Make beautiful Homemade Whipped Cream every time with only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of time. Then finish off your favorite desserts with a dollop or two or pipe it into pastries. This recipe is so easy and foolproof, you’ll never buy the spray-can kind again.

There are so many dessert recipes on this website that say, “top with a dollop of homemade whipped cream” because OF COURSE. I mean, so many desserts should be adorned with that finishing touch.

Today I’m sharing how to make whipped cream in its simplest form, with some tips to make it foolproof. You only need heavy cream, sugar, and 5 minutes. It’s so easy! We also add vanilla for flavor and some cream of tartar, which allows it to hold its shape and last longer, without changing the taste at all.

Helpful Tips

• Heavy Cream vs Heavy Whipping Cream. Heavy whipping cream is what you want when making homemade whipped cream, as opposed to regular heavy cream, which doesn’t have as much milk fat. Heavy whipping cream whips up creamier and holds its shape really well for piping.
• Your heavy whipping cream needs to be very cold. Whipping the cream makes air bubbles. With cold cream, these bubbles are held intact by a web of tiny fat particles, which allow the cream to eventually get light and fluffy, with great volume. When cream is warm, the fat particles collapse, so the cream can’t whip up fully.
• For maximum volume and the best texture, chill the mixing bowl and electric beaters, too. This can help ensure that your cream stays cold throughout the whipping process.
• Start whipping slowly and then increase the speed. Using an electric mixer, begin whipping the cream on medium, then increase the speed to high. This “trains” the cream to hold its shape and makes a whipped cream that will last longer in the refrigerator.
• Don’t over-beat your cream. Whipping the cream for an extended period, produces irregular clumps and a curd-like texture. As soon as the beaters start to leave tracks in the cream, be alert; you’ll soon have soft peaks!
• Sugar. You can use either granulated or powdered sugar for whipped cream. I have a preference toward powdered sugar because it dissolves quicker, it’s more stable, and has a smoother texture.
• Vanilla & Cream of Tartar (optional). Both of these are optional ingredients, but I love a little bit of vanilla for added flavor. You can also use other extracts. The cream of tartar is used to make stabilized whipped cream (see notes below the recipe card.)

Make Stabilized Whipped Cream

It’s best to serve homemade whipped cream right away, but sometimes you need to make it in advance. I get you. That’s where stabilized whipped cream comes into play. An additional ingredient is needed to help it last longer in the refrigerator. My preference is cream of tartar because it doesn’t effect the taste. For each cup of heavy whipping cream, add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar along with the sugar when whipping.

Troubleshooting

• How to Fix Over-beaten Whipped Cream: Whoops, you accidentally beat the whipped cream too much! Don’t despair (yet!) – you might be able to fix it. Add a couple tablespoons of cold cream and whisk it in by hand. This should bring it back to soft peak consistency. If you’ve really over-beaten it to the point of curdling, unfortunately you might have to start all over.
• What if I don’t have an electric mixer? You can make whipped cream without a mixer by whisking by hand, but just know it can take a looooong time (10 minutes or more) and your arm will be sore afterward! Another alternative is shaking all the ingredients in a tightly covered jar until thick! You’ll want to loosen the lid a few times to release some of the pressure that forms. I’ve done this with my kids and it’s actually fun!

Make Ahead and Storage

• How long does homemade whipped cream last? Homemade Whipped Cream will keep in the refrigerator for a couple days. However, I do recommend using it shortly after it’s made. The longer it sits, the more it will deflate. If it does lose some volume, you can usually fix it with a whisk to thicken it back up.
• How to store homemade whipped cream: Always keep the whipped cream in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator.

Serving Suggestions

Now that you’ve got your homemade whipped cream, you can use it on all of your favorite desserts or just simply enjoy it with fresh fruit or hot chocolate. Here are some other ideas:

• Banana Pudding
• Mini Pumpkin Pies
• Lemon Trifle
• Sticky Toffee Pudding
• Chocolate Mousse
• Oreo Cheesecake

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!