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Stabilized Whipped Cream

This Stabilized Whipped Cream recipe makes light and fluffy whipped cream that won’t melt or get watery. And it’s so easy to make! Now you can serve whipped cream on all your favorite desserts with confidence.

stabilized whipped cream on chocolate cake.

Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe

Why This Recipe Stands Out

A dollop of fluffy whipped cream elevates any dessert. And would you believe us when we say this Stabilized Whipped Cream is even better? Here’s why:

  • Simple: It takes just 5 simple ingredients (and that’s including water!).
  • Fast: It only takes about 10 minutes to make homemade whipped cream.
  • Keeps Shape: This perfectly fluffy topping is “resilient”. It doesn’t get runny at moderate room temperatures.
  • Freeze: You can even freeze stabilized whipped cream for future use.
  • Flavor: It’s absolutely delicious – so much better than store-bought!
  • Flexible: It’s incredible on all the desserts, like decadent flourless chocolate cake and white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.

What Is Stabilized Whipped Cream, Exactly?

Stabilized Whipped Cream is simply classic whipped cream that has a stabilizer added to it, making it hold its shape longer, without getting runny as it sits out. In this recipe, we use unflavored gelatin to keep the whipped cream’s shape for days. But this delicious topping can also be made using things like cornstarch, marshmallow fluff, and milk powder for a lighter, not so long-lasting hold.

Needless to say, Stabilized Whipped Cream is the perfect option for baked desserts like Angel Food Cake or Pumpkin Pie. You can top these desserts days in advance without having to worry about the whipped cream melting and making things soggy.

Key Recipe Ingredients

stabilized whipped cream ingredients.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream – The star ingredient of any whipped cream recipe, heavy whipping cream has the perfect fat content for that light, fluffy texture. Make sure it’s chilled before whipping.
  • Powdered Sugar – We use just 4 TB of powdered sugar to sweeten the whipped cream just right. Powdered sugar also helps make it light and airy.
  • Unflavored Gelatin – The gelatin helps Stabilized Whipped Cream hold it’s shape for days.
  • Vanilla Extract – We like adding a dash of vanilla extract to our whipped cream for optimal flavor.

Substitutions And Variations

This simple recipe is very versatile. As long as the base stays the same, there are endless flavor combos that go amazing with it. Take a look at some of our favorite variation ideas:

  • Flavored Gelatin: Although this recipe uses unflavored gelatin, you can absolutely experiment with different flavored gelatins to see which one you like most.
  • Chocolate: Add cocoa powder to whipped cream for that rich, chocolatey goodness. It would be delicious with this Molten Chocolate Pudding Cake.
  • Citrus: Add the zest of lemon, lime, or orange into the whipped cream mixture for a bright, vibrant pop of flavor. Lemon stabilized whipped cream would be amazing with these Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust.
  • Coffee: If you can’t get enough coffee, try mixing in instant coffee granules or Kahlua like we do in this decadent Double Chocolate Cake recipe.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

  1. Pour heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar into a bowl and place whole bowl along with the whisks to the electric mixer in the fridge for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Combine gelatin powder and water until the gelatin soaks up all the water. Then microwave for 15-20 seconds.
  1. Remove heavy whipping cream bowl from the fridge and beat until soft peaks form.
  2. Continue beating cream mixture while slowly pouring in warm (not hot) gelatin mixture.
  1. Continue beating whipped cream until stiff peaks form. Mixture should have structure and hold shape at this point.
  2. Top your favorite dessert or homemade ice cream with light and fluffy stabilized whipped cream.

How To Prep Ahead

This recipe keeps extremely well in the fridge or freezer making it a perfect make-in-advance option. Take a look at our favorite prep-ahead ideas for this whipped cream:

  • Refrigerate: Fully prepare this stabilized whipped cream and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also top your dessert with whipped cream and keep in the fridge for the same amount of time.
  • Freeze: Stabilized whipped cream will keep by itself or on a dessert for up to 2 months in the freezer. Simply thaw fully before using.
  • Be Ready: This recipe comes together in just 10 minutes. To make things go smoothly, we like having all ingredients measured and ready-to-go before we start the process.
stabilized whipped cream on cake.

How to Serve It

Commonly Asked Questions

How long can you keep stabilized whipped cream?

Stabilized whipped cream can last 2-3 days when made in advance. Cover and chill until ready to use. Stabilized whipped cream that has been piped onto desserts can also be chilled for up to 3 days, and frozen for up to a month.

Can you keep stabilized whipped cream out?

Yes, stabilized whipped cream can be kept at moderate room temperature for several hours. If your room temperature is very warm, you’ll want to keep your dessert in the fridge until ready to serve.

Why is my stabilized whipped cream a bit lumpy?

It’s important that your water/gelatin mixture is warm (but not hot) while it’s being slowly drizzled and whipped. If gelatin mixture has coagulated, simply give it 10 seconds or so in the microwave to liquify it again.

What do “soft peaks” and “stiff peaks” look like?

When your whipped cream forms soft peaks, it will slightly hold it’s shape when you lift up the whisk, but it will quickly fall back into the bowl. When it has stiff peaks, the cream will hold it’s shape without falling.

What does it mean to “bloom” gelatin?

Blooming the gelatin simply means soaking it in cold water until it absorbs some of the water and gets a gel consistency. We do this in this recipe to help prevent lumps in our whipped cream.

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

stabilized whipped cream on cake.

Stabilized Whipped Cream

4.76 from 108 ratings
This Stabilized Whipped Cream recipe makes light and fluffy whipped cream that won't melt or get watery. And it's so easy to make! Now you can serve whipped cream on all your favorite desserts with confidence.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 20
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

Instructions

  • Pour cold heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a large metal bowl. Place bowl and whisks of electric hand mixer in fridge for 5-10 minutes to make everything cold.
  • Meanwhile, combine gelatin powder and 2 TB water in a small glass bowl. Once water has been fully soaked up by the gelatin, microwave the mixture for 15-20 seconds. It should become a thick, hot liquid. Stir well and let sit at room temp.
  • Remove the bowl from fridge. Beat on medium-high until soft peaks just start to form. Set aside and check the gelatin mixture; it should be a warm liquid.
    If it has coagulated, microwave a few seconds at a time until it turns liquid again. If it's too hot, stir until it cools down to a warm liquid.
    Resume beating whipped cream, while slowly drizzling liquid gelatin right where the whisks are beating, to ensure it is being fully incorporated.
  • Beat whipped cream to stiff peaks. Try to stop beating right at stiff peaks, but if you accidentally over-beat it a little bit, don’t worry. It will still frost and pipe fine.

Notes

  • This recipe yields approximately 4 cups of stabilized whipped cream. 
  • Stabilized whipped cream can be made ahead of time, covered, and chilled in fridge for several days until ready to use. 
  • You can frost, pipe, and decorate your dessert up to 2 days in advance. Keep dessert chilled until ready to use. 
  • You can use stabilized whipped cream on desserts such as cheesecake and pie and freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. 
  • For fun flavor variations, see original article. 
  • If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We ❤️ hearing from you. 

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 23mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.02mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Method: Whisk

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4.76 from 108 votes (75 ratings without comment)

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150 comments

    • Meems
    • 5 stars

    I do not have a microwave. How long to boil in pan?

      • Amy Dong

      Just heat it to lukewarm. 🙂

    • Andrea

    Are there any issues with using a flavored gelatin?

      • Amy Dong

      Andrea, you should be able to use flavored gelatin powder, if you want a specific flavored whipped cream.

    • Tory

    Would this work on an ice cream cake

      • Amy Dong

      Absolutely!

    • Kristin

    How would you suggest I add in peanut butter if I wanted to make a peanut butter whipped cream frosting. I don’t want to screw up the proportions. Thanks!

      • Amy Dong

      I’m thinking you might have better luck with peanut butter powder and extra powdered sugar, rather than jarred peanut butter. Regular PB might be too thick to whip in.

        • sam

        do you think adding maple extract or coffee extract would change the texture or just the flavor

        • Amy Dong

        A bit of extract is just fine – will mostly just change the flavor.

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