Do you love that light, airy sweetness that comes with a dollop of freshly whipped cream?
There’s nothing quite like a perfect cloud of whipped cream to top off a hot cup of coffee, a slice of pie, or a big bowl of ice cream. But whipping cream to perfection is an art. The type of cream you use and how you whip it makes all the difference.
With so many kinds of cream available, it can get confusing. Should you use thickened cream, light cream, or half and half? Keep reading to find out what the best cream to buy for whipping is.
Table of Contents
The best cream for whipping is thickened cream, which in the US is referred to as heavy cream or heavy whipping cream.
Ideally, both creams are the same, with one slight difference: thickened cream contains the same amount of milk fat as heavy cream (around 35-36%) but with added stabilizers and thickeners like gelatin, vegetable gums, and cornstarch.
These ingredients help the whipped cream maintain a smooth, even consistency rather than separating into butterfat and liquid.
Other types of cream that can be used for whipping include:
Thickened cream is the ideal choice for making light, fluffy whipped cream. Its high-fat content allows it to whip up into stiff, stable peaks that hold their shape beautifully.
When you whip cream, you are incorporating air bubbles into the fat and protein structure. The higher the fat content, the more air you can incorporate, resulting in a lighter, airier texture.
Lower-fat creams like regular whipping cream (30% fat) or half and half (10-18% fat) don’t have enough fat to maintain the air bubbles, causing the whipped cream to deflate quickly.
Since thickened cream contains more milk fat, it easily forms a stabilized network of fat droplets and air bubbles that keep the whipped cream emulsified. So, while lower-fat creams will end up weeping liquid and losing volume, properly whipped thickened cream holds its billowy, cloud-like texture for hours without deflating.
For sweet or savory dishes where you want light, airy dollops of whipped cream that maintain their lofty peaks, thickened cream is clearly the best choice. Its high-fat content gives you the most whip-able, stable whipped cream possible.
Thickened cream is the perfect ingredient for making light and airy desserts. Its high-fat content allows it to whip up into soft, billowy peaks that are great for topping all kinds of sweet treats. Here are some classic recipes that showcase whipped thickened cream:
A pavlova is a crisp meringue shell filled with whipped cream and fruit. The light and fluffy meringue provides the perfect contrast to the rich whipped cream. You can also use whipped thickened cream as a topping on individual meringue cookies.
Buttery tart shells filled with pastry cream or custard make a delicious base for whipped thickened cream and fresh fruit. The cream adds a luxurious finish to fresh fruit tarts.
This Italian dessert layers coffee-soaked ladyfingers with a whipped mixture of thickened cream and mascarpone cheese. The airy whipped cream lightens the rich flavors.
For cakes or cupcakes, whipped, thickened cream makes a tasty frosting. It’s lighter than buttercream and has a fresh, creamy flavor. You can sweeten it with confectioners’ sugar or vanilla to your taste.
These light and airy desserts are made by folding whipped cream into a chocolate, fruit, or liqueur base. The volume provided by the whipped cream allows the mousse to set into a smooth, creamy texture.
Once you’ve whipped your thickened cream to perfection, you’ll want to store it properly to maintain that light, airy texture. Here are some tips:
Getting light, fluffy whipped cream requires a few simple tips and tricks.
Properly whipped, thickened cream can take your desserts to the next level. Its sweet, creamy flavor pairs perfectly with everything from fruit to pies, cakes, hot chocolate, and more.
So next time a recipe calls for whipped cream, be sure to use chilled, thickened cream and whip it into light, cloud-like perfection.
As the driving force behind Nang Wizard, I'm proud to lead Melbourne's fastest instant delivery company. With a team of 5 dedicated drivers strategically positioned across the city, we guarantee under one-hour delivery times. Our unwavering commitment to trustworthiness and customer satisfaction has earned us a 5.0-star Google Maps rating, and we're known for offering 100% refunds if a customer's delivery isn't on track within 15 minutes. With over 20,000 orders completed, we've become Melbourne's most trusted Kitchen Supply Store, ensuring our customers always come first. Join us and experience the magic of Nang Wizard.
Kitchen supply store serving & delivering to Melbourne city, Southeast, Eastern, Western, Northern Suburbs & more in under one hour.
