped cream that will hold those beautiful peaks and that also has more uses. So instead of just using it in coffee or on top of your pancakes, stabilized homemade whipped cream can also be used as an easy frosting on cakes, cupcakes and more!
Pro Tips for the Best Homemade Whipped Cream
The key to a successful whipped cream involves a few simple steps.
1. You need a stabilizer
The most important part of making a stabilized whipped cream is adding something to help stiffen it up. I prefer not to use gelatin myself. My preferred stabilizer is powdered sugar. You will notice that I tend to use a lot of powdered sugar to make my whipped cream nice and stiff, which is perfect for piping! This does make the whipped cream a lot sweeter, but again, it’s a personal preference.
2. Start with cold ingredients and utensils.
I always recommend placing your mixing bowl and your whisk in the freezer for 10 minutes or so to chill. It will help keep the cream nice and cold while it’s whipping. You’ll notice my video shows me making this in a glass bowl, but I prefer to use a metal mixing bowl because it gets colder than a glass bowl.
3. Whipped cream needs to be whipped at a high speed.
I always start on medium-high, which is speed 6-7 on my stand mixer. Once the whipped cream is bubbly and starts to thicken, add the powdered sugar slowly while reducing the mixing speed. Otherwise you’ll have quite a mess on your hands! Then, beat at a high speed until stiff peaks form.
How to Use Whipped Cream
Now that you’ve made this perfect bowl of whipped cream, what do you do with it? Here are a few ideas to get your creating juices flowing!
If You Use it as a Whipped Cream
- Coffee & Hot Chocolate – Add a dollop to your cup of coffee or hot chocolate for some simple indulgence.
- Pancakes, French Toast & Waffles – Use it to top breakfast!
- Dip, Fruit Salad and Trifles – Whipped cream and fresh fruit is a classic combo. Dip fresh strawberries into your homemade whipped cream or add it to fruit salad and trifles!
- Pies and Crisps – Serve it on top of pies and crisps in lieu of (or in addition to) ice cream.
If You’re Using it as a Whipped Cream Frosting
When using stabilized whipped cream as a frosting, the possibilities are truly endless! You can pipe it onto cupcakes and cakes, or use it as a filling between layer cakes. I have even used it for ice cream cake!
Here are some easy recipes that use whipped cream frosting to get you started:
- Fruity Pebbles Ice Cream Cake
- Pumpkin Ice Cream Cake
- Pop Tart Ice Cream Pie
- Oreo Ice Cream Cake
- Red, White and Blue Poke Cake
Adding Flavors to Your Whipped Cream
Another fun way to use homemade whipped cream is to add flavors to it! (Or color, which you can easily do with a few drops of food coloring.) Most recipes call for vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. This is all well and good but consider substituting things like almond, mint or peppermint extract, lemon or lime zest, lemon extract, maple syrup, cinnamon or nutmeg. I have also been known to add some Bailey’s Irish Cream or bourbon to my whipped cream. Get creative!
I have several different recipes for flavored whipped cream on this site. Here are some of them!
FAQs
Can I make whipped cream without a stand mixer?
Yes, you will notice that a majority of my recipe videos show me preparing whipped cream using a hand mixer. I find the hand mixer cannot achieve the same stiff peaks as a stand mixer, however it still does the job.
If you’re using a hand mixer, I suggest using your spatula to turn the whipped cream from the bottom to the top and continue mixing to ensure it’s evenly mixed. I’ve also heard whipped cream can be made in a stand or immersion blender, but I have never tried it myself.
Are whipping cream and heavy cream the same?
All my recipes use heavy whipping cream, as opposed to heavy cream. Whipping cream contains a higher fat content, which will hold a better shape and produce a thicker whipped cream. Technically you can use either, but I recommend heavy whipping cream if it’s available.
Can I make whipped cream ahead of time?
My opinion? Not so much. If I am making a no-bake dessert or pie, I always prefer to prepare the whipped cream just prior to serving or at least the same day that I am serving it. However, it can also be frozen if needed. I want the whipped cream to be fresh, and I find it’s more stable at this point.
However, if you don’t have time and you need to make the whipped cream the night before serving, I suggest piping it onto your dessert at that time as opposed to leaving it in a bowl overnight.
How much heavy cream do I need to make whipped cream?
I never use less than ¾ cup (177 ml) of heavy whipping cream or more than 1 ¾ cups (414 ml) of heavy whipping cream at one time. This is because I find it can be more difficult for the whipped cream to form properly when using less or more than these amounts.
Below is a table of helpful measurements that will ensure a nice, stiff whipped cream. This is a general guide, and, as always, there are exceptions to my rules.
- 2 cups: ¾ cup (177 ml) heavy whipping cream plus 1/4 cup (33 g) powdered sugar makes 7 ¼ ounces (205 g), or about 2 cups (150 g) prepared.
- 2 1/4 cups: 1 cup (237 ml) heavy whipping cream plus ½ cup (65 g) powdered sugar makes 10 ounces (284 g), or about 2 ¼ cups (168 g) prepared.
- 2 3/4 cups: 1 ¼ cups (296 ml) heavy whipping cream plus ½ cup and 2 tablespoons (114 g) powdered sugar makes 12 ounces (314 g), or about 2 ¾ cups (207 g) prepared.
- 3 1/2 cups: 1 ½ cups (355 ml) heavy whipping cream plus ¾ cup (98 g) powdered sugar makes 14 ounces (397 g), or about 3 ½ cups (263 g) prepared.
- 4 cups: 1 ¾ cups (414 ml) heavy whipping cream plus 1 cup (130 g) powdered sugar makes about 16 ounces (454 g), or about 4 cups (300 g) prepared.
See below for my full recipe for how to make whipped cream. As alway, I’d love to hear from you! Do you have a favorite whipped cream recipe? Leave me a comment below.
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How to Make Whipped Cream
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 1/4 cups prepared
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
The recipe for Homemade Whipped Cream with only 2 ingredients! It’s a stabilized whipped cream without gelatin. It’s the perfect topping for cakes, cupcakes, pies and no-bake desserts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place the mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to chill.
- Pour the heavy cream into the chilled bowl and use an electric or stand mixer to beat the heavy cream on medium-high speed until soft peaks form
- Slowly add the powdered sugar and continue beating on high speed until stiff peaks form.
Notes
- Flavor variations: Add 1/2-1 teaspoon of your favorite extracts: vanilla, almond, lemon, peppermint. Or add some fresh fruit zest such as lemon or orange. For chocolate whipped cream and 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder together with the powdered sugar.
- How to store this frosting: Whipped cream must stay refrigerate. I do not recommend leaving the prepared whipped cream in a bowl for an extended period of time (any longer than 30 minutes). For the best results, make the whipped cream prior to serving and immediately add it to your dessert. Once it’s been piped, it’s must more stable then just sitting in the bowl.
- Do not use in a hot or humid climates, as it will not withstand the heat.
- Recipe Variations:
- To make 2 cups prepared: ¾ cup (177 ml) heavy whipping cream plus 1/4 cup (33 g) powdered sugar
- To make 2 1/2 cups prepared: 1 cup (237 ml) heavy whipping cream plus ½ cup (65 g) powdered sugar
- To make 3 cups prepared: 1 ½ cups (355 ml) heavy whipping cream plus ¾ cup (98 g) powdered sugar
- To make 4 cups prepared: 1 ¾ cups (414 ml) heavy whipping cream plus 1 cup (130 g) powdered sugar
- Category: Frosting
- Method: Mixer
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Whipped Cream, Whipped Cream Recipe, How to Make Whipped Cream, Whipped Cream Frosting
Is heavy whipping cream and whipping cream the same?
Hi Lisa, this question is actually answered directly in the blog post under the heading “ARE WHIPPING CREAM AND HEAVY CREAM THE SAME?” in the FAQ section.