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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. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica
    08/05/2018

    Hello i love this recipe and i am hoping you can help me with this. I am trying to recreate a mini cheese cake recipe i had at a party. The baker unfortunately will not share the recipe. It tasted like a cheese cake but with a whip cream texture. Can I follow this recipe and add cream cheese?

    Reply
  2. Faye Avatar
    Faye
    07/29/2018

    Just whipped this up to go on scones with jam,best recipe ever👍

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      07/29/2018

      So great to hear, Faye!

      Reply
  3. Ashlee Avatar
    Ashlee
    07/13/2018

    Thank you so much for this recipe. I used full cream milk powder as I have it on hand & used the thermomix on speed 3 for about 20 seconds total & the cream is delicious.

    Reply
  4. Devin Avatar
    Devin
    07/06/2018

    Could this be sweetened naturally without the confectioners sugar? Maybe with honey or fruit purée? I’ve been struggling to find a yummy & easy topping for my baby’s first birthday cake that doesn’t contain sugar or sugar substitutes. Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Karen Tate Avatar
    Karen Tate
    04/21/2018

    I am so glad I found this recipe. I am making 90 double mini Victoria sponge cakes with raspberry filling for an afternoon tea. When I made them last year, I used the canned whipped cream for convenience and put it on top with a raspberry. By the time we got them on the tables, they were a droopy mess with the raspberries sliding off! Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      04/21/2018

      So happy to help! 😊

      Reply
  6. Jamie Avatar
    Jamie
    04/15/2018

    Hello,
    Thank you for posting your recipe. My frosting came out beautifully and delicious. Highly recommend! Of note,
    I initially screwed up the first batch somehow. I just threw in all the ingredients at once and turned on the food processor and let it go. There is no warning time wise here so let me warn others that after maybe 45-60 seconds my first batch came out curdled. The second batch formed in about 15-20 seconds and I was scarred to push my luck. It wound up being slightly runny (but doable). The third batch was perfect. I ran my processor for about 25 seconds (give it take) and had beautiful, stable whipped cream. I frosted the outside of the cake and chilled it for about an hour before traveling 40 minutes to where I chilled it again and then dressed it up. It held wonderfully. I frosted the cake around 2pm and after being chilled it sat out for about 4/5 hours without any sign of drooping (although we were next to the ocean with zero humidity). What a wonderful recipe, thank you again!! -Jamie

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      04/15/2018

      Hi Jamie, Thanks for all the great info! I’m so glad you got there in the end! 🙂

      Reply
  7. EULA Avatar
    EULA
    04/11/2018

    can this stabilized whipped cream be made with sugar free powdered sugar of some sort as I am diabetic and cannot have the sugar the recipe sounds great would love to make a coconut cream pie put it on top thank you

    Reply
    1. Jamie Avatar
      Jamie
      04/15/2018

      Eula, I often omit the powdered sugar in my whipped cream when putting it on pancakes, etc so I would try it!

      Reply
  8. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie
    03/12/2018

    Hey there!
    Am making a wedding cake and the bride has requested whipped icing…for outdoor wedding..in Texas..lol Would you reccommend this recipe for holding up shape and staying attached to a cake outside?

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      03/12/2018

      Hi Stephanie, I haven’t tested it in that kind of heat and I’ll be honest, I don’t recommend it without testing it first. You’re not the first to ask and I live in the UK where it rarely gets hot) so please let me know if you do test it. Thanks.

      Reply
  9. Marc Braund Avatar
    Marc Braund
    03/07/2018

    Hi Erren, can I make chocolate and peanut flavored whipped cream fo piping with this recipe?

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      03/07/2018

      Hi Marc, do you mean by adding some sort of flavoring or actual chocolate and peanut butter? If it’s flavoring (like vanilla extract), sure it would work. If not, I really don’t know how you’d go about it.

      Reply
    2. Debbie Avatar
      Debbie
      03/08/2018

      I made a chocolate version by adding 2-3 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder along with the powdered sugar and nonfat milk powder (the exact amount of cocoa depends on how chocolate-ty you want it). It tastes especially good if the frosted cake has time to sit for a while so the cocoa flavor can develop.

      I have seen powdered peanut butter, so maybe you could try adding that to make a chocolate peanut butter flavor.

      Reply
      1. Erren Avatar
        Erren
        03/08/2018

        How funny Debbie, I just logged on to say he can use cocoa powder. 😊I think it was the peanut butter that totally threw me off!

  10. ROBERT H WILGUS Avatar
    ROBERT H WILGUS
    02/02/2018

    Hello. Erren, my wife buys whipped icing in large tubs from Sam’s Club. However, when icing her cakes or cupcakes it begins to get runny as though it was melting. I just doesn’t look professional. Is there a way to correct this? Please help.
    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      02/02/2018

      Hi Robert, Are you asking about my recipe or the stuff from Sam’s Club?

      Reply
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