How To Make Stabilized Whipped Cream
Stabilized whipped cream holds its shape and stays light and fluffy much longer than regular whipped cream! Use it to decorate cakes, cupcakes, pies, and more.
What Is Stabilized Whipped Cream?
If you’ve been following along for a while, you may recognize this stabilized whipped cream. Originally published in 2018, it quickly became a reader favorite because of how easy it is to whip up. Since it’s been a few years, I decided to give this post a much needed update with more tips and tricks for success!
In essence, this stabilized whipped cream is just whipped cream that’s been stiffened with unflavored gelatin. Regular whipped cream can deflate and become watery after just a few hours. However, whipped cream that’s been stabilized holds its shape and remains fluffy for up to two days.
I highly recommend using this stabilized whipped cream recipe any time you’re decorating a dessert in advance or if you know it will be sitting out at room temperature for a couple of hours!
Ingredients in This Recipe
Making whipped cream with gelatin might sound strange, but I assure you it tastes the exact same as regular whipped cream! Let’s quickly review the ingredients needed:
- Gelatin: This acts as the whipped cream stabilizer. Any brand of gelatin will work fine, just make sure that it’s unflavored. I typically use Knox unflavored gelatin and can usually find it in the baking aisle close to the Jello.
- Water: The gelatin must be sprinkled over a few teaspoons of cold water to hydrate it.
- Heavy whipping cream: Keep the heavy cream in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. Cold heavy cream will whip up faster and fluffier!
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens the whipped cream without making it grainy.
- Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
How to Stabilize Whipped Cream
If you’ve made regular whipped cream before, you can easily make this recipe! There’s just one extra step to stabilizing whipped cream with gelatin. Here’s an overview on how to make it:
- Chill your bowl and beaters: This will ensure that your whipped cream thickens properly.
- Dissolve the gelatin in water: Add cold water to a microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle the unflavored gelatin powder over the top. Let the gelatin sit for 3 to 4 minutes. It should start to dissolve and look wrinkly, like the picture above.
- Heat the gelatin mixture: Place the gelatin mixture in the microwave and heat it for a few seconds. Remove it from the microwave and give it a good stir. If all of the gelatin has not fully dissolved, microwave it for just a few more seconds.
- Cool slightly: Once all of gelatin has fully dissolved, set it aside to cool slightly while you mix together the whipped cream.
- Make the whipped cream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Whip the mixture just until it begins to thicken and soft peaks form.
- Add the cooled gelatin mixture: With the mixer running, slowly pour the dissolved gelatin mixture into the whipped cream. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until stiff peaks form. This won’t take long, so be careful not to over mix it!
- Use as desired: The stabilized whipped cream can be used as frosting for cakes and cupcakes or to decorate other desserts.
Different Ways To Use It
You can use this stable whipped cream for just about anything you’d like! Pipe it onto cakes as a finishing touch or use it to fill cream puffs. Here are a few recipes where you can use it:
- Banana Cream Pie
- Tres Leches Cake
- Key Lime Pie
- Chocolate Cream Pie
- Strawberry Shortcakes
- Cream Puffs
How Long Can the Whipped Cream Sit Out?
Since this recipe contains fresh dairy, the whipped cream shouldn’t sit out for more than 2 hours. It will stay fluffy and hold its shape the whole time, but after 2 hours it must be refrigerated for food safety reasons.
How Much Does This Recipe Make?
This recipe yields 2 cups of stable whipped cream, which is enough to frost 12 cupcakes, a 9×13-inch cake, or lightly frost a two-layer cake.
Baking Tips
- It’s best to chill your bowl and beaters before getting started. This will help your whipped cream thicken up quicker and increase the volume too!
- Let the gelatin sit on the cold water for 3 to 4 minutes. This will allow the gelatin to hydrate and ensure that it completely melts when you heat it in the microwave.
- Once you microwave the water and gelatin, the gelatin should be fully dissolved. If it’s not, microwave it for another 3 to 4 seconds.
- Make sure to let your gelatin cool just slightly before mixing it in, you don’t want it to be too hot when you add it to the bowl.
- Once you make the whipped cream, you can pipe it on your dessert, then refrigerate until you’re ready to serve it. This whipped cream will hold up just fine at room temperature for a couple of hours, but it’s best to keep your dessert refrigerated and avoid leaving it anywhere too warm for too long.
More Frosting Recipes to Try!
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Peanut Butter Frosting
- Chocolate Buttercream
- Strawberry Frosting
Stabilized Whipped Cream
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons cold water
- 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream (240 ml)
- ¼ cup powdered sugar (30 grams)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the water to a microwave safe bowl and sprinkle the unflavored gelatin on top. Allow to sit for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Transfer the gelatin mixture to the microwave and microwave until the gelatin is fully dissolved, this will just take a few seconds. Stir the mixture, then set aside to cool slightly.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, combine the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Whip the mixture until it starts to thicken and soft peaks form, then turn the mixer to low speed.
- Slowly pour in the gelatin mixture until well combined. Increase the mixer to medium speed and continue mixing until stiff peaks form.
- Pipe the whipped cream on your favorite dessert (or use it to frost it) and refrigerate your dessert until ready to serve.
I have not tired this yet but could this go onto a cake?
Yes, you can use it on top of a cake.
Hi!! I’m just wondering if you can use pectin instead of
Gelatin!?
I haven’t tried it with pectin, so I’m not quite sure how it would turn out.
Heyy! Is it possible to triple or quadruple the recipe?
Yes, that’s fine!
Perfect recipe!!! I use it over and over. It’s especially good with dried strawberries added.
I added the cooled gelatin mixture (was still in a pourable liquid form) and when I whipped to stiff peaks it took on a slightly curdled look. It wasn’t nice and smooth. I’m not sure what happened.
Did the mixture start to curdle right after you mixed in the gelatin and was it large chunks? I’m wondering if maybe you whipped the cream a bit too long and that’s what caused it to look curdled?
I’m planning on making this whipped cream for my babies smash cake. Do you think it will hold up if I pipe frosting roses all over the cake? Will it be fine if it sits 3-4 hours room temperature?
Hi, Margaret! Yes, it will hold up if you pipe it on the cake. It should be fine for that long at room temperature too, just as long as it’s not too hot or anything.
Hiii. Do you know how to make stabilized chocolate whipped cream?
You could probably add 1-2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to this recipe. You may need a bit more powdered sugar depending on how much cocoa powder you use too.
My husband doesn’t like buttercream frosting because of the sweetness. So I rarely make cakes or cupcakes because plain whipped cream doesn’t do well. This stuff was amazing!! Tastes great AND I could pipe it onto my apple pie with caramelized apple filling cupcakes!! Thanks so much for this recipe!! I’ll be using it again.
Can I fill and frost a ckae with this
You can use it to frost a cake, but keep in mind that it’s still soft like whipped cream so if your cake layers are too heavy it may not be the best filling option.
I made this stabilized whipped cream as directed. However, I found that the cooled gelatin was difficult to remove from the glass dish I dissolved it in. I heated it in the micro for only 4 seconds at a time, twice, then whisked it and set it to cool. It had become gelled by the time it was to be added to the whipped cream mixture. Any suggestions for how to do better next time?
Hi, Karen! It’s likely just cooling off too fast and firming back up. I would recommend whipping the cream to soft peaks first, then heat the gelatin just until it’s dissolved, let it cool off slightly, then go ahead and add it to the whipped cream as you’re mixing.
How can I add peanut butter to make it peanut flavor whipped cream without messing up the receipe?
I haven’t tried it, but you may be able to mix in 1 tablespoon of peanut butter to add some flavor.
I just made this. My whipped cream became kind of spongy after I added the gelatin. It was at soft peak. I tempered the gelatin with a little whipped cream and then added that in to the bowl. It went to stiff peaks really fast but the spongy thing happened. Any idea why? Thank you!
I’m not sure why it would immediately become spongy. Did you double-check the gelatin measurements and everything? And was the gelatin in liquid form when you added it?
I did check the measurements. I tripled the recipe but can’t imagine that would be an issue. I piped a few shells last night to test it. They are holding up fine but there are little tiny bits of undisolved gelatin. I’m guessing it got it too cold when I tempered it. Still usable, just a little spongy and wet if that makes sense. Will try again. Thanks!
Didn’t work! Followed instructions and put the gelatin in slowly – it was already a thick gel when I put it in, and the mixer didn’t break them up – whipped cream filled with little lumps of gelatin! :/ I whipped as quickly and as much as I dared, but the cream was starting to separate.
If you add gelatin that’s solidified to cold whipped cream it will cause it to be lumpy. If you make it again and your gelatin has started to solidify, I would recommend heating it for a few seconds in the microwave so it’s in liquid form. You want to make sure it’s a liquid when you add it to the whipped cream and that should fix it.
Ive used your recipe and it worked great. Im wondering though… i want to make a drip cake using this frosting. Do you think the chocolate ganache would melt the frosting?
As long as you let the ganache cool completely, I think it would be okay. I would make sure not to use a thick layer of chocolate too.
Can you make a jello poke cake and I also put Strawberry pie filling on top then add the icing would that make it melt the cool whip with vanilla pudding did not stay thick it ran
I’m not quite sure what you mean, Tina?
The recipe I usually use for (non-stabilized) whip cream is sweetened with vanilla syrup instead of powdered sugar; if I use my normal recipe would the additional liquid prevent the gelatin from stabilizing it the same? Thanks!
It’s hard to say because it depends on how much syrup you’re using. If you’re not using very much, it may be fine.
can you make a key lime pie the night before you need it and go ahead and add the stabilized whip cream if you leave it in the fridge overnight or would it be ill advised to keep overnight?
That would be fine to top the pie with the whipped cream the night before and refrigerate it.
Do you know the best way to do the gelatin without a microwave. Maybe, over a double boiler until it is warm and the gelatin is dissolved? (I don’t own a microwave)
A double boiler or a small saucepan on the stove would work fine.
If I make it the night before, will it be ok to use and pipe the next day? I’ve used this recipe before but I’ve made the cream right before serving or the morning of.
I would recommend making it, then using it on your dessert. If you refrigerate it overnight it will firm up and won’t be as easy to pipe the next day.
My sister asked me to make cookies and cream cupcakes for her for her birthday. Would I’ve able to add crushed Oreos to the mixture and will it still keep it’s consistency?
I think that would be fine. I would make sure to crush them really fine and then just fold them in at the end.
I’ve been adding a teaspoon of instant vanilla pudding powder to my whipped cream for years and it works as a stabilizer for 2 to 3 days as a topping for cream pies. I love your tip to use unflavored gelatin to stabilize for longer than 3 days and make it pipable (not sure that’s a real word).
Thank you so much. I’ll continue to keep up with your tips and all.
If i want to add stabilized cream into my whipping cream gun, what would you suggest? Can I add the gelatin mixture to the liquid cream? Would it get lumpy?
Hi, Angie! I’ve never used a whipping cream gun so I’m not quite sure what you mean?
A whipping cream gun is basically a pressurized canister. You add your liquid whipping cream, sugar, vanilla or whatever spices you want. Then you screw on the lid and attach your C02 cartridge and it pressurized the canister. It is used my coffee baristas to add whipping cream on top of your drink.
I will try adding the gelatin and see how it works.
I’m familiar with them, I just wasn’t sure what you meant at first. 🙂 I think it would probably be fine to use this in one, I just haven’t tried it before.
Did this work? I have one too and it would make awesome cupcake frosting.
Hey hoping to have a question answered. I haven’t tried the recipe yet but have a friend that wants this on a layered cake for her wedding. It would be multiple three layer cakes (not tiered, just cascading on different stands). So three questions:
1. Would it hold up as the frosting between layers?
2. Would a fruit filling between layers mess with it? I’m worried the acidity in a raspberry filling would break down the whipped cream.
3. Would it be okay sitting at room temp for potentially 4-5 hours?
Thank you so much for any insight you can give me.
If the layers are heavy, it probably won’t hold up well between them. Even though it’s stabilized, it’s still soft like regular whipped cream. I haven’t tested it against a fruit filling, but it may affect it some. It would be okay to leave at room temperature for 2-3 hours.
If I need to double the amount of whipped cream, do I alter the gelatin amount as well.
Yes, you’ll want to double the gelatin and water as well.
I tried this and my whip-cream peaked then I added the gelatin mixture and now it’s runny horrible it got worse then better!!
Sorry to hear that, Dawn. Adding the gelatin mixture shouldn’t have caused it to turn runny. Was the gelatin very hot when you added it?
HELP!! I did something wrong. I did everything as directed with the gelitain and poured it in nice and slow but then I went to taste it, I could taste little gelitain lumps, any suggestions? Thanks…
Hi, Beth! Did you make sure to mix quickly as you were pouring it in too? If so, you can try whisking in a little of the cold cream to the gelatin to try to cool it down before adding it to the whipped cream next time.
Can you add food coloring to make the whipped cream a different color? Or would it change the stability?
A few drops of liquid food coloring should be fine. If you’re wanting a darker color, I would recommend using gel food coloring.
Do you know of a recipe for Vegan Whipping Cream with a stabilizer ?
I don’t, sorry!
You can use a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch or if you have Ener g egg replacer that also works.
Does anyone know the carb count per serving for this recipe? I tried to do the math myself, but its not my strong suit ?
You can use pectin instead of gelatin
it would literally be the same process except you would use the non dairy whipping cream. ive done it before with great results
So for the gelatin mixture is it supposed to be liquid still or is it supposed to harden? Because mine hardened while it was cooling!
It should still be in liquid form when you add it to the whipped cream.
Thank you for this recipe! Can I make the whipped cream without the confectioners sugar and vanilla? Or will it destabilize the whipped cream?
You can, but it won’t be sweet or have much flavor.
I am excited to try this recipe!! Stabilized whip cream…..awesome!!
Thanks for this important tip! I much rather use whipped cream frostings than heavy, sweet butter cream on many occasions, such as cupcakes!!!
If I plan on using this whipped cream as a filling for a funfetti birthday cake would it be ok to incorporate sprinkles into the stabilized whip cream ?
I haven’t tried it, but it would probably be okay. You’ll want to use the longer sprinkles and not the round ones (they tend to bleed their color).