Handmade Whipped Cream

Create velvety whipped cream from scratch with just three simple ingredients-heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. 

In this easy-to-follow blog post, I’ll guide you through the process of hand-whipping heavy cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Elevate your desserts with this fresh, home-made treat – no cans required!

But wait, how does it turn into whipped cream?

The science behind whipped cream involves transforming liquid heavy cream into a semi-solid or solid state through a process known as whipping. This process involves incorporating air into the cream and altering its physical structure. 

Here's a simplified explanation of the science behind whipped cream:

• Heavy cream contains fat globules suspended in a liquid.
  When you whip the cream, you introduce air into it through the mechanical action of whisking or beating. The proteins in the cream unfold and surround the air bubbles, creating a network that stabilizes the whipped cream.
• As the cream is whipped, the fat globules collide and stick together.
  The proteins in the cream, particularly casein and whey proteins, act as emulsifiers. They surround the air bubbles and help stabilize them by forming a protective layer. This prevents the air from escaping and collapsing the structure.
• As you continue to whip, the air becomes trapped in the network of proteins, and the volume of the cream increases. This is why whipped cream expands and becomes lighter and fluffier.
• The continuous whisking or beating of the cream causes friction, which generates heat. This, combined with the structural changes in the cream, contributes to the overall transformation of the liquid into a solid or semi-solid state.
• It's important to note that achieving the desired consistency involves stopping the whipping process at the right time.
• Over whipping can lead to the breakdown of the stabilized structure, resulting in butter formation as the fat and liquid separate. Therefore, keeping an eye on the texture and stopping when soft to stiff peaks form ensures perfect whipped cream.

Ingredients:

16 fl oz/473 mL heavy whipping cream
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Step by Step Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in medium size bowl.

2. Use whisk to vigorously mix and whisk. You can go in any direction, ensuring to incorporate all the liquid and continue to mix, mix, mix! Try and incorporate air as best you can, as this will help the process along. It will take you about 10 minutes of whisking, depending on how fast you whisk.

Mix by hand with a whisk or use an electric mixer to speed up the process. Keep whisking until peaks form and then stop. Do not over whisk, otherwise it the mixture will separate and make butter.

Serving Suggestions:

This homemade whipped cream is a delightful recipe can enhance a variety of desserts and beverages. Here are some serving suggestions:

• Top your favorite pies, tarts, or cobblers
• Serve alongside fresh berries, sliced fruits, or fruit salads.
• Add to hot or cold beverages like hot cocoa, coffee, lattes, or iced coffee and milkshakes.
• Create an ice cream sundae with it, and add other toppings like chocolate sauce, blueberries, and sliced bananas.
• It pairs well with sponge cake, angel food cakes, with strawberry topping.
  Serve on crepes, waffles or pancakes.
• Make parfaits, trifles, mouses with it!
• Top off summer desserts like strawberry shortcake, peach cobbler, or fruit tarts.

Feel free to get creative and experiment with different combinations to find your favorite way to enjoy this homemade whipped cream

Tips:

• Adjusting Sweetness: If you like things sweeter, you can add more sugar. If you don't want it too sweet, you can skip the sugar.
• Chill the Bowl: Before you start, put the bowl in the freezer for a bit. This helps the whipped cream get thick faster, especially if you're using a whisk by hand.
• Watch for Peaks: When you're whisking, stop once the whipped cream forms soft to stiff peaks. If you keep going, it might get lumpy, and the liquid and fat can separate, turning it into butter! Pay attention to the texture to get that perfect, smooth whipped cream without accidentally making butter. Enjoy your delicious creation!
• If you have children, make this whipped cream recipe together and turn it into a fun science experiment.