Recipes don't get any simpler or more traditional than this. If you haven't made homemade whipped cream before…well, you need to start!
This is one of the earliest "recipes" on the blog - it went up in May of 2010, over 11 years ago! We say "recipes" because people have a tendency to comment on it and say it's not actually a recipe, this is just what whipped cream is, etc, etc. In fact, Chels calls it her most "controversial" post on the blog because of that! The reality is, if you already know how to make homemade whipped cream, obviously you don't need a recipe, so move right along...but if you don't, and no one ever taught you...this is how you find out! Once you've had it, you won't go back to store bought (okay, okay, we still grab store bought sometimes when we're short on time...it is pretty good, too!).Anyway, we've remade and rephotographed this classic so we can share it with you just in time for your holiday treats.
I have always been a cheater...a cheater that is when it comes from taking help from the grocery store. I am a cool whip buyer *hides face in hands* I am one of those persons that will spend the extra money for the already made stuff. Isn't that horrible?

Last week at the grocery store, they were having a great sale on berries. Everything was like 2 for $4.00. I had warned Josh in advance that when all the berries go on sale like that, I will be buying them. So I did...and to my luck...the Organic Strawberries were on sale as well! Now I am on the fence about organic stuff. I have done a bit of research that seems to contradict what others say...but that's another post for another time. I will say this for the Organic Strawberries, they taste sweeter than the other kinds. But what is the perfect easy delicious treat that goes perfectly with Strawberries? Why Shortcake and whipped cream of course.
I have had a craving for the real stuff lately ( no, I am not pregnant...non pregnant people get cravings too) and I wanted to learn how to make it. But I was confused as to what to do and which cream to buy; whipping cream or heavy whipping cream. For the record, both will work. Again my mom came to the rescue and just told me pour the cream into a bowl and start mixing or blending it, till stiff peaks form. Then add sugar and when your nearly done, then you add vanilla. I thought that sounded simple enough...but I looked online for any other helpful hints. Here is what I found:

Hint #1 Use a chilled metal bowl
Hint #2 If your going to use an electric blender, use your arm to mix, not your shoulder
Hint #3 Do Not Over Mix

And that was it. Everything on every site I looked at pretty much said the same thing. It was kinda nice to know that this process seemed to be pretty simple.
Last night we had Josh's brother and sister down for dinner and to watch the first Lord of the Rings. Jewelissa had never seen it. For dinner they wanted Spaghetti...simple enough. But when you sit down for a long movie like LOTR, your going to want a tasty treat half way through it which is why Strawberry Shortcake is perfect.

So while the kids were still awake, I got busy on whipping the whipping cream. I used heavy whipping cream. Seriously...how do you mix something without using your shoulder...it is connected to your arm, lol. Yeah...my arm got sore fast. (At the time I wrote this post, I was using an electric mixer. I've sense upgraded to a KitchenAid.) But soon enough...I saw the cream begin to thicken up and make some peaks. So I started dumping in the powdered sugar...well...dumping is an exaggeration. I was using Tablespoons and since I decided half way through the mixing of the cream to dump the rest of the container into the bowl...I would say I used maybe 2-3 tablespoons of powdered sugar, but granulated works fine here too. Plus I added...1-2 teaspoons of vanilla...I'm a vanilla freak so yeah...I added maybe an extra ½ teaspoon than I should of. I like stuff sweet. Josh is always teasing me that I'm going to become a diabetic because of how much Sugar I use. My brother says, I like a little coffee with my sugar, lol. But...I've cut wayy back...honest :)

Once I got it to a consistency I thought looked good ( I was worried I would over mix) I called Josh in to do a taste test and he concurred that it was perfect. PERFECT- did you read that, he said it was perfect!! The strawberry shortcake ended up being delicious. Someday I am going to learn how to make my own shortcake :) But for now, I'll continue to cheat and buy the stuff at the store. And now that I know how to make whipped cream, I'll do it a lot more often. I think I will still stick with Cool Whip for some of the pies and desserts I make...just for the simplicity of it...or maybe I won't. :)


Homemade Whipped Cream
Recipes don't get any simpler or more traditional than this. If you haven't made homemade whipped cream before...well, you need to start!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whipping cream
- splash of vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a metal mixing bowl.
- Beat on high for 3-5 minutes until stiff peaks have formed.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 95Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
Christine says
This looks so good! I will have to try it.
Lindsay says
Do you know how butter and buttermilk is made? By churning cream. That's what happens if you "overmix" your cream. Not exactly the worst thing in the world (home-churned butter and buttermilk is superb), but it's not exactly what you're going for.
Take it from me - it takes a lot more to overmix than one would think. As long as you're paying attention, the peaks can get pretty darn stiff before it becomes a problem. I think it takes about 7-10 minutes of whipping in a kitchen aid before it starts to go, so you're generally pretty safe.
For craft clubs, we'll pour whipping cream (or heavy whipping cream - either works) into a bowl with a whisk and pass it around until it's finally done. It's the hard way, but it's also kinda rewarding.
You can use regular granulated sugar to sweeten it. I like to use organic cane sugars and brown sugars sometimes to mix up the flavor a bit. Once you start using the real stuff, that cool whip doesn't fly anymore imo. :)
Anonymous says
I have never used powdered sugar-only regular sugar and it works for me!
Mommy
Anonymous says
I CAN'T BEIEVE YOU NEEDED A RECIPE TO MAKE WHIPPED CREAM.....ALL YOU DO IS POUR SOME WHIPPING (HEAVY) CREAM INTO A BOWL, ADD ACOUPLE SPOONS OF ICING SUGAR AND A TSP, OF VANILLA AND WHIP WITH ELECTRIC MIXER....TAKES ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES. I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.
Joshua Rief says
Well, setting aside the rather mean tone of this comment, I would just point out three things. First, many, many people have asked for the recipe for Chels's whipped cream after she makes it at family get togethers, parties, etc. Secondly, you listed a recipe in your comment, so I guess you needed a recipe too. Lastly, over a thousand people have read this post since it was published, so I guess somebody was interested in the recipe! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, but, in the future, I recommend avoiding all caps. :)
Anonymous says
I see that there was a comment about using regular sugar or powdered sugar. Powdered sugar has CORN STARCH in it which is a stabilizer and helps maintain whipped cream from creating a puddle of liquid in the bottom of your bowl (if storing it) and also gives a stiffer whipped cream.
This was recommended to me by a test kitchen.
Chels/Catz in the Kitchen says
Love-Thanks for sharing!
Lynne Salisbury says
Really!!!!!! This is the way to make whipped cream anyway!!! This isn't "home made". Not to be sarcastic but you sound like you just invented the wheel.
Joshua Rief says
Lynne, it always surprises me how rude people can be in the "semi-anonymous" world of the internet. I would point out a couple of things:
1. What is it with people and this post? Chels has well over 700 posts on this site, and this is the only one with rude people...
2. This is homemade whipped cream. Not sure what you have in mind, but unless you only consider it homemade if you're personally milking the cow, this is homemade. Please bear in mind that many, many families use Cool Whip and Redi Whip (including ours when we're busy!) - this is a big step up from that.
3. Somehow you're confusing excitement with pride. Almost five years ago, when Chels wrote this post, we were just beginning to explore cooking better food at home, and discovering how easy it was to "whip" this up was very exciting!
4. You may want to look into that exclamation mark key. It appears to be stuck. :)
Tami says
You tell her!!! That woman had such an attitude! If she didn't want to read it, she shouldn't have. Sometimes it's best to keep y our comments to yourself (especially if they are negative)!
Joshua Rief says
Ha, thanks, Tami! Lynne commented again below in a much nicer tone, though I still take issue with not getting excited about homemade whipped cream! I get excited everytime she makes it this way (actually, I've even done it myself now!). I just say she's lucky to have been eating it this way for 50+ years - kudos to her mom!
Thanks again for commenting - appreciate your readership!
Lynne Salisbury says
My exclamation key is definitely not stuck, but thank you for your concern. The only thing I said was this is not a new recipe and it's nothing to get excited about. My mom did exactly this back in the 50's. It's not new at all. But I do give you kudos for coming to the defense of your blog. Very honorable.
Dianne says
I've made whipped cream like this and it's heaven compared to Cool Whip. All those mean-spirited people should watch their mouths. If they've done it this way before - good for them. If not, they learned something new. Why be mean about it all? Geesh. I have a question for you: Any ideas on how to make yummy whipped cream non-dairy style? I've had to give up dairy and I've been craving good whipped cream but the coconut cream kind just isn't it. I do like coconut, but not on things I want whipped cream on. Is their any substitute for the cream that isn't dairy? Or am I just dreaming?
Chelsia Rief says
Dianne, you are just as sweet as can be. Thank you for that. I did a quick search and I found this blog. http://wakingupvegan.com/2012/09/10/make-homeade-vega-whipped-cream/
The first two options include coconut milk, but the third option can be made with soy, almond, hemp or rice milk? You might give that a try for a non-dairy version and see how that works. Thanks again for your sweet comment! :)