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Home / Cooking & Baking Tips

Stabilized Whipped Cream

This stabilized whipped cream recipe is perfect for frosting or a whipped topping for your favorite desserts

Erren Hart

|

last Updated:

03/25/2025
4.89 from 199 votes
Jump to Recipe Video
Serves: 8 servings
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Whipped Cream Frosting whipped in the bowl
A close up of a swirl of whipped cream with a black background

A close up of whipped cream swirled onto a surface with a white background

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This simple Stabilized Whipped Cream recipe will hold its shape for days without using gelatin, meringue powder, or artificial ingredients.

A close up of a swirl of whipped cream with a black background
Pin This Recipe For Later!

Best Ever Whipped Cream Recipe

Have you ever tried to make a dessert using whipped cream that lost its shape in no time flat?

You are not alone, but I’m here to help you make perfect whipped cream that will hold its shape and stay looking beautiful for days. The secret ingredient is skimmed milk powder (nonfat powdered milk or Nonfat Instant Dry Milk).

Why This Recipe Works

  • The all-natural ingredients give a fresh, creamy taste that is simply delicious.
  • The powdered milk and confectionery sugar help thicken the cream and stabilize it, so it’s easy to work with and holds its shape for days. 

What Is Whipped Cream Made Of?

A close up of whipped cream swirled onto a surface with a white background

It’s simply made of heavy whipping cream but varies from recipe to recipe. This recipe is powdered sugar, vanilla, and skimmed milk powder.

All Natural Stabilized Whipped Cream

I’ve seen a lot of whipped cream recipes that use gelatin, nondairy creamers, and commercial cream stabilizers. But I find the best way to make whipped cream that tastes natural and keeps its creamy texture without falling flat is ordinary powdered skimmed milk. It’s made from milk, so it’s natural in flavor but stabilizes the cream to hold its shape for days (scroll down for the complete recipe).

Does Cream of Tartar Stabilize Whipped Cream?

a spoon scooping cream of tarter from a bowl

I get a lot of questions asking if Cream of Tartar helps with stabilizing whipped cream.  The answer is yes; it does help, so if the cream you are working with doesn’t thicken as you’ve hoped, try adding a 1/2 teaspoon of Cream of Tartar to the recipe.

Please Note: Cream of Tartar will add a slightly sour taste to the cream.

Equipment Needed

Whipped Cream Frosting whipped in the bowl

This recipe can be made using a food processor or a mixer (although an excellent old-fashioned whisk works just as well). My step-by-step photos use a food processor, but the video shows a mixer to show you both ways it can be done.

How to Make Stabilized Whipped Cream

  1. Add the cream to a medium-sized mixing bowl or food processor, then add the powdered sugar (to taste), skimmed milk powder, and vanilla to the cream.
  2. Whip the cream until it thickens and holds its shape without falling back into the gap.

Step By Step Instructions

To make the whipped cream, start by adding the skimmed milk powder, vanilla, powdered sugar, and whipping cream to the bowl.

Use cold cream as chilled cream works best and whips up quickly.

The whipped cream ingredients in a food processor ready to mix

Whip until thick. You’ll start to see ripples as it thickens in both a food processor and a mixer.

The whipped cream mixed in a bowl

Be Careful Not To Over Whip – Whipped cream can quickly go from cream to butter if over whipped. 

You’ll know it’s ready when you run a spoon through it, and the cream holds its shape without any cream falling into the gap.

a spoon running through the thick whipped cream

When removing the blade, you should be able to tip it slightly over the bowl with no whipped cream falling off the edge.

The thick whipped cream on the food processor blade.

What To Do If You’ve Over-whipped Your Cream

As soon as you realize you’ve overwhipped, stop whipping. Try not to panic – All may not be lost. Add a few tablespoons of fresh cream and mix it in using a wire whisk. It should take just a few turns of the whisk. If it looks grainy or resembles more butter than cream, you may have to start again.

Please note that this technique won’t work if your cream has started to separate into small lumps of butter. If that has happened, then you might as well continue to beat and see how easy it is to make butter!

A close up of a swirl of whipped cream with a black background

Erren’s Top Tips

  • Don’t leave in a hot environment for too long. The cream will soften too much or melt.
  • To color your whipped cream, use gel or paste food coloring and add it before you start whipping. Adding it later may cause it to lose its structure.
  • Stored in an airtight container, this whipped cream stores well in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days, but be sure to check the date on your cream before starting.
  • Make Chocolate Whipped Cream by adding 2-3 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and nonfat milk powder.

On Powdered Milk

Powdered skimmed milk can be found in most supermarkets, but you can also buy it here on Amazon (#paidlink).

Using Full Fat Powdered Milk – I recommend using nonfat powdered milk. I haven’t used full fat myself, but I’ve been given mixed reviews on using it.

FAQs

Can you use granulated sugar instead of confectioner’s sugar? I don’t recommend it.

Powdered or confectioners sugar dissolves faster in the cream. Using white sugar rather than powdered sugar will cause the whipped cream to not thicken as easily (if at all). It can take much longer to get it to the point where it’s stabilized which could be very close to forming butter if you’re not careful.

Is whipping cream the same as heavy cream?

Essentially, yes. To whip cream, it must contain at least 36% or more milk fat so whether the label says whipping cream or heavy cream, they’ll both work.

Whipping Cream Around The World ?

  • In the US: I recommend using heavy whipping cream for this recipe, but whipping cream works as well
  • In the UK: Both Whipping cream and double cream whip up really well.
  • In France: See this article for some great information.
  • In Australia: I recommend using double cream for this recipe.

Using ultra-pasteurized heavy cream – Ultra-pasteurized heavy cream is harder to whip, but it can be achieved. Be sure it is really cold and try using chilled bowls and tools.  It should whip fine, but it may take a few more minutes than regular pasteurized cream.

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A close up of whipped cream swirled onto a surface with a white background

Recipe

How To Make Stabilized Whipped Cream

This stabilized whipped cream recipe is perfect for frosting or a whipped topping for your favorite desserts
4.89 from 199 votes
Print
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Total Time: 5 minutes mins
Serves 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy cream (also known as double cream chilled)
  • 6 to 8 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons skimmed milk powder (AKA Non-Fat Milk Powder, nonfat powdered milk, or Nonfat Instant Dry Milk – on Amazon) See the link in the notes below)

Instructions

  • Add the cream to a medium-sized mixing bowl or food processor then add the powdered sugar (to taste), skimmed milk powder, and vanilla to the cream.
  • Using a food processor or mixer, whip the cream until it thickens (this doesn’t take long at all, so check often).
  • When you run a spoon through it, and it holds its shape without falling back into the gap, it’s ready to use.
  • This recipe yeilds about 2 cups.

Tips

  • Use Cold Cream. Chilled cream whips up the quickest.
  • Be careful not to overwhip – the mixture can quickly go from cream to butter if over whipped. See the post and video for examples of what it looks like when it’s whipped enough.
  • Powdered skimmed milk Can be found in most supermarkets, but you can buy also buy it here on Amazon (#paidlink)
  • To add color, use gel or paste food coloring and add it before you start whipping, and adding it later may cause it to lose its structure.
  • Don’t leave in a hot environment for too long. The cream will soften too much or melt.
  • Stored in an airtight container, this recipe keeps well in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days, but be sure to check the date on your cream before starting.
Show Nutrition Hide Nutrition

Nutrition

Calories: 156 | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 44mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 565IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 36mg
Created by Erren Hart
Save to favoritesYour saved recipes will be right here waiting for you every time you visit, so you can easily find and make the meals you love.

Just a Few Ways I’ve Used This Recipe

This is one of my most popular recipes here on Erren’s Kitchen.  To date, it’s been shared over 200k times.  I have used it for dessert fillings and toppings as well as frosting for countless recipes. 

  • Banana Caramel Cake
  • Strawberry Cupcakes
  • Victoria Sponge Cake
  • Cream Horns
  • Pavlova

Update Notes: This post was originally published on Oct 12, 2015, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions, tips, FAQs and a video in July of 2018.

4.89 from 199 votes (56 ratings without comment)

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377 responses

  1. Ana Avatar
    Ana
    10/05/2017

    How long does it last in the fridge?

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      10/05/2017

      Hi Ana, three days

      Reply
  2. Trina Avatar
    Trina
    09/09/2017

    Hi Erren,
    I made this for a layer cake and it was absolutely fantastic! It’s a life changer! 😀 Thank you so much!

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      09/09/2017

      Hi Trina, Yay! I love to hear when it works out perfectly! 🙂 Thanks for the great feedback!

      Reply
  3. Lizzy Avatar
    Lizzy
    09/08/2017

    Thanks so much for including the step by step photos! It was really helpful and the recipe is so yummy! Worded wonderfully!

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      09/09/2017

      Hi Lizzy, That is fantastic to hear! Thank you for the wonderful feedback!

      Reply
  4. Brenda Avatar
    Brenda
    08/05/2017

    O.M.G. Erren I need to hurry up & bake something before I eat all of this frosting by itself! It is delicious. I get to make wedding cupcakes in Oct. I will definitely be using this on some of them. Thank you very much. Have a great day 🍰😃

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      08/05/2017

      Yay! I love comments like this! So happy to hear it! 😀

      Reply
    2. Sharon Avatar
      Sharon
      08/11/2017

      Hi Erren,

      Your whipped cream stabiliser is absolutely delicious. I did try it out making chocolate ice cream according to my ice cream maker recipe book but found it went quite hard in the freezer. I did try and leave out the powdered sugar though – is this a necessity to keep it soft or just for a sweeter taste? I also found with an ice cream maker a lot of the mixture freezes solid to the inside of the mixing bowl and and when it is melted you get a cup full of melted mixture which is a waste. When you mention powdered sugar do you mean icing sugar? I cant find any other powdered sugar other than sweetener powder form for people on diets.

      Reply
      1. Erren Avatar
        Erren
        08/11/2017

        Hi Sharon, yes, it’s icing sugar. I’m sorry it didn’t work
        It’s good to know the recipe is truly a no churn recipe. Thanks for the feedback!

  5. Deborah Avatar
    Deborah
    08/05/2017

    Have you ever tried using this to decorate a cake and then freezing it? I have been asked to make a cake for a friend, but I will be out of town for the date of her party, so I am trying to figure out if this frosting will work if I freeze it and get it to her ahead of time. I have researched freezing decorated cakes, and theoretically it will work, but just wondered if you have any experience. Thanks, it looks great!

    Reply
  6. Sharon Avatar
    Sharon
    07/27/2017

    Hi Erren,

    I bought an home ice cream maker which requires raw egg yolks but have to say don’t really fancy this. The recipe suggests a whipped cream stabiliser instead of using egg yolks if preferred. Do you think your whipped cream stabiliser would work for ice cream?
    Thanks

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      07/27/2017

      I make no churn ice cream without eggs using condensed milk and my stabilized Whipped cream and it works. I’ve never tried it with an ice cream maker though so if you try it please let me know!

      Reply
      1. Sharon Avatar
        Sharon
        07/28/2017

        Hi Erren,

        Many thanks for your reply. I will certainly let you know how it turns out.
        Sharon

  7. Karen Taylor Avatar
    Karen Taylor
    07/16/2017

    In your recipe the directions says to add powdered sugar, milk powder, and vanilla to cream then step 2 says whip till it thickens….down in the question section someone asks do I beat the cream first then add the rest of ingredients then beat again and you replied that is correct…so now I am confused do you put it all in the processor at once or do you beat the cream then add the other ingredients and beat again? Thanks

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      07/16/2017

      I add everything together then whip. Thank you for letting me know the directions need improvement.

      Reply
  8. Karen Taylor Avatar
    Karen Taylor
    07/16/2017

    Your recipe directions says to add powdered sugar, milk powder, and vanilla to the cream then step 2 says using processor whip till it thickens……then down in the question section someone asked do you beat the whipped cream first then add all the other ingredients then mix it again and you replied Yes that is correct. So now I am wondering which way is the correct way? Thanks

    Reply
  9. Aqsa Avatar
    Aqsa
    07/02/2017

    Hi. Will whole milk powder work, instead of skimmed milk powder? Thankyou

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      07/02/2017

      I’m sorry, but I’ve only used non fat so I can’t say for sure.

      Reply
      1. Aqsa Avatar
        Aqsa
        07/02/2017

        Thankyou for your reply! Do you think it’s worth giving it a shot, I have to make this whipped topping in a couple of hours.

      2. Erren Avatar
        Erren
        07/02/2017

        You can try it. Worst case is it ends up being like non stabilized whipped cream. Please let me know how it works

  10. Anum Avatar
    Anum
    06/19/2017

    Hi Errin,
    I’m in the uk.. so I want to make sure we can only use WHIPPING CREAM, or can we use DOUBLE CREAM as well.
    Double cream: 36g fat /100ml
    Whipping cream:38.9fat/100ml

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      06/19/2017

      Hi Anum, I live in the UK and just made it with double cream and it was amazing!

      Reply
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