Made from just 3 simple ingredients, this homemade Cool Whip substitute is so easy to make & ridiculously delicious! You’ll never want to buy the stuff from the store again. Homemade whipped cream for the win!
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I remember as a child being in awe as I watched my mom dump cream into a mixing bowl and then a couple of minutes later produce fluffy homemade whipped cream, with beautiful peaks. It seemed almost magical!
And I especially loved when she’d let me lick off the beaters after I sat there mesmerized watching them whirl around, the cream gradually thickening.
Eventually, my mom started using Cool Whip more instead of real whipped cream. But I always had an affinity for the real thing.
Once I was a homemaker myself, I started becoming a bit more health-conscious and realized that the list of ingredients in Cool Whip wasn’t exactly pretty. But since it was usually a lot cheaper than real whipped cream, our tight budget usually won the decision and most times I relied on the bought fake stuff.
Then several years ago I made an exciting discovery! Aldi sells heavy cream for $1.99 a pint and one pint makes the equivalent of 2 Cool Whip containers full of real whipped cream. That makes it very inexpensive at just $0.99 for every 2 cups of whipped cream!
So I started making my own and haven’t looked back since. If a recipe calls for Cool Whip, I make my own homemade Cool Whip with whipping cream and sub it instead. It not only tastes more delicious, but it is also much healthier too!
How to Make Cool Whip
Homemade Cool Whip is super easy to make and takes just three simple ingredients: heavy whipping cream, sugar and vanilla!
To make the Cool Whip, just add the heavy whipping cream to a bowl, then use an electric mixer to whip it up until it starts to thicken. Once it becomes fluffy and forms soft peaks, you add a bit of sugar and vanilla and mix a bit more.
It’s done and ready to enjoy once it’s well mixed and forming stiff peaks.
Some people say that it’s important that you use a chilled bowl when you make DIY Cool Whip, but my grandmother, mom nor I have ever done that and it’s never been an issue. So I say, keep it simple and just use a room temperature bowl!
Recipe for Cool Whip (or homemade Whipped Cream)
Easy Homemade Whipped Cream (homemade Cool Whip)
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 to 4 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
- Pour heavy whipping cream into a mixing bowl. (If you using a hand mixer, make sure the bowl has high sides because the cream will splash quite a bit initially. I've found using the whisk attachment helps a lot!)
- Beat on medium speed just until soft peaks are formed.
- Add sugar and continue mixing until stiff peaks form.
- Stir in vanilla.
- Store refrigerated.
Notes
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Ruby
Why is this any different from whipped cream?
Lydia Beiler
It isn’t any different, Ruby.
Selena Rjovoski
Thanks for sharing. I’ve just prepared it with the help of my newly purchased hand blender with whipping blades.
Lydia Beiler
Glad you liked it, Selena!
Irina
I’m going to be making jello mixed with cool whip, im wondering if homemade cool whip would work instead of bought for jello?
Lydia Beiler
It should. I never buy Cool Whip anymore and use this homemade whipped cream exclusively. In order to make sure the Jello sets okay, I would just make sure that you whip the cream till stiff peaks are formed- but not too hard that it turns into butter! It should look stiff like Cool Whip and when you pull the beater out, it will leave a peak in the whipped cream. Does that make sense?
Marilyn
I mix a teaspoon of corn starch with the sugar. It gives it a bit more consistency and it doesn’t get runny in the fridge .
Lydia Beiler
Oh, that is super helpful to know, Marilyn! Thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to try it!