Homemade whipped cream: Three easy tips

What goes great with a cup of cocoa? Warm apple pie? Peach cobbler? Or adds flavor to black forest cake? Whipped cream, or in French, Chantilly Cream. What is whipped cream: cream that has been whipped with a whisk or mixer, usually flavored with vanilla extract and sugar.

I love making homemade whipped cream. Why? It is simple, delicious, and adds "smoothness" to any dessert. With the holidays fast approaching, having homemade whipped cream will add flair to your pumpkin pie and eggnog lattes.

Easy-breezy tips for successful whipped cream:

1) Start with cold tools: Mixing by hand OR mixer, chill your stainless steel bowl and whisk (or whisk attachment) in the freezer for 15 minutes. The cream will "whip" better in a cold bowl versus a warm bowl.

2) Use FRESH cream: Make sure your cream is fresh and NOT expired or about to be expired. If you do not use cream often, buy it in small quanities.

3) Use powdered sugar, instead of white granulated sugar: Why? Powdered sugar is white sugar plus cornstarch. (Don't believe me? Read the ingredient list on your powdered sugar box!) Cornstarch is there is "stablize" the whipped cream from collapsing. Don't worry; you are unable to taste the cornstarch in the powdered sugar. This is GREAT for whipped cream to be used as a decorating tool, like on top of a cream pie. Yes, if you do not have powdered sugar, you can still use white granulated sugar.

More helpful hints:

-Add a touch (1 teaspoon) of REAL vanilla extract to your whipped cream.

-My "go-to" recipe: 1 cup whipped cream, 2 tablespoons of powder sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. *Note: I like a "not-so-sweet" whipped cream. If you like it sweeter, add more sugar.

-Feeling creative? Add different flavoring ingredients, like orange zest, liquors, and spices like cinnamon.

Whipped cream is easy to master with my tips. Next time you have a special event or making a new creative dessert, add a touch of whipped cream.

Happy Cooking! -SC