There’s no substitute for Homemade Whipped Cream, which tastes far superior than what you can buy at the store. It comes together really quickly and makes your baked goods, pies, and ice cream sundaes taste so much better.
Whipped cream is arguably the world’s best dessert topper. It makes rich desserts feel light, fruit desserts feel rich, and hot cocoa feel extra special.
THE MAGICAL POWERS OF WHIPPED CREAM
I have a soft spot in my heart for whipped cream. When my kids were toddlers, I told them I had magical powers.
I would pour liquid heavy cream into a cold bowl and whisk vigorously by hand until suddenly their mother’s secret power was revealed—I can transform “milk” into sweetened whipped cream perfect for topping strawberries. It’s one of my many superpowers as mom.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM
You don’t have to be mom, however, to make lovely creamy whipped topping at home. Just follow a few simple steps and you too can wow the masses (or all the 2-year-olds) with your skills.
Step 1: Use the proper bowl
Heavy whipping cream will double in volume and it splatters a bit while you whisk it. The bowl needs to be large enough to accommodate the increase in size.
Step 2: Keep everything cold
When cream is too warm the fat loses its ability to stabilize the air you’re whipping into it. It will still whip up, but not to the volume and texture you want it to, and it will likely deflate more quickly.
So put the bowl and whisk in the freezer for 20 minutes before you want to whisk the cream. Keep the heavy cream in the refrigerator until you want to whip it up.
Step 3: You need heavy whipping cream
Half-and-Half and whole milk don’t have enough fat to whip. Note: Heavy cream and whipping cream are the same thing and can be used interchangeably!
- Looking for a vegan alternative? Try making Coconut Whipped Cream!
Step 4: Don’t add the sugar too soon (or too late)
Add the sugar when the cream is thickened, but still spoonable—just before the soft peak stage. If you add it too soon, it won’t whip as well. If you add it too late, the sugar granules won’t dissolve as well.
I like to use powdered sugar rather than granulated sugar for two reasons:
- First, the smaller particles dissolve faster in the cream.
- Second, the cornstarch in powdered sugar helps to stabilize the whipped cream, allowing it to hold its shape for longer and reduce weeping.
Step 5: Watch your whipping
Whipped cream goes from soft peaks to firm peaks to butter in the blink of an eye. For this reason, I usually whisk the cream by hand or use a hand mixer. I never use a stand mixer to make whipped cream because it’s easy to get distracted and walk away from the mixer (which I have done) then I end up with butter.
The rule of thumb here is to stay nearby and watch for changes. Once whipped cream is over whipped there is no saving it. It will look dry, crumbly and unappetizing. Personally, I prefer loose and droopy whipped cream most of the time, so I generally stop at the soft peak stage, but you can make your whipped cream as soft or as firm as you like it.
Step 6: Flavor your whipped cream at the end
Add the extract or flavoring during the last minute of whipping—if you add it too soon, it will deflate the whipped cream a little bit.
Ways to Flavor Your Whipped Cream
You can flavor whipped cream with almost anything. Add spices like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. Make a grown-up version with a kick from rum or whiskey, fold in pumpkin puree to give it color, flavor and body. You can also warm the cream gently on the stovetop with herbs and spices to infuse it with flavor, then chill it in the refrigerator before whipping.
HOW LONG WILL WHIPPED CREAM KEEP?
Whipped cream can be made and kept for a day or two in the refrigerator. It will decrease in volume over time, but you can just whip it again. No worries.
HOW TO KEEP WHIPPED CREAM FROM “MELTING”
If it’s really hot outside or if you want to pipe it, you need the whipped cream to be sturdy and long lasting at room temperature. To do this, you need to add a stabilizer. This can be done by adding liquified gelatin, cream cheese, or mascarpone cheese to the heavy cream after it’s been whipped to soft peaks and the sugar has been added.
- If using gelatin, use a 1:3 ratio of granulated gelatin to water. Place 1 teaspoon of gelatin granules in a small bowl. Add 3 teaspoons of water. Stir to combine and microwave in 5 second burst, stirring each time, until the gelatin has dissolved. Let it cool, but not set. Whip 1 cup of heavy cream to soft peaks, add the sugar and continue whisking then slowing pour in the gelatin.
- If using cream cheese or mascarpone, replace the gelatin with 1/2 cup of either cheese.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU OVER WHIP YOUR CREAM
If you have over whipped it, you can undo what you’ve done — but don’t throw it away! Continue whipping it until the solids separate. You will end up with buttermilk and butter. Transfer the butter to a glass jar and store it in your fridge for a week. You can use it just as you’d use any butter or buttermilk.
Recipes that could use some WHIPPED CREAM!
- Easy Chocolate Cream Pie
- Chocolate Pavlova with Whipped Cream and Berries
- Coconut Banana Cream Pie
- Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Mint Chocolate Cream Pie
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